No state will register cyclists, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still get third-party insurance

According to some cyclists you’re “mad if you don’t” pay the money to protect yourself and others on the road.

While some motorists complain long and hard that cyclists aren’t forced to pay registration fees, no state is going to start making them, but there is one fee cyclists can pay to protect themselves and others on the road.

Some of them already are paying it, whether they know it or not.

When motorists pay to register their car they pay a registration fee to the state government where they live as well as for compulsory third-party insurance.

The registration fees are “incorporated into the whole-of-government consolidated fund which is used to pay for all sorts of important state government initiatives,” the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads explained after a spirited debate developed on its Facebook page over whether cyclists should be forced to pay rego fees too.

“The costs to develop and administer a registration scheme and the costs to members of the public to register their bikes outweigh the benefits we’d see from it – which is why there isn’t a jurisdiction in Australia that registers them,” it added.

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Compulsory third-party insurance is designed to compensate others if you get into an incident on the roads that’s ruled to be your fault.

Cyclists don’t pay compulsory third-party insurance either, but some argue they should, especially in lieu of registration.

“Short of specific tolls there is no mechanism to explicitly charge for road use, all Australians already pay via the smorgasbord of taxes and duties levied,” news.com.au reader wingn commented on a recent article.

“Having said that I am all in favour of bicycles being registered with compulsory third-party insurance as with cars, trucks and motorcycles,” they added.

While not compulsory, insurance is available for cyclists, through insurance providers (in some cases it’s included in insurance policies you already pay for) as well as through membership in cycling clubs.

“Auscycling membership gives you insurance for $80,” reader Drody commented adding you’re “mad if you don’t”.

“I would be willing to pay $50 rego if it stops the argument,” Drody added.

Not all cyclists know insurance is available to protect others on the road as well as themselves. Picture: Toby Zerna

A survey from comparison site Finder in September found people were broadly supportive of cyclists having compulsory insurance, with 60 per cent in favour of the idea.

But until it’s actually compulsory (if it ever is), there are plenty of other ways to get insured.

If you have an active life insurance policy you can check your policy to see if it has accident cover and income protection that covers you on the road, though if you’ve started cycling since you first took out your policy you may need to get it amended.

It’s also worth checking the insurance offered by your super fund if you haven’t opted out of paying for that.

These policies will cover yourself but not third-parties, if you happen to cause a crash or otherwise injure someone while cycling.

Some home and contents insurance policies provide protection for your bike and third-party liability damage.

If you’re only after the latter, Cycling Australia and specialist cycling insurer Velosure offer third-party insurance.

Velosure’s third-party policy covers third-party property damage cover up to $20,000,000, damage by an uninsured driver, and third-party bodily injury for $60 per year.

Originally published as No state will register cyclists, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still get third-party insurance