E-bike and cargo bike insurance in Denmark: how you're covered

An electric cargo bike at DKK 35,000 is, in many households, the most expensive thing the family owns after the car — and one of the most stolen. Yet many owners only discover after the theft that their coverage had a cap, that the lock didn't meet the requirements, or that the battery wasn't included. This guide walks through what to check in your policy — and the two things you can fix today.

1. Home contents insurance is the starting point

In Denmark, an e-bike with pedal assist up to 25 km/h is legally an ordinary bicycle. It is therefore typically covered by the bicycle-theft part of your home contents policy — at home, on the street, and usually while travelling in the Nordics/EU (check the policy's geographic scope). The conditions are near-universal across insurers:

• Lock requirement: The bike must be locked with a frame-mounted or approved lock (section 4). No lock — no payout. It is that simple.
• Frame number: You must be able to document the bike's frame number. Note it down today — typically under the bottom bracket or on the head tube — and keep the purchase receipt digitally.
• Police report: The theft must be reported to the police, normally within a few days. The report number goes into your claim.
• Depreciation: The payout follows the insurer's depreciation table — the older the bike, the smaller the amount. A five-year-old e-bike does not trigger the as-new price.
• Deductible: Your regular deductible usually applies to bike theft too. With a high deductible, a cheap bike is effectively self-insured — another reason to know the numbers in advance.

2. The cap: is your cargo bike too expensive for the policy?

The most important — and most overlooked — point for readers of this site: many home contents policies have a maximum coverage amount per bicycle. The cap varies considerably between insurers, and an electric cargo bike in the DKK 25,000–60,000 range can easily sit above it. In that case you are only partially covered — no matter how good the lock was.

• Find your policy and look up the specific per-bike cap. If it isn't stated clearly, ask the insurer in writing — you'll want that answer in writing anyway.
• If your bike's value exceeds the cap, most insurers can extend the coverage for a supplement, or you can take out a separate bicycle insurance. The separate ones often also cover damage (crashes, tip-overs), not just theft.
• Look up your model's current price in our database so you insure the right amount — neither too little (under-insured) nor too much (overpaying for the supplement).

3. Speed pedelec (45 km/h): mandatory insurance

A speed pedelec is legally a moped in Denmark: it requires a licence plate and mandatory liability insurance. Home contents insurance is not enough, and riding without is both illegal and self-funded in an accident. All differences between the two e-bike classes are in our rules guide.

4. The lock: the requirement you control

The lock requirement is the one point entirely in your hands — and where most rejected claims arise. The requirement is typically a frame-mounted ring lock or a portable lock with a recognised approval (Varefakta in Denmark; Sold Secure and ART internationally). Our standard recommendation for anything above DKK 15,000: both — the ring lock for five-minute stops, the chain lock to secure the bike to a rack or fence.

Solid Plus fastmonteret ringlås

Frame-mounted ring lock — the baseline requirement in most policies, always on the bike.

Price checked 3 September 2026

Kildemoes webshop Ad link

DKK 299 View at Kildemoes webshop

ABUS Bordo Granit X-Plus 6000K foldelås (90 cm)

High-security folding lock — compact in its frame holder, quick to use.

Price checked 3 September 2026

Cykelpartner.dk Ad link

DKK 549 View at Cykelpartner.dk

ABUS CityChain 1060 X-Plus kædelås

Heavy chain lock for securing the bike to something solid — the classic for expensive bikes.

Price checked 3 September 2026

Cykelpartner.dk Ad link

DKK 1.044 View at Cykelpartner.dk

ABUS 770A SmartX bøjlelås med alarm

U-lock with built-in alarm — sounds when shaken, making your bike the most inconvenient target in the rack.

Price checked 31 August 2026

Cykelpartner.dk Ad link

DKK 1.522 View at Cykelpartner.dk

Always check your insurer's specific requirements — some demand particular approvals at higher bike values. And lock properly: through the frame (not just the front wheel), secured to something solid, with the lock kept off the ground so it can't be hammered.

5. The battery: the most expensive single part

An original replacement battery typically costs DKK 3,500–7,000 — see current prices for original batteries. That makes the battery a target of its own when it can be clicked off. Two things to check:

• Does the policy cover theft of the battery alone while the bike is otherwise locked? The answer varies — ask specifically.
• Take the battery inside when the bike is parked out overnight. It removes the temptation — and extends battery life in freezing weather.

6. If it happens: the four steps

• Report to the police immediately (politi.dk) — you will need the report number.
• Report to your insurer with frame number, receipt and police report number.
• Check local resale platforms for the first days — stolen e-bikes often surface quickly. Don't approach the seller yourself; tip off the police.
• Notify your bike dealer/brand dealer — the frame number can be flagged, so the bike is exposed at its next service.

7. Checklist before you sign (or renew)

• What is the per-bike cap — and is your bike below it?
• Is a frame-mounted + approved lock in place, and does it meet the policy's requirements?
• Do you have the frame number and receipt stored digitally?
• Does the policy cover battery theft and damage — or only theft of the whole bike?
• What is the deductible for bike theft?
• Do you use the bike commercially (e.g. deliveries)? Private home contents insurance typically won't stretch to that.
• Riding a speed pedelec? Liability insurance is mandatory — full stop.

Frequently asked questions

Is my e-bike covered by home contents insurance in Denmark?

Normally yes — an e-bike up to 25 km/h is legally an ordinary bicycle and is covered by the bicycle-theft part of your home contents insurance (indboforsikring), provided it was locked with a frame-mounted or approved lock, you can provide the frame number, and the theft is reported to the police. Do check the policy’s per-bike coverage cap.

Does an e-bike require separate insurance?

A regular e-bike (25 km/h): no, home contents insurance is normally enough — but expensive models can exceed the policy’s per-bike cap, in which case the coverage must be extended or supplemented. A speed pedelec (45 km/h): yes, mandatory liability insurance, like a large moped.

Which lock does the insurance require?

Typically a frame-mounted ring lock or a portable lock with a recognised approval (e.g. Varefakta, Sold Secure or ART). For expensive bikes the insurer may impose stricter requirements — check the policy. Our standard recommendation above DKK 15,000 is a ring lock plus an approved chain lock, so the bike can also be secured to something.

Is the battery covered if it is stolen on its own?

That varies between insurers. An original battery typically costs DKK 3,500–7,000, so ask specifically — and take the battery inside when the bike is parked out overnight.

Compare prices before you sign

We don't compare individual insurers ourselves (yet) — but the price difference for the same home-contents coverage can be large, and the easiest way to see it is to request identical quotes from several insurers at once:

As with everything here: the links are marked "Ad link" and change neither our advice nor any ordering — our method is open. The advice in this guide stands no matter where you buy your insurance.