Bike Insurance Claim Process: Steps to Claim Your Two Wheeler Insurance

22 Aug 2019

Views

Having bike insurance is important these days. However, a lot of people are unaware about the various insurances offered for a bike and the inclusions and exclusions to the policy. In this article, we have tried to explain just that.

Let us begin!

To put it simply, the claim process is nothing but updating your insurance provider immediately in case of any mishap or damage your vehicle faces. Every year, insurance companies settle cases worth crores of rupees.

You can claim for bike insurance in case of accidents and loss. But to get the desired coverage from your insurance provider, you have to inform them regarding the mishap. This entire process is known as a bike insurance claim.

How To Make A Bike Insurance Claim?

You are eligible to claim either of the following three cases –

Third-party liability
Damage to the vehicle
Total loss of vehicle (theft or fire)

All three cases follow three simple steps. They are explained in the following table.

Steps	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3
Third-Party liability	If your vehicle causes any damage to the third-party, contact the nearest police station immediately along with your insurance provider. In case you are the victim in the mishap, take the insurance details of the third-party involved, and inform their insurance provider.	Once your insurance provider is informed about the mishap, they will transfer the matter to the motor insurance claim committee.	The committee will then decide what amount should be paid as compensation.
Damage to the vehicle	If your vehicle incurs any damage, you are liable to inform your insurance provider as soon as possible. If you fail to report them in the specified period, your claim is likely to be rejected.	After your insurance provider is informed about the damage, they will appoint a surveyor to inspect the situation. Once the inspection is done, your insurance provider will send an approval to the garage and begin the repair work.	Your insurance provider pays the network garage or reimburses the repair expenses as per the policy terms and conditions.
Total loss of vehicle	If your vehicle is stolen or incurs a complete loss, immediately contact your insurance provider.	Submit the insurance documents with your provider. These include registration certificate, license, etc. you might be requested to surrender the original bike keys as well.	If the police are unable to locate your vehicle within the specified period, they will issue a non-traceable certificate. You will have to submit this certificate to your insurance provider who will then settle the claim depending on the policy terms and conditions.

How To Claim Insurance For A Bike Accident?

At the accident scene

In case of a two-wheeler accident, alert the traffic and inform the nearest police station
If any individual is injured in the mishap, call for an ambulance
Ensure that you do not give out any statement taking ownership of the accident to police, witnesses, any third-party involved, or the insurance adjusters
Take names and contact details of the third-party involved in the accident
Get a clear idea of the accident timeline. If possible, take pictures of the scene and note down any necessary information that may hold relevance later

Fault Assessment

In case the third-party involved is responsible for the accident, your insurer will work alongside their insurer for the damage expenses
If the damage expenses incurred are more than the limit mentioned in your policy, the insurer will offer you an amount (after factoring in deductibles). Consult a lawyer if you and the insurer do not seem to agree on any amount
Also, carefully review the accident report as well as the fault assessment document issued by your insurer. You can request your insurer to provide you with these details. In case you believe you are falsely held guilty for the accident, you can take an objection and request for a reassessment. If the insurer refuses to reassess your case, you may seek legal help

Property Damage

Getting accidental damage repaired at one of the network garages is a reliable and cost-saving choice
It eliminates the hassle involved in claim settlement as the repair expenses incurred with be reimbursed by your insurer directly
In case the damage repair cost exceeds the claim settlement cost, then you will have to bear the additional cost from your pocket
Meanwhile, some insurer also provides a replacement bike

Physical Damage

If you happen to have incurred bodily injuries during the accident, you can avail compensation on the hospitalisation costs as well. Personal accident cover is included in the basic comprehensive two wheeler insurance plan. In case the injury is severe, you can avail additional compensation under permanent disability and more.

Settlement Agreement with Third-Party

Do not make any agreement with the third-party involved in the accident
If you happen to settle the matter through various other means, you cannot make a claim against the involve third-party
Your insurance plan will be terminated if you make any undisclosed deals related to the accident
Hence, in case of mishaps, it is recommended to file a police report. Further, inform the incident to the insurer as well. After the investigation, make a claim and wait for the results

How to Claim Insurance For Two Wheeler Insurance

Here’s what you need to do in case your bike is stolen -

File an FIR at your nearest police station
Inform your insurer regarding the incident
Inform the RTO. It further provides you with an RTO transfer paper along with Form 28, 29, 30, and 35
Get a copy of the No Trace report of the bike from the police station. The report may take at least 30 days to be generated
Submit these documents to your insurer
After verifying the submitted documents and your claim application, the insurer will determine the Insured Declared Value (IDV) of your stolen bike. This is only in case if the vehicle is not found post 90 days from the recorded theft date
The entire process may take a few months, but you will certainly receive compensation for your stolen bike once your claim is accepted

How to Claim Scooty Insurance?

Claiming on your scooty insurance is no different. The procedures are the same as that of bike insurance. You can refer to the details explained earlier to make a successful claim on your scooty insurance.

Type of Bike Insurance Claims

There are two types of bike insurance claims –

Cashless Claims
Reimbursement Claims

The following table will help you understand more regarding the two claims.

	Cashless Claims	Reimbursement Claims
Definition	If you apply for a cashless claim with your insurance provider, you are not required to pay for any damage repairs from your pocket.	If you apply for a reimbursement claim, then you have to pay for the damage incurred from your pocket. Your insurance provider later pays you back for the loss.
Garage Network	Your insurance providers will have its network of garages, and you will have to get your bike repaired from one of these only.	Here, the garage that you choose to repair your bike with does not necessarily have to be one of the network garages.
Deductions	You do not have to pay for anything other than the deductible as your insurance provider will take care of the rest.	You are required to pay the entire repair amount along with the deductible. Later, your insurance provider will eliminate the deductible amount and reimburse the remaining cost.

What is Claim Settlement Ratio?

The claim settlement ratio is usually the concern of your insurance provider. However, it is quite helpful to be informed about it. As a matter of fact, the claim settlement ratio is the percentage of the total claims approved and settled by the insurer to the total claims received in a financial year.

The IRDA is liable to provide claim settlement ratio to each insurance company in the market functioning under them. This ratio allows insurance companies to determine the company’s performance and customer satisfaction level.

The equation for the claim settlement ratio is as follows –

[Claims Settled In A Year / Claims Received In A Year] x 100

The higher the ratio, the more reliable the insurance company will be.

Things to Remember When Filing a Claim

Following are a few things that you need to remember when filing an insurance claim.

1. Claim Rejections

In some instances, the insurance provider rejects the claim. Although it may sound impractical, it is still possible. Your insurance provider can deny your claim in the following cases:

Submission of incomplete or false information
If you fail to inform your insurance provider regarding the mishap during the stipulated time
You or the driver was under any influence of intoxicants during the accident
Invalid license
It is a second-hand vehicle, and the insurance is under the previous owner’s name
Use of vehicle for illegal activities
Get the vehicle repaired without/before informing the insurance provider
The repair cost is higher than the value of the bike
Damage is caused outside the country
Damage is deliberately caused
Use of vehicle in the area of a potential nuclear attack
Use of vehicle in a war zone
Electrical or mechanical breakdown
Use of vehicle for a purpose other than the stated one
Consequential loss
If you forget to renew bike insurance policy

2. Claim Settlement

Generally, the claim settlement process should be smooth. So to ensure hassle-free claim process, keep in mind the following things:

Have a valid license
Don’t drink and drive
Follow the traffic regulations
Read your insurance policy paperwork carefully
Be aware of your policy coverage (inclusions and exclusions)

3. Necessary Documents

Keep the following documents handy when filing a claim:

Copy of registration certificate
Copy of police FIR
Copy of your insurance policy
Copy of your license
Original repair bills and cash receipts

The Conclusion

Having a complete understanding of your bike insurance policy is essential. You can then proceed to buy bike insurance online or in-person. Many insurance providers also offer two-wheeler insurance renewal online.

Are you looking for bike insurance?

In that case, get in touch with us at Finserv Markets. With Two-Wheeler Insurance available on Finserv Markets, you can benefit from features like 24x7 assistance, cash-free servicing, and so much more. So, apply for Two-Wheeler Insurance with us, today!

“Finserv MARKETS, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, is a one-stop digital marketplace that has been created for consumers on the go. It offers 500+ financial and lifestyle products, all at one place. At Finserv MARKETS, we understand that every individual is different. And that’s why we have invested in creating a proposition – Offers You Value. A value proposition that ensures you get offers which are tailor made for you. We also offer an amazing product range and unique set of online offers across Loans, Insurance, Investment, Payments and an exclusive EMI store. Be it in helping you achieve your financial life goals or offering you the latest gadgets, we strive to offer what you are looking for. From simple and fast loan application processes to seamless and hassle-free claim-settlements, from no cost EMIs to 4 hours product delivery, we works towards fulfilling all your personal and financial needs. What’s more! Now enjoy the same benefits in just one click with our Finserv MARKETS App.”

Bike Insurance In Depth