Imagine going to a friend’s place for a get-together on your beloved bike and parking it outside their building complex for a few hours. You go to their place, have some good food, enjoy the company of old friends, and you’re finally done for the night. You are ready to head back home only to find your bike is not where you parked it. Perfect night ruined instantly – your bike has been stolen!
The current data, according to leading news websites, show that a bike is stolen every 15 minutes in the Delhi-NCR region. In Mumbai, 2460 cases of bike thefts were reported in 2017. Two-wheelers are an easy target for vehicle thieves. And if you are even a bit careless about where you park, you stand to get your bike or scooter stolen.
This is a situation where a comprehensive bike insurance policy will prove to be useful. While a bike insurance policy cannot prevent theft, it can soften the blow financially. The Insured Declared Value (IDV) of the bike will be reimbursed by your bike insurance company. An important point to notice is that bike theft is not covered under a basic third-party liability insurance policy. Only a comprehensive plan offers such a benefit. You can buy bike insurance online and complete the process from the comfort of your home.
How to claim insurance for bike theft?
Step 1: Register an FIR
The first step of the claim process begins with registering an FIR. As soon as you notice that your bike has been stolen, you need to go to the nearest police station and register the First Inquiry Report or FIR. You will have to provide the basic details of your bike or two-wheeler such as registration number, model, colour, etc. to the police. Remember to carry a few copies of your bike’s registration card (RC book) and insurance documents with you. The FIR is a mandatory document for your claim process to begin.
Step 2: Intimate the Insurance Provider
Once the FIR has been registered, the next step is to contact your insurance provider and notify them about the theft and intimate that you will be filing a claim. Doing this once you have registered the FIR is necessary as your insurance provider must also complete certain formalities. In case you have purchased the policy through an agent or broker, you can inform them of the same, and they will take the process forward with the insurance company. Most insurers will also have a 24×7 helpline and toll-free numbers to assist you.
Step 3: Inform the RTO
It is mandatory for the vehicle owner to inform the Regional Transport Office or RTO in cases of vehicle theft. This law has been framed because the vehicle owner must get in touch with the RTO when they need vehicle transfer papers or other documents. So, remember not to skip this step.
Step 4: Complete the Documentation Process
To actually begin your claim process, you must focus on acquiring all the necessary documents together. Once the documents are in one place, fill the claim processing form provided by your insurance provider. The documents required with this form will likely be:
- Duly filled bike theft insurance claim form
- The original insurance policy document
- Self-attested copy of your driving license
- Self-attested copy of your RC book
- Original FIR copy
- Documents provided by the RTO (Forms 28, 29, 30, 35)
- Both sets of original keys of the bike
Step 5: File a No-Trace Report Application
If your bike or two-wheeler isn’t found after one month since the date of the FIR, the police will issue an untraced vehicle report (also known as a no-trace report). The report states that after the police investigation, your bike wasn’t found. It is vital to have this document along with your claim documents to ensure that your claim doesn’t get rejected.
Conclusion
You can get bike insurance online if you don’t have one already. It comes with a plethora of benefits and covers:
- Comprehensive cover
- Loss of or damage to the vehicle insured
- Liability to third parties
- Personal accident cover for owner-driver
With the steps mentioned above, you now know how to claim insurance for a stolen bike. While it can be difficult to stay calm when you find out that your two-wheeler has been stolen, remember to follow the above-mentioned steps. Also, note that if your bike is recovered, you will not be liable to receive any claim amount. However, if you have purchased a new bike by taking a loan and your old bike is not recovered, then the insurance provider will reimburse the amount to your loan provider and the rest of the sum assured will be paid to you.
