E-bike insurance comparison: costs & benefits
Which is the best e-bike insurance for your needs? The benefits and costs of insuring an e-bike vary greatly. Comparis shows the differences in Switzerland.
26.03.2026
iStock/AndreyPopov
1. What are the different e-bike categories?
Swiss law (Art. 18 VTS) distinguishes between three e-bike categories:
Slow e-bikes or «light mopeds»
Powerful e-bikes or «fast mopeds»
Cargo e-bikes Over 250 kg in weight or with a power output of over 500 watts, or «heavy mopeds»
This distinction is also central to the choice of e-bike insurance.
Maximum 500 watts motor power
Electric drive with assisted pedalling up to Maximum 25 km/h
Gross vehicle weight of no more than 250 kg including load
No compulsory liability insurance
No number plate required
No driving licence required from 16 years of age
Maximum 1 kilowatt motor power
Electric drive with assisted pedalling up to Maximum 45 km/h
Gross vehicle weight of maximum 200 kilograms including load
Single-track with only one seat
Moped driving licence required (licence M, automatically included in category B driving licence)
Requires rear-view mirror and a speedometer
Lights must be type-approved
Helmet required
Yellow number plate
Maximum motor power of 2 kW
Electric propulsion up to a maximum of 25 km/h
Gross vehicle weight of a maximum of 450 kg including load
Multi-track, but no more than 1 m wide
Moped driving licence required (licence M, automatically included in category B driving licence)
Requires rear-view mirror
Lights must be type-approved
Yellow number plate
2. Which insurance covers damage to an e-bike?
For the insurance of your e-bike, various types of cover are available. In this overview, you can find out which insurance covers damage to your e-bike.
Liability insurance
Optional for light mopeds: Covers damage you cause to others. This includes both personal injury and property damage. Cover provided by personal liability insurance. Check your policy to see if damage caused by e-bikes is covered.
Compulsory for fast and heavy mopeds: The insurance is provided as collective insurance through the Road Traffic Office in your canton of residence. After you have registered your e-bike for the first time, you will usually receive an invoice each year. If you pay this invoice, your e-bike will remain registered, and you will receive the insurance sticker for the year.
Liability insurance is worth having
Comparis tip: Damage to third parties can result in costs amounting to millions. Therefore, personal liability insurance is generally worthwhile, whether or not you have an e-bike.
Home contents insurance
Home contents insurance covers damage to your personal belongings. These include:
Theft at home
For theft away from home you need an additional cover in home contents insurance.
Depending on the insurance policy, not all e-bikes are covered. Check your insurance policy.
Protect your e-bike from the weather and theft
Comparis tip: Home contents insurance is usually useful, especially if you own a slow e-bike – or if you own a fast e-bike and your chosen home contents insurance also covers damage to fast e-bikes.
However: Even if you don’t have an e-bike, it’s worth taking out home contents insurance.
E-bike insurance
Depending on the policy, e-bike insurance covers most types of damage to e-bikes. Depending on the insurance policy, these may also include:
Personal negligence
Damage to a parked e-bike
Theft
In addition, various insurance companies offer additional services such as breakdown assistance or legal protection.
In addition to special e-bike insurance, a bicycle insurance, moped insurance or valuables insurance.
Comparis tip: As a general rule, e-bike insurance is useful for more expensive and new e-bikes, as well as for all powerful and heavy e-bikes.
3. Comparison of e-bike insurance in Switzerland: which one is right for me?
You can take out e-bike insurance separately or as an add-on to your home contents insurance policy. Depending on the insurer, the following may be covered:
Theft
Vandalism
Damage to your e-bike or battery
Equipment
Breakdown assistance
Legal protection insurance
The types of cover can vary greatly. Therefore, it’s best to compare different insurance policies.
These providers offer special bicycle or e-bike insurance:
Good to know: Some e-bike insurance policies offer Europe-wide roadside assistance protection.
4. How much does it cost to insure an e-bike?
The cost of an e-bike insurance policy depends on the casco cover, the sum insured, and the deductible.
Similar to car insurance, you can choose between basic protection with a lower premium or comprehensive cover at a higher premium. It’s worth comparing, as prices vary considerably.
For example: Bicycle insurance from the VCS starts at CHF 45 per year. With TCS, you pay at least CHF 57 per year.
5. Is an e-bike covered by household contents insurance?
Light motor-assisted bicycles are often covered by household contents insurance. For example, damage due to natural hazards is covered. In addition, the insurance covers theft of your e-bike at your home – with additional cover you are also insured in the event of theft away from home theft away from home.
Powerful and heavy e-bikes may also be covered by home contents insurance, depending on the insurer/policy. Depending on the insurer, a supplemental option or separate cover may be needed.
6. Who pays if my e-bike is stolen?
With an e-bike insurance, moped insurance or valuables insurance you are protected against financial losses caused by theft both at home and away from home.
If your e-bike is covered by home contents insurance, you are only covered for theft at home. If you also want to be protected against theft away from home, choose the additional cover «simple theft away from home».
Please note: the sum insured with the «simple theft away from home» add-on to home contents insurance is often limited and may be insufficient in the event of a premium too low for more expensive e-bikes.
7. Who pays if my e-bike is damaged?
To cover damage you cause yourself it is recommended to have an e-bike insurance. Moped insurance or valuables insurance may also be an option.
Good to know: home contents insurance without supplemental cover does not cover damage you cause yourself.
8. What else do I need to know about e-bike insurance?
Whether you have home contents or valuables insurance: check the sum insured, so that you are not underinsured after purchasing the bike.
New or current value? Make sure you know exactly what would be paid out.
Check whether it might be better to take out additional cover on your existing home contents insurance rather than taking out separate e-bike insurance.
9. Conclusion: Which insurance should I take out for my e-bike?
If you own an e-bike, financial protection against damage and theft is worthwhile. The home contents insurance applies here, depending on the policy, for slow e-bikes up to 25 km/h. With some insurers, damage to fast and heavy e-bikes is also covered without additional insurance.
For more expensive e-bikes as well as for fast and heavy e-bikes, additional cover is usually worthwhile. For financial protection against theft away from home, damage or loss some home contents insurance policies offer special optional extras for e-bikes. Separate all-risk cover is also an option, for example via e-bike insurance or valuables insurance.
10. FAQs on e-bike insurance in Switzerland
For powerful and heavy e-bikes you need liability insurance. You take out this insurance through the Road Traffic Office in your canton when you apply for the yellow registration plate.
All other insurance policies are optional. However, it’s often worth insuring your e-bike against damage and theft. To do this, you can either take out an additional cover under your home contents insurance or a separate bicycle insurance policy.
Good to know: lightweight e-bikes are often insured against theft and natural hazards under your home contents insurance.
Which insurance covers e-bike theft depends on your e-bike and your insurance cover depends on:
Lightweight e-bike: Lightweight e-bikes are often covered by home contents insurance – but only in the event of theft at home. For theft away from home you need additional cover.
Fast and heavy e-bikes: Some home contents insurance policies also cover fast and expensive e-bikes. In some cases, however, you will need additional cover. Alternatively, you can also take out a special bicycle insurance policy or a Valuables insurance.
This article was first published on 11.04.2019
