Properly insure your e-bike: Would you like a high-quality electric bike, but are reluctant to buy it because of the risk of theft? If you insure your e-bike when you buy it, you can start cycling without hesitation - the policies are not expensive and provide perfect all-round protection.
Around 700 bicycles are stolen across Germany every day. There are of course regional differences and a strong urban-rural divide, but one thing is clear: where many bikes are in use, the risk of theft is particularly high. In addition, despite the overall decrease in the number of thefts, the individual damage is increasing - no wonder, since more and more people are on the road on expensive bicycles and e-bikes. And so the fear of becoming the victim of a theft is so great for many that they cannot bring themselves to buy a high-quality bicycle - or even an e-bike for several thousand euros. An e-bike in particular can be properly insured easily and inexpensively: Who at asson signs a five-year contract pays just 3.000 euros for complete protection for an e-bike for 424 euros. Theft protection is included; in the event of damage, the new value will be replaced.
And this is also the first thing you should do when buying a new one with regard to the risk of theft: just take out special insurance, sensibly right from the dealer. He also knows the data that the insurer needs, such as the exact product designation and the frame number. Data and images of the new bike can also be saved in a special bike pass app and from there forwarded to the police authorities in the event of theft.
Properly insure your e-bike when you buy it
A solid bicycle lock should also be bought together with the new bike – for many insurers, security at a certain quality or price level is a prerequisite for the assumption of damage. Using this lock correctly later is an important prerequisite for reducing the risk of theft: Wherever possible, the e-bike should be locked to a fixed object. You might think that nobody would simply carry away such a 25-kilo bike, but there are also professional gangs of thieves who simply make noble bikes disappear in the van - and you don't want to make things too easy for them.
Unfortunately, one has to assume that a modern cordless angle grinder can cut through even the best bicycle locks, but it is still the case that bicycle thieves prefer to look for easier prey when in doubt, i.e. a lock that can be picked faster and more unobtrusively. A high-quality U-lock or folding lock is still a good choice because it reduces the risk of theft compared to bikes with poorer security.
Don't hesitate to post
And what if it does happen? If you have your electric bike well insured with a provider like assona, you don't have to be too sad. Sure, some formalities are necessary, but as a rule you can look forward to a new bike a few days later. First of all, of course, an immediate report to the responsible police authority is necessary, which can now also be filed online in many federal states. The sooner you report the theft, the better - there's always a chance the bike may still be near the crime scene. In order to make the police's job easier, you should be able to describe the e-bike precisely; photos are of course helpful too.
After the report has been filed, you can contact your insurer with the relevant proof, and then the claim settlement usually takes place quickly. The insurance company also needs proof of purchase of the bike and bike lock, and usually a brief description of the circumstances. If everything is in order, the customer receives the message that the damage will be covered; As a rule, the insurance then pays after the purchase of a new e-bike.
And if the e-bike turns up again? Rather unlikely, especially since the clear-up rate for bicycle theft in Germany is only around 10%. However, there are clear regional differences - for example, when the local police authorities have set up a special task force, which currently leads to a clear-up rate of up to 27%. Should the police find the stolen e-bike again, providers like assona give their customers the choice: either they take back the old bike or they keep the new one; the secured stolen goods then belong to the insurance company.
Well insured - good feeling
Whatever you decide – what remains is a good feeling. Because the risk of losing your e-bike cannot be ruled out, but you don't have to be left with the financial loss. And that is also good news for all those who have not been able to bring themselves to buy an expensive bike for fear of being stolen.