Show notes
Beatriz is a city dweller who never learned how to drive a car. However, recently she got tired of the train and decided to get an E-bike. She bought an old E-bike off a friend, purchased a battery from AftermarketBatteries.biz, and soon was zipping through the streets. Her friends even got her a "bumper sticker" that reads "Beatriz's Car" for the side. But one night, it caught fire while charging outside her apartment door. Is it a covered motor vehicle under the standard ISO HO-3 form? Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - E-bikes are becoming increasingly common in cities, raising new insurance questions, particularly around how coverage applies when losses occur. [ 02:23 ] - E-bike Trivia: Rainy Days & Freezing Batteries [ 04:12 ] - Coverage disputes often center on whether an e-bike qualifies as a motor vehicle under the HO3 form, with fire and theft being frequent causes of loss. [ 06:34 ] - E-bikes are classified into three classes based on speed and power, which affect where they can be ridden and complicate insurance coverage determinations. [ 08:24 ] - The 2022 HO3 form clarified that e-bikes with throttles are motor vehicles, unlike the 2011 edition, which did not define related terms. [ 11:42 ] - Pedal-assist-only e-bikes are generally not considered self-propelled, but throttle-equipped bikes risk being excluded as motor vehicles under certain policies. [ 13:22 ] - Policy language can lag behind technology, creating a gap where there is uncertainty in coverage. [ 16:14 ] - Expensive e-bikes may require endorsements for coverage, since they can fall into property-not-covered provisions under homeowners insurance. [ 17:05 ] - Urban fires linked to aftermarket batteries prompted new laws, such as requiring UL Certification in New York, to improve e-bike safety. [ 19:17 ] - Sonia provides a recap of the points above. Your PLRB Resources Coverage Question: Is an E-Bike Considered a Motor Vehicle in Minnesota? https://www.plrb.org/documents/is-an-e-bike-a-motor-vehicle-in-minnesota-pcq-2024-11-11-jch-a FAQ: E-Bikes and First Party Issues https://www.plrb.org/documents/e-bikes-and-first-party-issues/?search=ebike Recorded Webinar: Transportation Network Companies: Driving into the Future Webinar https://members.plrb.org/education/courses/transportation-network-companies-driving-into-the-future-webinar Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company. Subscribe to this Podcast Your Podcast App - Please subscribe and rate us on your favorite podcast app YouTube - Please like and subscribe at @plrb LinkedIN - Please follow at "Property and Liability Resource Bureau" Send us your Scenario! Please reach out to us at 630-509-8704 with your scenario! This could be your "adjuster story" sharing a situation from your claims experience, or a burning question you would like the team to answer. In any case, please omit any personal information as we will anonymize your story before we share. Just reach out to [email protected]. Sponsorship PLRB thanks Pilot Catastrophe Services for its Diamond Sponsorship of the 2025 Claims Conference. "Pilot provides a complete suite of services to handle claims arising from catastrophic events, small storms or daily claims." Visit pilotcat.com! Legal Information The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate. Music: "Piece of Future" by Keyframe_Audio. Pixabay. Pixabay License. Font: Metropolis by Chris Simpson. SIL OFL 1.1. Icons: FontAwesome (SIL OFL 1.1) and Noun Project (royalty-free licenses purchased via subscription). Sound Effects: Pixabay (Pixabay License) and Freesound.org (CC0).

