Home / Two-wheeler Insurance / Articles / Physical damage coverage in two-wheeler insurance

Physical damage coverage in two-wheeler insurance

Team AckoJan 17, 2024

The expenses of repairing a bike can be high in case of accidents or other damages. Your bike insurance company will bear the repair cost if you have a Physical Damage Bike Insurance Plan, better known as Own Damage cover in your policy. Take a look at the following article if you want to know more about Physical Damage Bike Insurance cover and how it is beneficial for you.

Contents

What is Physical Damage coverage in bike insurance?
- Example
How to buy Physical Damage policies?
- Comprehensive Policy
- Standalone Own Damage Policy
What are Physical Damage add-ons?
What is covered under the Physical Damage Bike Insurance Policy?
What is not covered under the Physical Damage Bike insurance policy?
Who must opt for a Physical Damage cover?
Frequently asked questions

What is Physical Damage coverage in bike insurance?

Physical Damage cover (also called Own Damage cover) is a type of bike insurance policy that financially covers you against bike damages. Note that it is not mandatory to buy a Physical Damage cover as per law. However, buying this policy for your bike will ensure minimum financial losses in case of bike damage. Thus, a Physical Damage policy is a popular choice among bike owners.

Riding a two-wheeler is no easy task. You need to focus on multiple things at the same time. You need to maintain the balance of your bike while focusing on the road and ensuring that you are following traffic rules. Failing to do any of these could result in an accident that can cause injuries to you and damage your bike. This is why buying a Physical Damage cover is beneficial.

Example

Mr. T was riding his bike at night in a heavy downpour. Dim road lights significantly decreased visibility. He took a turn and accidentally hit a fallen tree that was obstructing the road. Mr. T suffered injuries and the bike was majorly damaged.

Since Mr. T’s bike is covered under a Physical Damage Bike Insurance cover, he made a claim for damages. He will get most of the repair cost from the insurance company and just pay for the minor amount (i.e. deductibles or depreciation on bike parts that are not covered by the policy).

How to buy Physical Damage policies?

Physical Damage Bike insurance will reduce your financial liability against bike damages. Here are a few types of Physical Damage Insurance covers.

Comprehensive Policy

A Comprehensive Bike Insurance policy offers a wide insurance cover that includes Third-party Liabilities and Own Damage Cover. The best part of a Comprehensive policy is you can customise the plan with additional coverages or add-ons. Third-party Liabilities refer to the cost of compensating a third party for the damages that you have caused. Such damages include injuries, death, or damage to property.

Standalone Own Damage Policy

This plan comes into the picture when you opt for a long term Third-party Liability plan and want to buy a separate Own Damage cover. The coverages of a Standalone policy are similar to that of a Physical Damage cover. We have explained this in detail in the upcoming sections.

What are Physical Damage add-ons?

Physical Damage add-ons are additional coverage options available with a Comprehensive Bike Insurance Policy.

Here is a list of add-ons available at ACKO.

Zero depreciation: Depreciation is the decrease in a bike's value with time and usage. The bike's Zero Depreciation add-on will help you get more claim amount without factoring in the depreciation on the bike.
Personal Belongings - Damage/theft: Compensation for the loss of personal belongings like helmets.
Roadside Assistance Cover: A number of free services like towing, minor repairs, fuel refill, etc. if your vehicle breaks down in the middle of a road.
Key Protect: Compensation for a lost key or keyset in case of theft attempt.
Outstation Emergency Cover: Provides bike Insurance coverage when riding the bike at least 100kms away from home.
Bike Engine Protect: Insurance cover for the repair or replacement of the bike's engine.
Consumables Cover: Coverage for the cost of consumable items like nuts & bolts, air filters, oil change, etc. for claim-related damage.

What is covered under the Physical Damage Bike Insurance Policy?

Coverages are situations when the insurance company will bear the cost of repairs as per the terms and conditions of the policy.

Here is a list of coverages of a Physical Damage Bike Insurance cover provided by ACKO.

Personal Accident: This is a separate mandatory add-on that must be purchased with a Bike Insurance Policy. It covers bodily injuries to the bike rider. Compensation for death or disability is also offered.
Accidental damages to the bike: Coverage for repairing the damages to your insured bike in case of an accident.
Theft: Compensation up to the Insured Declared Value (IDV) in case of proven bike theft.
Natural and man-made calamities: Coverage for natural and man-made calamities like floods, earthquakes, vandalism, riots, etc.
Total loss: Complete damage to the vehicle is covered. In case the repair cost of your bike is more than 75% of the IDV, it is considered a total loss.
Fire: Coverage for damage to the bike from fire or explosion.

What is not covered under the Physical Damage Bike insurance policy?

Situations that are not covered under a bike insurance policy are referred to as exclusions. You cannot raise a claim against the exclusions of the policy, otherwise, the claim will get rejected.

Here is a list of exclusions for a Physical Damage policy.

Cost of repairing the bike due to electrical or mechanical breakdown.
Damages from riding the bike after consuming an intoxicating substance.
Bike damage from war-like conditions.
Any damage to the bike when the insurance policy was not in force.
The cost of regular bike maintenance or wear and tear is not covered.
Damage occurred when riding the bike without valid documents or when not following traffic rules.
Damage to the bike due to being a part of criminal activity.
Any damage incurred outside the geographical area covered by the insurance company.

Who must opt for a Physical Damage cover?

Ideally, every bike owner must opt for a Physical Damage cover as it will help mitigate the expenses in case of damage. Thus, most of the financial burden will be borne by the insurance company. You can get the bike repaired faster without spending a lot of money. Thus, this cover is beneficial for all bike owners irrespective of their age, gender, location, or level of experience in bike riding.

Frequently asked questions

Following are some common questions about Physical Damage cover in bike insurance. Feel free to get in touch by sending an email at [email protected] if you have any doubts about the topic.

Why is Third-party Bike Insurance inadequate?

The Third-party Bike insurance cover is inadequate because it does not cover the expenses related to your bike. If you buy only this basic plan, you would have to bear the cost of bike repairs by yourself.

Can I get the Physical Damage cover online?

Yes, you can buy the cover online (from digital insurers such as ACKO) and get more benefits as compared to buying bike insurance offline.

Which are the best add-ons that I should buy with the Physical Damage insurance?

Add-ons that suit your requirements are the best ones for you. Some add-ons like Zero Depreciation, Roadside Assistance, and Return to Invoice are extremely beneficial.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet; and is subject to changes. Please go through the applicable policy wordings for updated ACKO-centric content and before making any insurance-related decisions. Explore More: