Bike Inspection for Insurance Claims

If you purchase a Standalone Own-Damage bike insurance policy or a Comprehensive Bike insurance policy, then the insurer bears the cost of repair of your bike as per the terms of the policy. Usually, for minor damages, the insurance provider asks for the details of the accident, the vehicle’s location, and pictures of the damaged two-wheeler. However, if the damage is severe, then the insurer might insist on a visual inspection to assess the amount of damage suffered by your bike.

While the bike inspection process can differ across insurers, the idea is to try and ascertain the extent of damage to the bike in the accident. Here are the steps:

1. You file a claim with the insurer against your comprehensive or own-damage insurance policy for bike
2. The insurance company takes the details of the accident and the damage to the insured bike
3. A surveyor is appointed to visually inspect your bike
4. The surveyor visits the location where the bike is kept and assesses the damage
5. He creates an inspection report and submits it to the insurance company
6. The insurer goes through the report and processes your claim

Once the process for bike inspection for claims is complete, the insurance company usually processes the claim request within no time. The insurance provider informs you about the approval or rejection of your claim.

Two-wheeler insurance companies insist on bike inspection in the following situations:

Bike insurance claims

If the insured bike is involved in an accident and gets damaged, then the policyholder can file a claim with the insurance provider. While this coverage is not available with a third-party bike insurance policy, if you have opted for a comprehensive cover or a standalone own-damage policy, then you can file a claim. Insurers usually insist on a bike inspection if they want to ascertain the extent of the damage.

For your information, purchasing a comprehensive or third-party bike insurance policy from Tata AIG can be tremendously beneficial for you. We have a team of experts dedicated to assisting our customers during the insurance claim process. So, consider buying or renewing your 2-wheeler insurance online from Tata AIG.

When you migrate from third-party to comprehensive insurance

Many bike owners purchase a third-party bike insurance policy to comply with the mandatory requirements. However, if you want coverage for your bike too, you might want to migrate to a comprehensive bike insurance plan. Most insurers offer 2-wheeler insurance online and allow policyholders to purchase the type of policy they need.

However, when you migrate from a third-party bike insurance policy to a comprehensive policy, the insurer might want to look at the current condition of the bike to identify pre-existing damages.

Renewing a lapsed policy

When you buy a bike insurance policy, you are required to renew it by the end of the policy term. Usually, two-wheeler insurance policies are renewable annually unless you opt for a long-term policy. Insurers offer a grace period to allow policyholders to renew their policies without them getting lapsed. However, if you miss the grace period too, then the insurer might insist on a bike inspection before allowing you to purchase a new insurance policy for bike.

Tata AIG offers a range of bike insurance plans and riders to allow you to customise the policy as per your needs. With a claim settlement ratio of 98%, we ensure that our customers receive the settlement in a hassle-free manner. While we try to offer inspection-free claim settlement to our policyholders, in cases where a visual inspection is needed, our surveyors are provided with a bike inspection checklist that includes information about the vehicle that can help us understand the extent of the damage and process your repair estimate in no time.

For most major claims, bike inspection is necessary. Also, if you are migrating from a third-party policy to a comprehensive policy, then the insurer would want to understand the condition of the bike it is covering. Lastly, bikes with lapsed policies also have to go through bike inspection. The insurance company tries to assess the damage in a claim and the condition of the bike during lapsed policy renewals. This helps them provide optimum services and settle the right claim amount.

How long does it take for the bike inspection for claims?

Once your claim is registered by the insurance company, it appoints a surveyor to visually inspect your bike and submit a report. The time taken can vary based on the insurance company and the availability of the surveyor. When you file the claim, if the insurer informs you about the requirement for bike inspection, make sure that you check the approximate time frame.

How many claims can I file in one policy term in a two-wheeler insurance policy?

There is no limit on the number of claims a policyholder can file in one term in a bike insurance policy. However, this can impact your claim history and No Claim Bonus benefits. Hence, make sure that you don’t file a claim for every minor repair.

What are pre-existing damages?

If you have a third-party bike insurance policy and want to upgrade to a comprehensive policy, then the insurer might want to inspect the bike to check for pre-existing damages. These are damages sustained by your bike before being covered by the insurer. Hence, in the event of an accident or mishap, the insurer won’t offer coverage for these damages.