Of course, Volker Schmelter hadn’t read the fine print. “Who is reading this?” He trusted that Auto Club Europa (ACE) would come and get him if his bike broke down. Finally, his Comfort membership (annual subscription: 88.70 euros) also included a bicycle protection letter. A few months ago Schmelter, who doesn’t want to be quoted by his real name, overlooked a pothole, crashed into it with force, the rim was then down, the air escaped from the tube. And Schmelter relies on the ACE. But he told him on the phone: The place of his accident is only six kilometers from Schmelter’s place of residence. And according to the insurance conditions, you only move outside a minimum radius of ten kilometers around the place of residence of the insured person. Schmelter had to call a taxi to transport his heavy cargo bike. And then was angry: “Why do I have a letter of protection if it doesn’t protect me?”
What Schmelter only found out in retrospect: Many providers of bicycle protection letters have such rules. And there are many other things to watch out for. As more and more e-bikes have been on the road, more and more providers of bike protection letters have been on the market. The ADFC cycling club started this in 2016, and the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) also has a corresponding offer. In addition, automobile clubs such as ACE, Automobile Club Verkehr (ACV) or Auto- und Reiseclub Deutschland (ARCD) have discovered cyclists as a target group. Only the ADAC is still hesitating. Germany’s largest automobile club only provides its members with additional breakdown assistance for two-wheelers that require an insurance license plate, such as S-Pedelecs.
20 euros for a cover letter
ARCD spokesman Thomas Schreiner sees the offer introduced in August as a reaction to the changed mobility behavior of many people during the Corona crisis: “The past weeks and months have shown that cycling is becoming increasingly popular.” The protection of club members must be guaranteed regardless of the mode of transport chosen. As a result, the club does not charge a surcharge for the bike cover. It is included in the club membership, which offers breakdown and accident assistance to motorists in Europe – as is the case with most other clubs. In some cases, services can be booked.
ADFC individual members pay 56 euros (families: 68 euros). With the VCD, you have to pay nine euros per month plus an annual fee of 60 euros to get puncture protection in an emergency. Cyclists can also get away cheaper if they take out the cover letter as a single component. For example, the Roland Schutzbrief insurance charges 19.90 euros per year. HDI-Versicherung also markets their bicycle insurance. Elke Weidenbach from the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer center advises, however, to compare the services carefully. “The scope and content of the individual offers are very different. For some, to name just one example, the assumption of costs for the onward or return journey is capped,” says the expert.
On-site breakdown assistance and accessibility via a 24-hour hotline are among the key features of a bicycle cover letter. However, if you want to know the fine to larger differences, you have to research the fine print carefully. The maximum costs assumed for a rental bike or the overnight stay in the event of a breakdown also vary, as does the distance to the damage location from which the protection takes effect. It should also be checked whether the maximum cost coverage is limited or whether the protection also applies abroad.
The offer is not worthwhile for everyone
With the ARCD, for example, the assumption of costs is capped at 2000 euros per year, and “Damage events that occur outside of the Federal Republic of Germany are excluded from insurance cover,” says the conditions. The letter applies not only to the individual club member, but also to their life partner and their common minor children. With others, family packages cost extra, and international services are often only available for an extra charge, which are included with the ACV.
But do cyclists even need the services that are known from car insurance? Are costs for overnight stays, patient repatriation or towing service for cyclists not overdimensioned? “What protection letter content do I need and want to have?” – According to Weidenbach, that is the question that everyone should answer individually. Because a cover letter is not equally worthwhile for everyone. Those who only travel five kilometers to work a day tend not to need something like this and could, if necessary, transport the bike home or to the nearest workshop themselves. However, if you opt for protection in principle, Weidenbach believes that extensive services should also be included: “Even rare scenarios can be expensive, for example if you have to pay expensive unplanned overnight stays until the bike is repaired.” The bicycle protection letter is particularly interesting for people who would like to explore unknown areas away from home, says Schreiner. And for people who have to cope with longer commutes.
However, it is also possible that cyclists who have a cover letter for their car already enjoy a certain level of protection – for example, breakdown assistance if their bike runs flat. Weidenbach therefore recommends that you ask the provider of the existing car protection letter whether a bicycle protection is included before taking out the contract. Incidentally, ACE member Schmelter canceled his letter of protection at the end of the year. He does not yet know whether he will switch to another provider.
– .
