Having a bike makes life easier. It is very convenient for commuting and is a more affordable option than a car. Therefore, a large part of the population in India prefers to own a bike. However, it is more than just a necessity; having a bike feels exciting and it soon becomes our prized possession. After all, we all remember the sweet feeling when we purchased a bike of our own for the first time. That is why it is one of the most unfortunate things that can happen to our bikes, even worse than damage, is theft.
However, it doesn’t have to be all bad if you have adequate bike insurance in place. This is the reason that having third party insurance for bike has been made mandatory by the Government of India. Damage and theft can occur any time, so you need proper bike insurance to ensure that your losses are covered and the costs don’t burn a hole in your pocket.
If your bike has been unfortunately stolen, then here are the steps you must follow to claim insurance for the same –
#1 First Information Report: The first step is to file an FIR or first information report at the police station nearest to you. Disclose the details of the bike to the police officer assigned to your case- the model, make, registration number, the colour of the bike, and so on. Without the completion of this step, the insurance claim for bike theft will not be processed so make sure to take this step.
#2 Alerting the insurance company: Once you have filed an FIR, the immediate next step should be to notify your insurance provider that the theft has occurred. Do this as soon as possible without delay, to not delay the further process. There will be certain formalities followed by the insurance company during this time to help you, so inform them instantly.
#3 Notify the local RTO: Whenever there is theft of a vehicle, it is mandatory to inform the local RTO or Regional Transport Office near you. It is your responsibility as the owner to make sure this step is taken when your bike has been stolen.
#4 Submit required documents: If you want to claim for insurance for your stolen bike, these are the documents you will require along with the form provided by the insurance company –
- Motor insurance policy document
- Theft claim form by the insurance provider
- Self-attested photocopy of driving license
- Self-attested photocopy of registration certificate
- Original first information report (FIR)
- RTO forms 28, 29, 30, and 35
- Original bike keys
#5 Untraced vehicle report: After the police have conducted an appropriate investigation and if they are still unable to trace the vehicle, then the police will state it in the report and you will have to file a no-trace report application. Typically, the period for this report is a month after filing the FIR.
So, these are the steps you must remember for a successful insurance claim if your two-wheeler gets stolen. Following these steps will ensure that the damages or loss is adequately covered, and the insurance provider can help you recover the losses and will perhaps also help the police to get your bike back. You can avail two wheeler insurance online easily.
