Yes. Bike Index says everyone can register bikes for free, and ownership transfers are free too. Optional stickers or donations are separate from the registration itself.

Can I add a bike after it has already been stolen?

Yes. Bike Index tells owners to add a stolen bike even if it was not registered before the theft. Add every detail you still have, including the serial number, photos, receipt, police report number, and theft location.

Is my personal information public on Bike Index?

Bike Index says bike details and serial numbers are public and searchable, but owner information is not shown unless the owner chooses to share it. Owners can also hide a registration, though Bike Index advises that public records are more useful for recovery.

Does Bike Index work with police and bike shops?

Bike Index offers organization tools for law enforcement and bike shops. Police and shops can search bikes, register bikes through organization accounts, and contact owners through the platform.

Do I need a Bike Index QR sticker?

No. Registration works without a sticker. Bike Index also offers optional weatherproof, tamper-resistant QR stickers that can link a finder to the registered bike page.

Theft RegistrationPublic info checked

Bike Index bike registration profile

Free bike registration with public serial-number search, stolen-bike listings, recovery stories, and tools for shops and law enforcement.

Useful for

Commuters E-Bike Riders Competitive Cyclists

Visit Bike Index

Direct provider link. BikeSize does not earn from this link yet.

Registry reach: International registry; local partner coverage varies
Registration cost: Free core registration

Core registration

Free

Public bike search

Yes

Photos

Stored with record

Bike identifier

Optional QR sticker

What BikeSize checked

Bike Index is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013. Registration is free. An owner can add the bike's serial number, make, model, color, photos, and other identifying details, then update the listing if the bike is stolen or sold.

The registry is deliberately public. Bike details and serial numbers can be searched, while Bike Index says owner information stays private unless the owner chooses to share it. That setup gives a police officer, shop, used-bike buyer, or person who finds a bike a way to check it and contact the owner through Bike Index.

Bike Index also supports organizations, bike shops, and law enforcement accounts. Its optional weatherproof QR stickers link a physical bike to its listing, but a sticker is not required to register. BikeSize has no partnership or referral agreement with Bike Index, so every outbound button on this profile is a direct provider link.

What works well

Registration, ownership transfer, and stolen-bike reporting are free.
The public serial search helps police, shops, used-bike buyers, and people who find a bike check its status.
Owner contact details remain private unless the owner chooses to share them.
Optional QR stickers can link a recovered bike directly to its Bike Index listing.

What to double-check

Bike and serial-number details are public by design, which may not suit riders who want a private registry.
A registry cannot replace a police report, a good lock, or insurance, and recovery still depends on someone finding and checking the bike.
BikeSize has no approved Bike Index referral or partnership, so this profile cannot offer a special signup path or benefit.

How to use Bike Index

1
Create the bike record and enter every serial number stamped on the frame.
2
Add full-bike photos, close-ups, the receipt, and identifying marks.
3
If the bike is stolen, update its status and add the theft and police-report details.
4
Transfer the record to a new owner after a legitimate sale.

Recovery data note

Bike Index publishes dated recovery stories. Its About page listed more than 1,783,000 cataloged bikes and 1,850 community partners when checked on 2026-07-14; BikeSize does not turn those figures into a recovery-rate claim.

Compare another free registry

Project 529 has a separate database and recovery workflow. Some riders use both, especially when local organizations prefer one service.

Read the Project 529 profile

Lock, register, and check your coverage

These jobs solve different problems. A lock slows theft, a registry helps identify the bike, and insurance may cover the financial loss.

Lock it

Use a lock that matches the bike, location, and time it will be unattended.

Compare bike locks

Register it

Save the serial number, photos, and ownership details before you need them.

You are here

Check your coverage

Read the theft terms in your renters, homeowners, or bike policy before a claim.

Review insurance options

Service questions

Sources and review notes

Official Bike Index pages checked on 2026-07-14. The About page listed more than 1,783,000 cataloged bikes and 1,850 community partners at review time. Those live counts can change. BikeSize found no approved partnership, affiliate, or referral URL and makes no recovery-rate claim.

Compare head-to-head

Bike theft registration guide: serial numbers, photos, and recovery basics

Last reviewed 2026-07-14. Heads up: we are cyclists, not the service provider. This is general guidance based on public information; always confirm current terms with the provider. Any provider or source links on this page are direct, non-affiliate links. BikeSize does not earn a commission if you use them.