Motorists often join motor clubs to ensure breakdown assistance or they take out breakdown insurance. Only recently did I find out that similar insurance policies are available for cyclists. It’s a good idea. A moments daydreaming and a pothole can lead to a bent or broken frame or wheel. When commuting this is probably not a serious problem as you can lug your bike to the next bike shop and have it repaired but if you are half way up an Alp and you need to be at the airport at six o’clock the next morning it is a completely different kettle of fish. If you are considering a European tour when the present excitement dies down it’s definitely worth buying one of these policies.
In general the insurance companies offer the following services, but as ever it pays to read the small print of the policy:
- A hotline emergency number open 24/7.
- In the event of a bicycle failure: onward and return journey service, rental bicycle service, breakdown and accident assistance, salvage, removal, bicycle transport service, bicycle storage, bicycle customs clearance and scrapping (abroad) and help with bicycle repair.
- In the event of illness or accident: overnight service, visit to the sick, return of children, bicycle return transport, patient return transport
- In the event of an unforeseen interruption of travel abroad: return travel service, help in the event of bankruptcy of the tour operator
- In case of emergencies: Immediate help in the event of loss of means of payment, document service, workshop service, key service
The following clubs and a company offer breakdown insurance. This list is probably not comprehensive.
| Country - organisation | Breakdown Service | Cost | Comment |
| UK - Environmental Transport Association https://www.eta.co.uk/ | Cycle Rescue Cover | £24 annually | Europe wide |
| Germany - Allgeminer Deutscher Fahrrad Club (ADFC) https://www.adfc.de (in German) | ADFC-Pannenhilfe
| Free to members | Limited to Germany. |
| Germany - Allgeminer Deutscher Fahrrad Club (ADFC) https://www.adfc.de (in German) | ADFC Pannenhilfe PLUS | 11.90€ for a single person annually 19.90€ for each member of family annually. Only members can join the scheme. | Europe wide |
Germany - Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) https://www.vcd.org/startseite/ (in German)
| Plus Fahrrad-Schutzbrief | 9€ annually for members. | Europe wide |
| Germany - ROLAND Schutzbrief-Versicherung-AG 50664 Köln https://www.roland-schutzbrief.de/privatkunden_1/fahrrad_schutzbrief/fahrradschutzbrief.html (in German) | Fahrrad-Schutzbrief | 19.90€ for a single person annually 29.90€ for each member of family annually. Open to all. | Europe wide. It is the same policy as the one offeredby the VCD |
| Luxembourg - Automobile Club Luxembourg https://www.acl.lu/en-us/assistance-avantages/assistances-membres/nos-assistances-assurances/nos-assistances/acl-bike-assistance | Bike Assistance | 25€ annually | Assistance within the Duchy of Luxembourg up to a distance of 50km outside the border |
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