Two Wheeler Insurance is an insurance policy that protects the owner of the vehicle against any financial loss arising out of damage to / theft of vehicle. Two Wheeler Insurance Policy also covers the damage caused to third party or property. Two Wheeler Insurance is mandatory in India and is the best way to financially secure yourself, your family and your vehicle. Two Wheeler Insurance helps cover against theft, financial loss caused by accidents, (Bodily Injury, Medical Payments, Property Damage) and any subsequent liabilities. It may cover the insured party, the insured vehicle (damage) and third parties (Two Wheeler and people) based on the type of insurance bought.
Own Damage Insurance refers to a standalone Two Wheeler Insurance policy that only covers for your own vehicle against damages and losses. The same could arise due to an accident, collision, natural calamity or even a fire.
A third-party Two Wheeler Insurance plan provides coverage against any legal liability arising out of injuries to a third-party when the policyholder is at fault. It covers damages and injuries caused by the insured vehicle, to a third-party person or property. As per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it is mandatory for every motor vehicle owner to buy at least third-party insurance coverage in India.
A comprehensive Two Wheeler Insurance plan offers complete protection against the damages to the 2 Wheeler due to an accident or a road-mishap. This plan is called a comprehensive plan because it provides coverage for the damages to the 2 Wheeler, third-party legal liability, theft, along with the personal accident coverage.
A comprehensive Two Wheeler Insurance plan includes coverage for fire, theft, natural and man-made catastrophes, such as a tornado, hurricane, vandalism, damage caused to the 2 Wheeler by animals, falling objects, civil disturbance etc.
One needs to decide whether a Comprehensive Two Wheeler Insurance is required or a standalone Third Party Liability Insurance is to be taken. Third Party Liability is mandatory by law in India. If one opts for only Third Party Liability policy, then only injuries caused to other people in an accident will be covered but not the damage to the 2 Wheeler or property.
Nowadays, many add on features or riders are available with the standard comprehensive Car Insurance Policy like zero depreciation, Engine Protection, Key Loss Protection, Return to Invoice etc. One needs to understand these add-ons and opt for them if it is suitable
Before buying a Two Wheeler Insurance policy, one should check up the list of garage which are providing the cashless facility for claim settlement. This will help in the easy settlement of the claims.
Two Wheeler Insurance premium is linked to the Insured Declared Value (IDV) of the 2 Wheeler. IDV is the maximum amount that one can claim under a motor insurance policy. Lower the IDV Lower Coverage as well as Lower Premium.
If there is no claim during the entire year then about 5-10% discount is given on renewal Premium So, on renewal, NCB needs to be checked that it has been accurately calculated especially if there has been no claim in the previous year and NCB needs to be carried forward. NCB can accumulate up to a maximum of 50%.
The prime aspect of a "good" Two Wheeler Insurance policy would be easy and efficient claim procedure and hence knowing the same and being aware is a very important factor while buying Two Wheeler Insurance policy.
Motor Insurance gives the owner of the vehicle protection against-
Third-party insurance is a statutory requirement. The owner of the vehicle is legally liable for any damage to third-party life or property caused using the vehicle in public place.
The most important reason being it provides vehicle damage protection. This apart, driving a motor vehicle without insurance is a punishable offense in terms of The Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. As per Section 196 of The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 driving uninsured vehicle would attract a penalty of Rs.2000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months for the first offense and fine of Rs.4000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months for the second offense.
Broadly, there are two types of insurance policies that offer motor insurance cover:
If you take Liability Only Policy, damage to your own vehicle will not be covered. Hence it would be prudent to take a Comprehensive Policy which would give a wider cover.
The Sum Insured under a Motor Insurance Policy reflects the value of the motor vehicle determined based on the concept known as Insured ‘s Declared Value (IDV). Basically, IDV is the current market value of the vehicle. IDV is calculated as the manufacture’s present value minus depreciation based on the age of the vehicle.
Third-party cover is a statutory requirement. Sum Insured depends on third-party injuries and vehicle damage. Compulsory Personal Accident cover for owner driver is also included. Depending on the policy, coverage can also be extended to cover various other risks such as Personal Accident to the occupants of the vehicle, workmen’s compensation to driver, etc. over and above the cover available to the insured.
The O.D. cover Motor Insurance Policy usually covers damages to the vehicle due to the following reasons –
The following contingencies are usually excluded from the Motor Insurance Policy –
There are many factors affecting Motor Insurance Premium. Third-Party Liability Premium rates are fixed and notified by IRDAI. In case of O.D. cover different insurance companies charge different premium for similar coverage. This is mainly because deductibles & IDV offered by one insurer could be different from that of the other for the same amount of premium you pay. Moreover, Insurance companies consider following items in determining the premium –
Yes, GST is applicable on premium. It would be as per prevailing rule of law.
NCB is the benefit accrued to an insured for NIL claims during the previous policy period. If a claim is lodged, the No Claim Bonus is lost in the subsequent policy period. NCB is given to the insured and not to the insured vehicle. So, in case of transfer of vehicle, the insurance policy can be transferred to a new owner but not the NCB. The original owner can, however, use the NCB on a new vehicle purchased by him.
As per current norms prevalent, NCB ranges from 20% to 50% on the Own Damage Premium. NCB is not available on Third-Party liability cover.
Yes, you can get a duplicate copy. Most companies nowadays provide Insurance Policy document digital format.
Generally, the following documents are required to be submitted –
This list is by no means exhaustive. Insurance Companies may ask for any other documents.
You must carry the following documents while driving a motor vehicle since otherwise you might end up with paying a heavy penalty.