Insuring your two-wheeler is mandatory in India as per the Motor Vehicles Act. Bike insurance protects your vehicle against unforeseen mishaps like accidents, theft, natural disasters, and fire.
However, you must know the claim procedures accurately to avail of the insurance benefits. Any mistake in the claim process can lead to a loss of insurance benefits. Here’s a detailed explanation of the different types of claims and the steps to make one
What are the Different Types of Bike Insurance Claims?
You can claim bike insurance after an accident in two ways:
- Cashless Claims
In cashless claims, you can get accidental repairs and replacements from any of your insurance provider’s network garages. You do not need to pay anything out of pocket. The company will look after everything.
- Reimbursement
You can also opt for the reimbursement claim. In this process, you can get the vehicle repaired from any garage and claim a reimbursement from your insurer. However, in this case, you need to produce the repair bills to the insurance company as proof.
Does the Claim Procedure Vary with the Type of Insurance Policy?
The claim procedure is the same for all three bike insurance policies: Third-party, comprehensive, and OD bike insurance.
For third-party bike insurance, you can claim accident coverage only for the other person’s vehicle and life. It is a mandatory policy that every vehicle owner must follow to abide by the law. If you want accidental coverage for your bike as well, you can purchase your own damage (OD) insurance policy along with third-party insurance.
Own damage bike insurance covers the policyholder’s vehicle against accidents, natural calamities, theft, and fire. However, it does not cover the injuries or losses caused to the policyholder.
So, if you want extensive coverage for both the bike and yourself and third-party losses, a comprehensive policy is ideal. Moreover, you can extend the benefits of a comprehensive insurance policy by purchasing add-ons with the basic plan.
How to Make an Accidental Claim for a Two-Wheeler Insurance Policy?
As already discussed, there are two types of insurance claim processes. The claim procedure for both the cashless and reimbursement methods is provided below:
Steps for Cashless Accidental Claim
Here are the steps to follow for a cashless claim:
Step 1 –
The first step involves informing the insurance company about the accident. You need to inform them within 24 hours of the accident by calling their toll-free number or emailing. It is essential to click the pictures of the damaged vehicles and get some witnesses of the event to strengthen your claim.
Step 2 –
Next, you must register the claim by providing the insurer with the necessary information, including incident details and policy numbers, when they contact you.
Step 3 –
The insurance company will send a supervisor to assess the severity of the damages and injuries. You must also provide the vehicle registration number if your car has caused any third-party damage.
The supervisor will provide an estimate for the repair costs and collect your documents, accident proof, and a complete claim form.
Note: For the online claim process, you need to upload all the documents and claim forms along with the photographs of the vehicle to the insurer’s website.
Step 4 –
After supervision, your bike will be sent to the nearest network garage for repairs and replacements.
Step 5 –
The surveyor approves the claim after assessing the damage and other aspects of the accident. Then, the insurer confirms liabilities, deducts depreciation and deductibles, and pays repair costs directly to the garage under policy terms.
Steps for the Reimbursement Process
Here are the steps to follow while claiming reimbursement for your bike insurance policy:
Step 1 –
First, you need to inform the insurance company about the accident within 24 hours of the incident. You can call, email, or visit the nearest branch of your insurance provider to do so.
Note: Do not move the bike until the survey process is completed from the insurer’s end.
Step 2 –
The insurance company will send an executive to inspect the damages and collect details of the accident and policy number from you. They will also provide you with a claim registration number.
Step 3 –
After assessment, you can take the bike to any garage you prefer and get the repairs and replacements done. In this case, you need to make the payments from your pocket. Once the repair is done, collect all the receipts and bills to file a reimbursement claim from your insurer.
Provide all the bills, policy documents and other papers as needed. After verifying the details, the insurance company will disburse your claim amount to your account.
What are the Documents Required to Claim a Bike Insurance Policy?
Here are some of the documents that you need to provide while claiming accidental coverage against your bike insurance policy:
- Certificate of the bike insurance policy
- The policyholder’s driving license
- PUC (pollution under control) certificate of the bike
- RC (registration certificate)
- FIR (first information report), if needed
- Proof of identification (Any KYC documents or Aadhaar Card)
- Original bills and receipt of the bike repairs in case of reimbursement
- Cancelled cheque, etc.
How to Avoid Bike Insurance Claim Rejection?
Your bike insurance claim may get rejected for various reasons. Avoiding those mistakes can help reduce the chances of a claim rejection. Here’s what you need to do:
- Fill Out the Claim Form Accurately
Providing inaccurate information in the insurance claim form increases the chance of a claim rejection. So, you must fill out the form carefully with all the necessary information.
- Follow Driving Rules
If the accident occurs due to your alcoholic state of intoxication, the insurance company will not cover the damage. Besides, if you were driving without a valid driving license, you cannot claim bike insurance coverage for accidents. So, you must follow the rules and always carry a valid driving license.
- Do not Delay in Informing Your Insurer
You should inform the insurance company about the accident within 24 hours of the incident. Any delay in this procedure can lead to a claim rejection.
- Carry Valid Documents
If your bike insurance policy has expired, you cannot claim for accidental cover. So, ensure that you are carrying a valid two-wheeler insurance policy document. Also, keep your claim documents in proper order to avoid any inconvenience.
So, now that you have a clear idea about the bike insurance policy types and claiming process, you can avail of insurance benefits seamlessly. Make sure to inform your insurer immediately after the accident to ensure faster claim settlement.
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