Question about an Item inside The Car That Is Stolen, Would Insurance Cover It?

meong on 04/02/2020 - 19:27
Last edited 05/02/2020 - 00:58 by 2 other users

I just recently saw a Facebook post about a guy who went to Bunnings for 15 minutes only to find that his roof-mounted bike was stolen and only the front wheel was left.

I've been thinking twice about mounting my bike outside the car and had always put the bike inside the car. My car can fit 2 bikes with the front wheels taken off and I usually never travel with more than one other cyclist. If I do, we ended up meeting at the destination with separate cars.

Now, I believe that roof or tow hitch mounted bikes cannot be claimed under your car insurance, but what about if I put the bike inside the car and someone breaks into it and takes the bike away, would I be able to get the cost of the bike covered under the car insurance?

What are your experiences with claiming lost items from inside the car? Did you have to apply for a specific package that covers the cost of the items in the car? It can be anything other than bikes such as jewelleries, phones, laptops etc.

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  Melb69 on 04/02/2020 - 19:31

  I think if you nominate it on your insurance it should be covered. Obviously your premium will be higher to cover that. Normally there is some cover for items in the car. Not a bike mounted. Interesting to see how the claim with go in terms of it being approved.

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  brad1-8tsi on 04/02/2020 - 19:51

  +1

  It wouldn't be lost, it would be stolen.

  All car insurance policies are slightly different so you need to read the PDS.

  When I got my Salsa I insured it under my contents insurance. The bike was valued at $6k and the premium increase was substantial enough that I cancelled the extra insurance after 3 years.

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  [Deactivated] on 04/02/2020 - 19:56

  +1

  I was with RACV when someone broke into my car.

  Stolen items were only covered under contents insurance.

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  o53djz7qTPY4der on 04/02/2020 - 20:22

  My bike roof racks have locks. Not unbreakable but it would be pretty difficult to get the bike off either in one piece or discreetly.

  That said, I only really leave it where I can see it or I know it's the kind of neighbourhood where it won't be stolen.

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    Euphemistic on 05/02/2020 - 10:44

    I’ve seen some ‘locked’ racks have a bike removed in under a minute. Not damage to the bike, very little to the rack. The sort that locks the clamp to the down tube. there are YouTube videos on it.

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  Godric on 04/02/2020 - 20:38

  Depends on the insurer.

  I believe depending on the items some may be covered for up to a certain amount, eg Work Tools.

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  pegaxs on 04/02/2020 - 22:58

  +1

  Change your topic heading. It wasn’t “lost inside the car” it should say “stolen from inside the car”. There is a huge difference eve between LOST and STOLEN.

  Read the PDS or call your insurer and ask.

  • 

    leiiv on 04/02/2020 - 23:28

    How can it be lost inside a car if not stolen?

    • 

      pegaxs on 04/02/2020 - 23:29

      Have you tried looking under the seats?

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  Cheeper on 05/02/2020 - 00:47

  +1

  If you left your bike mounted on the outside of your car then it would be unsecured and not covered.
  Same thing if you left your tool box in the back of a ute and it was stolen..

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  Euphemistic on 05/02/2020 - 10:46

  +1

  It depends on your car insurance, check the PDS. They usually only cover up to a certain amount of ‘contents’. Often it is as little as $500.

  If it want to insure your bike against theft, you will need to specify it on your home insurance or get a bicycle policy. I have bikes on my home insurance.