If you are a two-wheeler enthusiast, you probably understand the importance of safeguarding your bike against potential risks on the road. Two-wheeler insurance is crucial to protecting your prized possession from unforeseen circumstances. However, you may have noticed that crash guards, commonly installed to protect bikes from damage during accidents, are often excluded from bike insurance coverage. This blog will dive into the mystery behind this exclusion and uncover its reasons.
Understanding Two Wheeler Insurance Coverage
Before we delve into the specifics, let’s recap the basics of two-wheeler insurance coverage. A bike insurance policy is designed to provide financial protection to the policyholder in the event of accidents, theft, or damages caused to third-party individuals or property. There are two primary types of bike insurance plans:
- Third-Party Liability Insurance: This type of insurance covers damages caused to third-party individuals and property in an accident where you, the policyholder, are at fault.
- Comprehensive Insurance: This more extensive insurance plan covers both third-party liabilities and damages to your bike. It offers more comprehensive protection, making it the preferred choice for many bike owners.
Why Crash Guards are Excluded
Crash guards, also known as engine guards or bull bars, are aftermarket accessories added to bikes to minimize damages in case of an accident. They are designed to absorb impact and protect critical bike components like the engine, fairings, and fuel tank. Although crash guards offer an added layer of safety to your bike, insurance companies generally exclude them from coverage for the following reasons:
- Altered Bike Structure: When you install crash guards on your bike, you are technically modifying its original structure. Insurance policies are typically designed to cover the bike as it was when it left the manufacturer. Any modifications to the bike’s structure, including adding crash guards, can lead to exclusion from coverage.
- Increased Risk: Surprisingly, crash guards might inadvertently increase the risk of an accident. In some cases, the design of crash guards might interfere with the bike’s handling and dynamics, potentially leading to a mishap.
- Uncertain Effectiveness: While crash guards are intended to protect your bike, their effectiveness in preventing severe damage during an accident is debatable. Insurance companies base their coverage on proven safety measures, and the impact of crash guards on accident outcomes might not be entirely established.
Enhancing Bike Safety within Insurance Coverage
While standard bike insurance policies might not cover crash guards, there are various other ways you can enhance your bike’s safety and ensure adequate coverage:
- Depreciation Cover: Standard bike insurance policies factor in depreciation, which means you might not get the full value of your bike during a claim settlement. Opting for a depreciation cover ensures that you receive the entire claim amount without depreciation deductions.
- Consumable Cover: The consumable cover is an added benefit offered in your bike or scooter insurance policy that takes care of the expenses incurred on various consumable items during repairs.
- Engine Protect: Engine protect is a valuable add-on feature that you can opt for when purchasing bike or scooter insurance. It provides an extra layer of protection specifically for your vehicle’s engine.
Conclusion
While crash guards play a vital role in protecting your bike during accidents, they are not typically covered under standard two-wheeler insurance policies. Insurance companies base their coverage on established risk factors and safety measures, and modifications like crash guards might not fit their criteria. However, you can still enhance your bike’s safety and coverage through other means like investing in quality riding gear, opting for zero depreciation cover, and including roadside assistance. For more information, explore Kotak Bike Insurance to gain insights.
