Bike insurance add-ons offer an excellent opportunity to increase your base coverage. They allow you to protect your bike against damages not generally covered under a basic two wheeler insurance policy.

If you are stumped on what add-ons to get for your bike insurance policy, fear not, as we have compiled the five best two-wheeler insurance add-on covers.

Make sure you review this list before buying bike insurance online, as it will help narrow down what you want to get out of your policy and show you how to maximise your coverage.

 What are Bike Insurance Add-Ons?

Add-on covers in two-wheeler insurance are additional coverage options offered for comprehensive bike insurance plans. They function by increasing the coverage you receive under a basic two-wheeler insurance policy.

For example, let’s say you have a bike insurance policy with a Passenger Insurance Cover.

Then in the event of an accident, if a passenger riding with you passes away due to injuries sustained during the accident, the insurer will pay a sum assured amount to the passenger’s family as per policy terms.

Remember that add-on covers require you to pay additional premiums. If you have opted for bike insurance add-ons, they will increase your overall premium and the more add-ons you get, the higher your premium payable amount. Only get the add-ons you need to fulfil your unique requirements based on your location, driving habits and vehicle usage.

 The 5 Best Two-Wheeler Insurance Add-On Covers

 Zero Depreciation Cover

Bike components are susceptible to wear and tear over time; this means that their depreciation is taken into account during repairs or replacements. A zero depreciation cover in bike insurance mitigates this. The insurer pays the components’ complete repair and replacement costs without deducting the depreciation costs from the total settlement amount.

 Engine Protection Cover

Also called a gearbox protection cover, this add-on offers coverage for repairs or replacement of the gearbox regardless of whether the damages were due to accidents.

Under this cover, you can expect coverage for:

• Water ingression (water entering the engine),
• Oil leakage,
• Electrical or mechanical engine breakdowns,
• Full gearbox replacement,

– and other events that are covered under policy terms.

 Consumable Cover

Most basic comprehensive bike insurance plans do not cover consumable costs during repairs like screws, nuts, bolts, engine oil, distilled water, etc.

All of these costs can add up during major repairs, so if you live in an accident-prone area, it can be beneficial to get this cover. With it, your insurer will cover the total repair cost as opposed to you paying for the consumable cost.

 Roadside Assistance Cover

Most standard two-wheeler insurance does not cover outstation two-wheeler assistance, so this cover may be beneficial if you travel long distances outside city limits with your bike.

It offers emergency outstation assistance like:

• Towing services to a local repair shop during breakdowns.
• Fuel delivery to your location.
• Tyre replacement.
• On-site repair services.
• Taxi service to nearby accommodation for major repairs
• Lost key help

 Return To Invoice Cover

For total vehicular loss, whether due to theft or major accidents that result in over 75% of your vehicle getting damaged, the insurer reimburses you your IDV amount.

However, with a return to invoice cover, you are reimbursed the total invoice amount of your bike during its first purchase for total vehicular loss. 

This is a handy cover if you own a high-performance or luxury bike, as they are usually more expensive. Moreover, most insurers would need you to declare a higher IDV in bike insurance to cover your bike’s repair costs, resulting in higher premium payments.

So, at the time of buying bike insurance online, get this add-on from insurers like Tata AIG to get adequate compensation for total loss.

 Is A Personal Accident (PA) Cover in Two-Wheeler Insurance Mandatory?

Due to high rates of injury and death during road accidents, getting personal accident coverage with your bike insurance policy has been mandated for all bike owners in India, as per the Motor Vehicles Act.

Here are the key aspects you should know about a PA cover to ensure legal compliance:

• A PA cover can be bought as a separate cover along with your third-party bike insurance or as a separate add-on cover in two-wheeler insurance.
• If you own multiple vehicles, purchasing this cover once under any one of your motor insurance plans will suffice.
• This cover provides compensation for medical expenses incurred for injuries caused to the driver/policyholder during on-road accidents.
• The maximum upper limit coverage (sum insured) under this cover is ₹15 lakhs, which is defined by the IRDAI.
  • Your insurer decides the percentage amount during claims, and the entire sum is paid in case of death or permanent disability.

 Conclusion

Most insurance companies today offer bike insurance add-ons to increase your base bike insurance coverage. A basic two-wheeler insurance plan may not provide enough coverage or fulfil all your requirements.

However, remember that add-ons can increase your overall premium when you buy bike insurance online, so pick ones that fit your personal requirements and compare bike insurance policies to estimate your premiums before purchase.