For a bike owner, the most important document after the Registration Certificate (RC) is the insurance policy. As per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, it is mandatory to have third-party bike insurance to compensate for any injury/damage to another person/vehicle. To get maximum coverage, people often opt for a comprehensive bike insurance policy, which covers 'own damage' in addition to damages to a third party.

Not having valid bike insurance is a legal offence and could attract a hefty fine if you’re caught. However, if you’ve lost the original insurance certificate, there’s no need to worry - you can apply for a duplicate bike insurance certificate online.

How to get a duplicate bike insurance certificate

If you’ve lost your original bike insurance, here are the first steps you need to take to get a duplicate bike insurance certificate:

File an FIR - If your original bike insurance document is lost or stolen, lodge an FIR (First Information Report) at your nearest police station. Register your complaint and get a copy of the FIR as it will be required by your insurance company to issue a duplicate bike insurance certificate.

Intimate your insurance company - The next step in getting a duplicate bike insurance certificate is to intimate the insurance company about the loss of your policy document, so they can issue a duplicate copy to you.

Place an ad in the newspaper - It may seem old-school, but before you can apply for duplicate bike insurance, you have to place a classified advertisement in a local newspaper announcing the loss of your policy document. You should specify your name and contact number, along with a request to get in touch if anyone finds your document. Naturally, you will have to bear the cost of the ad.

Draw up an indemnity bond - As a formal request for getting duplicate bike insurance issued, you must sign an indemnity bond on non-judicial stamp paper. Mention the policy number and the name of the policyholder and co-policyholder. Signatures of two witnesses are required, along with your initials. This must also be submitted to your insurer for issuing a replacement bike insurance document. Once these formalities are done, you can draft an application requesting the issuance of a duplicate bike insurance certificate. You will need to attach copies of all the above documents with your application.

How to apply for duplicate bike insurance online

Most insurance companies are going digital in an attempt to make the auto insurance application process paperless. Similarly, you can also get a duplicate bike insurance policy online without any hassle. All you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Go to the official website of your bike insurance provider.

2. Select the policy type from the listed insurance policies.

3. Enter your policy number and other required details. If you are unable to find your policy number, you can contact your insurance provider and share your chassis number and vehicle registration number with them, which will enable them to extract the policy details.

4. To thwart scammers, you may be asked to verify that you are the actual policyholder.

5. Your policy document will be visible once you verify your account; now you can download or print it.

6. If you opt for ‘policy on email’, a soft copy of the policy document should be sent to your inbox.

Make sure you keep your insurance policy on you at all times; not only is it a necessity on the roads, but it also an important document you need when you make a claim.

To ensure a hassle-free buying experience, Tata AIG offers various bike insurance policies online at attractive premiums, such as the Auto Secure- Two Wheeler Package Policy. Make sure you #ThinkAhead and choose one that meets your requirements.