IBAO cautions of liability exposures with use of e-bikes and scooters

The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) is warning consumers using vehicles such as scooters and electronic bicycles (e-bikes) that these vehicles offer limited or no liability coverage on a consumer’s insurance policy.
In a statement, IBAO CEO Randy Carroll said the association’s warning was prompted by an increasing number of advertisements at the dealer level stating that these bikes require no insurance.
“While this statement is in fact true, these vehicles still pose a real danger,” Carroll said. “Ontario citizens need to know that they may have no liability coverage if they get into an accident with one of these vehicles and they could find themselves without coverage if they cause property damage or worse, injure another person.”
Habitational policies exclude “motorized vehicles except for lawnmowers, other gardening equipment, snow blowers, wheelchairs and motorized golf carts on the golf premises.” However, a good number of policies exclude e-bikes and other such vehicles.