Can I Claim Bike Insurance Twice A Year?

Uncertainty on the road can occur at any time. You never know when a car coming from the wrong side may pass in front of your bike or when a child walking with his/her mother will jump in front of it. To prepare for all such incidents, you purchase two-wheeler insurance. 

Insurance protects your vehicle financially from road accidents, natural calamities, thefts, and fires. The claim process for comprehensive bike insurance is also straightforward. 

Have you ever considered what you would do if your bike were severely damaged for the second time in a year? Can you file a claim with your insurer and get your invoices settled? Let’s find out the answer in this article.

How Many Claims Are Permissible in a Year?

There are no such guidelines or clauses in comprehensive bike insurance outlining the number of claims permissible in a year. However, you should proceed with a claim only if the loss to your bike is significant and repair would cost you a hefty sum. Minor claims for scratches or dents would impact your no-claim bonus. 

Consequences of Multiple Claims in a Policy Year

You must consider the following aspects before making a claim.

1. Loss of NCB 

NCB is the short form of no-claim bonus. It is a discount on your two-wheeler insurance rate for not filing any claims throughout the policy year. The discount rate ranges from 20% to 50%. If you believe you will likely file several claims in a year, you can choose no-claim bonus coverage to keep your NCB intact.

2. Increases Premiums

Making frequent claims makes you a risky customer in the eyes of the insurer. They charge a higher premium at renewal to offset the risk connected with such claims.

3. Restrictions on Deductibles

Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay out of your pocket when filing a claim. If you file multiple claims in a year, the insurer will impose a higher deductible on your profile while significantly reducing their risk. 

Tips to Raise Multiple Claims in a Policy Year

Before you file your second or third claim for the year, read on to learn about the steps involved.

Step 1

The first step is to inform your insurance provider about the incident. You can call your insurer’s toll-free line and clarify to the executives whether the damage is to the covered vehicle or a loss to a third party.

You must also provide your insurance provider with your policy number so that they can register your claim.

Step 2

Next, after verifying your insurance number, the insurer will send a surveyor. The surveying officer is responsible for assessing the nature and extent of the damage. 

To ensure this stage goes smoothly, furnish the photos of the incident you took immediately after the mishap. 

Step 3

When the surveying officer submits his report, the insurer’s claim department will review it. If they approve the request, you can tow your vehicle to the service location for repair. 

You can have repairs done at the network garage, which is a service shop that has collaborated with your insurer to provide cashless services. In this situation, the insurer will settle the bill directly with the garage owner, eliminating the need for you to make any upfront payments and freeing you from various claim-related formalities.

Another alternative is to submit reimbursement claims. Here, you complete the repair work by paying upfront and then raising the invoice to your insurer for claim settlement.

Documents Required to Raise Multiple Claims in a Policy Year

• Driving License of the rider riding the bike at the time of the incident
• Two-wheeler insurance Policy document copy
• The vehicle’s Registration Certificate
• FIR copy, which is applicable if the claim involves a third party or the damage caused is due to fire, theft, or collision with another vehicle
• Purchase invoice you received when you bought your bike from the showroom
• Tax receipt
• Clear photographs of the damaged bike
• Original repairs invoice (required in the case of reimbursement claim)

Mistakes to Avoid when Submitting Multiple Claims in a Year

Never get your bike fixed until you have notified your insurer. If you skip this critical step, your claim will be rejected, or you may be reimbursed for a considerably smaller amount than what was stated in the invoice.

If your bike injures someone or damages their property, don’t flee the scene. Act calmly and follow the necessary procedures, such as filing an FIR.

Avoid aftermarket modifications to your bike. The insurer will reject your claim if they discover that crucial components of the two-wheeler, such as the silencer, brakes, and tyres, are different. In addition, most aftermarket modifications are considered illegal under the law.

Conclusion

To summarise, yes, you can file numerous claims during a policy year. However, this may exhaust the no-claim benefit, increase the deductible load, and raise premiums upon renewal. As a result, it is best to avoid minor claims, including those for dents or scratches, and augment your standard two-wheeler insurance with no-claim bonus coverage.