By Goran Alben
Bikes are very popular vehicles due to their affordability and the ease of commute they offer. Unfortunately, due to their mobile structure and ease of access, they are also good targets for thieves. If theft ever happens to your two wheeler, it is very necessary to know the process of how to raise a claim on your comprehensive two wheeler insurance. Usually, people find themselves in a state of panic due to this and feel lost about where to begin the process. Here are all the necessary steps in order that you would need to follow to claim your motor insurance.
- File an FIR
The first step that you need to do in this situation, is to visit your nearest police station and file an FIR with them. Chances are the police authorities may find your bike. But in case that does not happen, the insurance company needs the FIR to process the claim of your two wheeler insurance.
- Contact your insurer
After you have filed the FIR, call up your insurance company next and inform them of the theft, explaining that you have completed the first step. The insurance company will begin the process of your motor insurance claim on their own end. They will also assign a claims investigator, who will ask you relevant questions about the theft and your two wheeler. Remember to coordinate and give the correct information to the investigator for speedy claim settlement.
- Inform the RTO
Yes, the regional transport office, or the RTO, also needs to be informed about the theft and about the insurance claim. Visit your nearest RTO and provide the required documentation to take the process forward.
- Gather the documents
Now, you need to gather all the necessary documents in order to further the process of claiming your two wheeler insurance. The documents that you will need to gather are:
- The original FIR as well as the copy
- A copy of your driving license
- A copy of the RC book of your two-wheeler
- Your two wheeler insurance policy
The insurer may also require additional documents of your bike not directly related to the theft.
- Provide the untraceable report
Since you have filed an FIR with the police, there are chances that your vehicle may be found. However, in case the police cannot find the vehicle even after a month, they will hand over an untraceable report to you. This will be proof for the insurance company that your vehicle cannot be traced. Once this has been provided, the insurance company will begin the claim settlement process in earnest.
Some points to keep in mind that can help you get a better claim experience:
- Always choose a motor insurance company with a high claim settlement ratio. The ratio refers to the number of claims a company received as compared to the number of claims a company solved in a year. A high CSR shows that the insurer is committed to solving the claims of the policyholders.
- When buying the insurance policy, do negotiate to get a good IDV (Insured Declared Value) as that will be the amount you will be receiving if your two-wheeler gets stolen and cannot be traced.
- If you live in an area where theft is common, you may want to consider opting for the return to invoice add-on. This add-on allows you to get the price as mentioned on the invoice in case of the total loss of your two-wheeler.
The claim process may differ from insurer to insurer. Be informed of the claim process your two wheeler insurance company follows by reading your policy wordings carefully and discussing the same with your insurer.
