Does bike insurance cover riot damages?

A motor insurance safeguards you financially in case your vehicle is damaged in an accident, it also covers expenses to specified breakdowns or mechanical dysfunctioning. We have seen insurance claims being settled for vehicles catching fire or getting damaged due to a natural calamity such as earthquakes or floods but the question arises, does insurance cover damages caused due to vandalism and riots?

This article will help you understand what happens if your bike is damaged during riots and under what circumstances you get a claim for damages to your bike.

Bike Insurance Cover for Riot Damage

So it is important to understand which insurance policy covers damages to your bike due to riots and vandalism. As we know there are 3 types of motor insurance, standalone own-damage policy, third-party policy, and comprehensive policy which combines both the other policies. 

Now the good news is that the standalone own-damage policy covers the damages caused to your bike due to riots or vandalism and hence if you have an own-damage policy or a comprehensive policy, your insurer will cover the expenses of repairing your vehicle or if the damage is beyond repair they will give you the IDV. 

The significance of third-party motor insurance also exists here, if another vehicle damages your bike during riots, you can raise a claim from the insurance company by filing a complaint as the third-party against the insured vehicle that caused the damage using its number on the plate.

Important Aspects to Consider for Bike Damage In Case of Riot

It is natural to be very emotional and concerned to see our bike get damaged due to riots or vandalism, but to ensure that you get a smooth and hassle-free claim, follow the given steps:

• Report the incident to the police station at the earliest and obtain a copy of FIR.
• Intimate the claim as soon as possible by contacting your insurer. The sooner you file a claim, the faster and smoother will be the process of claim settlement. You can connect with InsuranceDekho to seek assistance in filing your claim as well.
• Take photos and videos of the damage using your smartphone to document everything as proof. Pictures are required as evidence of damage during the claim process.
• Gather all the necessary documents that you need to file a claim, such as your Government issues identification document, your driving license, your registration certificate of your bike, policy documents, and a copy of FIR.
• Make sure that your bike insurance policy is active.
• A survey will be conducted to assess the damages, once the surveyor approves the claim and gives an estimated amount of repair, your claim will be settled by the insurer. It would be your choice to select the process of claim i.e. cashless claim settlement or a reimbursement claim settlement process.

What is Covered In Bike Insurance In Case of Riot Damage?

Damages in riots are not the owner's fault and hence are usually covered in the standalone own-damage policy and comprehensive policy. The inclusions of the insurance are mentioned in your policy documents and hence you must carefully read and review your policy documents. Go through the inclusions, exclusions, coverage, and exceptions according to the terms and conditions of your policy.

What is Not Covered Under Bike Insurance

When you go through your policy documents, you will find the section which defines exclusions in the policy, these are the scenarios in which your claim would be rejected. Some common examples are driving without a license or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In case of a claim for damage due to riots, your claim might get rejected if the inspecting officer finds out that you only have damaged your vehicle or the reason for the damage is not riot.

How To Claim Two-Wheeler Insurance for Riot Damages?

To file a claim for riot damages to your bike, follow the given steps:

• Step 1: Go to the official website or mobile application of your insurer and LogIn to your account.
• Step 2: Select the bike insurance policy and click on ‘Claim’. You will be asked to share a few details regarding the damage and the reason behind them. Please answer these questions and proceed.
• Step 3: Submit the pictures of the damaged vehicle as they are required to file a claim. The pictures should be taken in a way that the damages are clearly visible in them.

Important Note: You can also seek assistance from InsuranceDekho (Call: 075511 96989, Email:  support@insurancedekho.com) as we have a dedicated claim settlement team which supports you throughout in the claim settlement process. 

Documents Required

Do not forget to gather all the necessary documents required for settling the claim. If documents are missing or have incorrect information, your claim process can be delayed. Below mentioned are the documents required to file a claim:

• FIR
• Registration Certificate (RC) of your bike
• Driving Licence
• Policy documents
• Government-issued ID ( Aadhar/ PAN/ Voter ID/ Passport)
• Fire Brigade Report (if required)
• Repair bill and payment receipt (in case of reimbursement)

Conclusion

To conclude, damages that happen due to riots or vandalism are covered under the standalone own damage insurance policy and subsequently are covered in comprehensive bike insurance as well. If you only own third-party motor insurance, the insurer will not provide any claim for the damages that happened to your bike in any circumstance including damages due to riots. To have a smooth and quick claim settlement experience, inform the insurer at the earliest and file an FIR as soon as possible. 

FAQs

Q 1. Does my bike insurance cover damage from riots?

Ans. If you have comprehensive bike insurance, then yes, it usually covers damage from riots. However, you should always check the terms and conditions to get a better understanding about the same.

Q 2. What should I do if my bike gets damaged in a riot?

Ans. If your bike gets damaged in a riot, the first thing you should do is report the incident to the local police and get an FIR. Then, contact your insurer to start the claims process. 

Q 3. What documents do I need to file a claim for riot damage to my bike?

Ans. To file a claim for riot damage to your bike, you'll need to submit some documents. These include the FIR from the police, your bike's registration certificate, your driving licence, and any photos or videos of the damage.