How to Claim Under Bike Insurance?

As per The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, third-party two-wheeler insurance is mandatory for all bikes and scooters plying on Indian roads. It covers the third-party liabilities that may arise due to an accident or collision involving the insured two-wheeler. However, a third-party insurance policy will not cover the damages sustained by your bike.

Therefore, it is recommended for every bike owner to buy a comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policy. Apart from covering the mandatory third-party liabilities, it will also cover the losses or damages sustained by the insured bike in case of a mishap, including theft, collision, earthquake, tsunami, riot, and vandalism.

But do you know how to claim under bike insurance? Even if you don't, there is little reason to worry. In this article, you will get to know everything regarding two-wheeler insurance claims, including the steps to file a motor insurance claim. So, let's get started.

What is a bike insurance claim?

A comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policy essentially covers your bike against any loss or damage caused due to a covered peril. For example, suppose you're taking a sharp turn on your bike when you suddenly lose balance and meet with an accident, resulting in injuries and damages to you and your motorcycle both.

In such a scenario, your two-wheeler insurance provider will be liable to pay you for the financial losses suffered by you. But you need to file a motor insurance claim for that. The process of informing the insurer about the mishap and asking it to pay compensation for the loss is known as the insurance claim.

Before digging into the process of filing a bike insurance claim, let's first know about the two types of claims:

Cashless claims: Some insurers allow policyholders to get their bikes repaired without paying upfront. The only condition for this is that the bike should be taken to a garage in their network. Such claims are called cashless claims where the insurer pays directly to the garage owner to get an insured bike repaired.

Reimbursement claims: If a motor insurance policy doesn't offer cashless benefits, the policyholder must pay for repairs out of his/her own pocket. However, he/she can later file a claim with the insurance provider and get a reimbursement of the expenses. Such claims are called reimbursement claims, where the insurer pays the approved compensation to the policyholder.

How to file a bike insurance claim?

Now that you are well versed with the meaning and types of claims, let's learn about the steps to file a bike insurance claim. Usually, you may have to file a claim under any one of the following three scenarios:

• Your bike damages someone else's property or injures someone. In this case, a third party liability claim will apply.
• You meet with an accident and your bike is damaged. In such a scenario, you need to file an own damage claim.
• Your bike is stolen. In such a scenario, you will have to file an own damage claim. The insurer will declare a 'total loss', and you'll be paid the Insured Declared Value (IDV) of the vehicle.

If an insured person meets with an accident, which results in death or permanent disablement, he/she can file a claim under the Personal Accident cover for owner-driver.

Below are the steps to file a bike insurance claim:

Step 1 – Take the policy details from the opposite party and inform the insurer about the third-party claim.

Step 2 – The insurance company will forward your case to the Motor Insurance Claims Tribunal for its verdict.

Step 3 – After hearing from both the parties, the tribunal court will determine an amount that should be paid to you as compensation.

Step 4 – The insurer will transfer the compensation amount to your bank account.

Step 1 – Inform the insurance provider immediately.

Step 2 – Submit the required documents to raise the claim. If needed, file an FIR with the local police station.

Step 3 – A surveyor will be appointed by the insurer to verify the case and examine the damages.

Step 4 – If the surveyor finds your claim to be authentic, he/she will send an approval to the garage to start with the repair work.

Step 5 – In the case of a cashless claim, the expenses will be settled directly between the insurer and the garage. Whereas, in case of a reimbursement claim, the repair amount will be transferred to your bank account through National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT).

Step 1 – Inform the insurer immediately about the theft of your bike.

Step 2 – File an FIR in your local police station. This step is mandatory in this case.

Step 3 – Submit the relevant documents to the insurer to file the claim.

Step 4 – Obtain a non-traceable certificate from the police and submit it to the insurer.

Step 5 – The insurer will transfer your bike's IDV to your bank account.

Documents required for bike insurance claim

Below are the documents you need to submit to the insurer to file a claim on your bike insurance policy:

• Policy document
• Duly filled claim form
• Registration Certificate (RC) of the vehicle
• Driving license of the person driving at the time of the accident
• Police FIR copy (mandatory in cases of theft)
• Original repair invoices and bills (for reimbursement claims)
• Form 28/29/30 duly signed by the vehicle owner (in case of total loss)
• No Objection Certificate (if the vehicle is financed)

For a full list of documents and claim instructions, visit our motor claims page.

Any discrepancies in claim form or documents may lead to the rejection of your two-wheeler insurance claim. Hence, make sure to accurately fill every detail while filling the form and submit all documents carefully to avoid your claim's rejection.

A comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policy covers your bike against a wide range of risks. If your bike is still unprotected, buy two-wheeler insurance today.