Electric bike: compulsory insurance from Europe

The European Parliament and the Council have reached a preliminary agreement to exclude e-bikes from insurance obligations. Good news for users.

Mandatory for all motorized two-wheelers, electric bike insurance will remain optional. The Automobile Insurance Directive (MID) proposal introduced in 2018 has caused a stir in the bicycle industry as it compares electric bicycles to insured vehicles. In the end, the European Parliament and the Council reached a new interim agreement that excludes electric bicycles from insurance obligations.

« With this political agreement, we managed to end the excessive and absurd regulation of e-bikes and some other categories such as motorsport. »Dita Charanzova, Rapporteur of the European Parliament, reacted.

The agreement must now be formally approved by parliament and council. Once approved, the directive will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The new rules will begin to apply 24 months after the entry into force of the text.

Liability insurance is still recommended

If it is not mandatory from the moment the electric bike does not exceed 250 watts of power and 25 km / h with assistance, liability insurance is highly recommended.

Without it, you will have to repair (and pay) for damage caused to third parties. Therefore, it is best to sign up for a guarantee, which is often included in multi-risk housing contracts. Otherwise, you can sign a specific civil liability contract with the insurer.

See also: electric bike adjustment