Electric-powered transport is becoming part of everyday life.
From e-scooters and e-bikes to e-skateboards and electric ATV-style vehicles on farms, these devices are now common around homes, workplaces and communities.
But while technology has moved quickly, insurance policies haven’t always kept pace.
A recent review of policy wordings shows that many insurers treat electric personal transport devices very differently — often creating unexpected gaps in both property and liability cover.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Contents Cover: The Sub-Limit Trap
Many standard Home & Contents policies do include cover for electric devices such as:
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E-scooters
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E-bikes
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E-skateboards
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Similar personal mobility devices
However, this cover is usually:
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Subject to low sub-limits
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Restricted to while the item is at your home
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Not covered while in use on roads or footpaths
In some policies, cover for these devices is capped at as little as $5,000 in total, regardless of how many devices you own or what they’re worth.
What this means for you
If your e-bike or scooter is worth more than the policy sub-limit, you may be underinsured in the event of theft, fire or damage.
Action:
Check your policy schedule and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to confirm:
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Whether a sub-limit applies
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The maximum amount payable
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Where the device is covered (on premises vs in use)
2. Legal Liability: The Biggest and Most Overlooked Risk
This is where many people are most exposed.
Most Home & Contents policies provide up to $20 million in personal liability cover for injury to third parties or damage to their property.
However, many policies exclude liability arising from motor vehicles — and this is where electric transport often falls through the cracks.
Common exclusions include:
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E-scooters and e-skateboards being classified as “motor vehicles”
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No liability cover if you injure a pedestrian while riding
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No cover for legal defence costs or court-awarded damages
Some insurers explicitly exclude all liability claims connected to electric personal transport devices, even when:
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They are low-powered
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They are unregistered
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Local laws allow their use
Why this matters
If you collide with a pedestrian or damage property, you could be personally responsible for medical costs, legal fees and compensation — with no insurance support.
3. Farm Policies and Electric ATV-Style Vehicles
For rural and farming clients, electric ATVs (e-ATVs) and similar vehicles require extra attention.
These vehicles are often:
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Classified as motor vehicles
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Excluded from both property and liability cover
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Only covered if specifically noted as unregistered, farm-use exceptions
This can apply even when the vehicle:
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Never leaves the property
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Is used solely for work purposes
Action:
Farm policyholders should confirm whether electric ATVs are:
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Listed on the policy
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Covered for accidental damage
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Included under public and products liability
The Bottom Line
Do not assume electric transport devices are automatically covered.
Cover may be:
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Excluded entirely
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Restricted to the home only
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Limited by low sub-limits
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Void if the device has been modified from factory settings
Insurance outcomes depend heavily on how the device is classified in your policy wording, not how you personally use it.
What You Should Do Next
✔ Review your current policy
✔ Confirm whether your electric vehicle is covered, excluded or sub-limited
✔ Check both property and liability sections
✔ Speak with your insurance adviser before a claim occurs
At Arbor Insurance, we help clients identify these gaps early and make sure their cover actually reflects real-world use — at home, on the road, or on the farm.
If you own or are considering an electric scooter, bike or ATV, talk to us before assuming you’re covered.