Guide

An insurance that fits as well as your bike.

On your bike you feel safe. Whether your bike is safe when it's parked outside is another question. Here you'll read what a bike insurance should cover and what to look out for.

Updated September 2026

A cyclist in a black coat on the bike path along Vienna's Ringstrasse

In short

More than theft
A good insurance also pays after a crash, an accident or vandalism, not just when your bike is gone.
No excess
Otherwise you pay every claim yourself up to a set amount. With Karl there's none.
A clear lock rule
Check which lock is required. With Karl, from €29, €45 or €69 by bike value, locked to a fixed object.
What it pays over the years
With Karl, at most 100% of the sum insured in the first year after purchase, 80% in the second and 70% from the third.

16,932

bikes were reported stolen in Austria in 2025.

Not even one theft in ten was solved. Two thirds of the bikes disappeared in the state capitals.

What to check

The questions that count.

Ask them of any insurance. Karl's answers are right beside them.

What's covered?: Everything that happens suddenly and unexpectedly: theft, crashes, accidents, vandalism, fire, water and storms.
What isn't covered?: Only what's in the terms, such as wear and tear, scratches that don't affect how the bike works, and a theft if your bike wasn't properly locked.
Is there an excess?: No.
How much does it pay?: Up to the sum insured: 100% in the first year after purchase, 80% in the second, 70% from the third. That goes for repairs and a total loss.
Which lock does it need?: One that cost at least €29, €45 or €69 depending on your bike's value, locked to a fixed object. Cable and spiral locks don't count.
Where does it apply?: Worldwide, including on trips and at races.
Are the battery and parts included?: Yes: the battery, all permanently attached parts and the lock, as far as they're part of the sum insured.
When do I report a claim?: Right away, within 72 hours of finding out at the latest. For a theft we need a police report.
How do I get out?: You can cancel any time, effective at the end of the current insurance period. In the first 14 days you can withdraw, as long as you haven't reported a claim.
Who can sign up?: Anyone who lives in the EU and is at least 18.

You'll find the exact wording in the insurance terms.

Common claims

What often happens.

Theft
The whole bike or parts of it, if it was properly locked.
Burst tyre
A shard of glass, a pothole: what breaks suddenly is covered. What's worn out after a season isn't.
Buckled wheel
After a crash or an accident, even if it was your own fault.
Vandalism
Slashed tyres, torn-off cables, bent parts.
Battery theft
If the battery is stolen from your e-bike, it's covered as part of your bike.
Crash damage
A broken fork, a bent handlebar, a torn-off derailleur. Carbon parts up to €4,000 per claim.

Signing up

What you need.

What you need

A place of residence in the EU
To be at least 18
Your bike's model and frame number
The purchase price and the invoice or purchase contract, extras included
A credit card or a bank account for direct debit

What you don't need

A €200 lock: depending on your bike's value, €29, €45 or €69 is enough.
Home contents insurance: Karl stands on its own.
A new bike: you can insure used bikes too.

Used bike? How to insure it

Questions

What else might come to mind.

Is bike insurance worth it?
If a claim would hurt, yes. A new fork, a wheel after a crash or a stolen battery soon cost a few hundred euros, a new bike more. And not even one theft in ten is solved.
What does bike insurance cost?
It depends on what your bike is worth. With Karl, a bike worth €1,000 costs €6.00 a month, insurance tax included. You can see what yours costs on the pricing page.
Is there a deductible with Karl?
No. Karl has no deductible.

The maximum you receive in a claim goes down with the years since you bought your bike: in the first year after you bought it 100 %, in the second year 80 % and from the third year 70 % of the sum insured. The limit applies to total and partial damage alike, and up to it we cover every claim in full. If, say, you damage your fork in a fall in the third year after buying your bike, we pay for the whole replacement as long as it stays below 70 % of the sum insured.
How long until I hear from Karl?
If you reported the claim through our homepage, you'll immediately receive confirmation from us that the claim has been reported and that we are handling the process. Since every claim is unique, we will tailor our claims handling to your specific needs and do our best to get you back in the saddle quickly. In collaboration with our Karl partners, we usually resolve claims within a day, so you can immediately get a new bike or E-Bike, or order the repair of damaged parts.
Can I insure a used bike?
Yes. Karl insures used bikes too — what matters is the bike's condition and purchase price, not its age. A purchase contract or invoice is enough as proof of value; you don't need the original receipt from when the bike was first sold. If you have questions about your second-hand bike, just drop us a line at hallo@karlbikes.com — we're happy to take a look.
How can I cancel my contract with Karl?
You can cancel your contract at any time directly in your account here. Select the relevant policy and tap "Cancel insurance policy". Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current insurance period, and you stay covered until then; there is no refund for the current period. Within the first 14 days after signing, you can instead withdraw, as long as you haven't reported a claim by then, and get a full refund of your premium.
Is bike insurance the same as liability insurance?
No. Karl insures your bike. Damage you cause to others with your bike is covered by a liability insurance, if you have one.

What your bike costs All questions and answers

Glossary

The terms, briefly explained.

Policy: Your contract with Karl: the document with your bike, your sum insured and all the details.
Sum insured: The most we pay in a claim, usually the purchase price of your bike including extras.
Excess: The part of a claim you pay yourself. With Karl there's none.
Reporting deadline: Right away, within 72 hours of finding out about the damage at the latest.
Fixed object: Something anchored firmly that can't simply be carried away, such as a bike stand or a lamp post.
Insured parts: Everything permanently attached to your bike, like lights, kickstand or lock, as far as it's part of the sum insured.
Cancellation: Any time, without giving a reason. It takes effect at the end of the current insurance period, and you're covered until then.
Withdrawal: Within 14 days of signing up, as long as you haven't reported a claim. You get your premium back.
SEPA direct debit: Your permission for us to take the premium from your account.

Partners

What bike shops say about Karl.

Thanks to Karl's quick communication, we usually already know about your claim before you walk into our shop. That's top service for everyone involved.
Theresa Ferstl
Head of Marketing, Bernhard Kohl
You don't have to be called Karl to love Karl. The most likeable bike insurance for every situation in life.
Gernot Frank
Managing Director, Citybiker
We've been working with Karl for years, and in our opinion there's no insurer that acts more reliably and pays faster than this one! We can only recommend it!
Martin Zeiler
Owner, Roadbiker
In our partnership with Karl we really value how smooth, reliable and fast everything is! And we can offer our customers a brilliant extra with their bike purchase!
Sebastian Zahlbruckner
Managing Director, Nora Pure Sports