As per the information released by the Ministry of Road Transportation, one bike theft is reported in India every 15 minutes.
A closer look at this data reveals urban cities like Delhi and Mumbai have considerable higher cases of two-wheeler theft. Last year, approximately 2850 and 2460 instances of two-wheeler theft were recorded in the respective cities. This indicates that it is highly likely that your bike could also disappear from the parking space if you are not careful.
However, you don't have to stress if you have a comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policy to shield you and your bike from any such unexpected dangers.
Read on to know how a two-wheeler insurance policy protects you financially in case your bike or Activa gets stolen.
Advantages of Two Wheeler Insurance Against Theft
Imagine you are on the way to visit your best friend. You decided to catch up on some gossip while watching football with pizza. As soon as you arrive at the building, you notice the parking space is full. You look for an empty spot around but can’t find any. All of a sudden, your smartphone vibrates with a message – GOAL!
You get excited and decide to leave your bike at the empty spot on the road. You park the bike and rush to your friend's home. After about 2 hours when your team has won the football match and you have won the pizza hogging competition, you leave. When you arrive at the spot, you discover your bike is missing.
In practically no time, you understand your bike has been stolen!
With a comprehensive bike insurance policy, you can remain calm even in case of bike theft.
comprehensive bike insurance secures your bike against unexpected events like burglary and theft. In the event that your bike is stolen, your insurer will repay you for the loss. The total sum of compensation is equal to the Insured Declared Value (IDV) of your bike as mentioned in the policy.
However, there are certain documents required to complete the two-wheeler theft claim process.
Steps To File a Two Wheeler Theft Claim
1. File a First Information Report (FIR) -
As soon as you find that your bike has been stolen, lodge an FIR (First Information Report) at the closest police station.
2. Inform your Insurance Provider -
Once you have documented the FIR, call your insurance provider on their dedicated customer helpline number and explain the entire scenario. Once you have informed all about your two-wheeler and policy details, just follow the steps as per the company’s instructions, which will also include filing up of some important claim forms.
3. Notify the RTO -
According to the law, it is important to let your RTO know about the theft of your bike. You will also need to finish some legal formalities to get the RTO to issue official transfer papers along with other necessary reports.
4. Complete the Documentation Process
Once you have let the authorities know, you will need to submit Form 26, 28, 29, 30 and Form 35 along with your bike keys. Often, insurers ask to submit your two original keys to process the claim. You may also need some extra documents like -
- Two Wheeler insurance policy papers.
- Self-attested copy of the driving license
- Self-attested copy of RC book
- Copy of the original FIR
- Letter to the RTO
- RTO Transfer papers
5. Submit an Untraceable Report of Your Stolen Two-wheeler
If the police fail to trace your bike for over 30 days, an untraceable report will be issued. This report is official evidence that your bike was stolen and can not be found. You can present this to your insurance provider and the claim will be settled successfully.
Wonder what to do if you have a bike on loan and gets stolen?
Advice to the New Bike Owners: Opt for an Return to Invoice (RTI) Add-on Cover
If you are planning to buy a new bike or already a new one, then this is what you must know. And especially, you are buying it on a loan. If you have taken a loan for a new two-wheeler or high-end bike from a bank, it is recommended to invest in the Invoice Protection Add-on cover at the time of purchasing.
Invoice Protection Add-on Cover:
Invoice Protection Add-on cover offers an extra layer of protection, especially in the case of theft.If the claim is made due to Total theft or total constructive loss for your new bike, you would be compensated not only with IDV but with the on-road bike price, which includes, Ex-showroom of your bike + Registration charges + Road Tax Having an Invoice Protection Cover, alongside Comprehensive Cover, guarantees the Ex-showroom cost + Registration charges + Extra Taxes, not simply IDV.
This would save you a lot of money. You would be saved from a huge financial loss which comes with the bike theft.
Summary:
It is important to realize the risk associated with bike theft and invest in a Comprehensive Two-Wheeler insurance plan. This not only includes the mandatory Third Party Insurance but also covers Own Damage due to natural calamities and unexpected events like theft, strikes, riots, etc. If your bike is on loan, get an Invoice Protection Cover at the time of buying or renewal. This will help you stay financially protected even in case of bike theft.
