The process of buying car or bike insurance in India is often simple and user-friendly. The same can be said about the insurance renewal process. However, these rules apply mainly to bikes that are manufactured in India and purchased for use within the country. What about imported bikes? What are the bike insurance rules for imported bikes?
A number of people in the country are bike enthusiasts. They may dream of owning a specific type of bike and plying it on the roads of the country. However, if these bikes must be imported, know that some of the rules may differ. Fortunately, while there may be some special rules regarding imported bike registration, there are not as many hassles when it comes to imported bike insurance.
Imported Bike Insurance in India
According to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, when you own a vehicle, such as a bike, you ought to get at least third-party bike insurance for the same. This is a type of cover that offers financial protection to a third party who may have undergone any damage because of any mishaps involving your vehicle.
This rule extends to imported bikes as well. You are required to get third party bike insurance for your imported bikes.
However, be it for imported bikes or the ones manufactured and purchased within the country, it is often recommended that owners get a comprehensive insurance plan. These are bike insurance plans that offer a third-party liability cover alongside other types of cover, such as roadside assistance cover, own damage cover, zero depreciation cover, and more.
These additional covers offer you an extra layer of security. Hence, while a comprehensive cover may not be mandatory, it may help to have it, especially for your imported bike. * Standard T&C Apply
What does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?
What is covered under a comprehensive insurance policy will depend on what your insurance provider has to offer as well as what sort of policy and add-on covers you opt for. Here are some of the common inclusions you may find with a comprehensive bike insurance policy.
- Accident-induced damage to your two-wheeler
- Theft or robbery of your two-wheeler
- Damage caused due to natural calamities or human-led calamities
- Total loss, i.e., damage beyond repair
* Standard T&C Apply
If you opt for add-on covers, they may offer some specific benefits.
Prices for Imported Bike Insurance
Bike insurance policies are neither long-term, nor for-life. These are short-duration policies that have a cover period and expire after their date. The cover duration is usually one year. This means that you have to renew these policies after they have met their expiry, or slightly before that. This also means that you have to pay premiums for your bike insurance annually.
On the other hand, various factors end up making imported bikes more expensive than their local counterparts. For example, the individual parts that make up these bikes are also costlier. This also affects your bike insurance prices and tends to drive them higher. This makes insurance for imported bikes more expensive as compared to insurance for local bikes.
To sum it up, owners of imported bikes need to remember that getting a third-party liability bike insurance cover is mandatory for imported bikes, as it is for locally produced two-wheelers. While you must have third-party bike insurance, it is advisable to get a comprehensive cover instead, which would include third-party liability coverage and more.
Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.
