Does Two-Wheeler Insurance Cover Dents and Paint Damage?

Yes, two-wheeler insurance covers dents and paint damage, but only with a comprehensive or own-damage policy, and only if the damage is caused by an accident. A third-party policy will not cover it, nor will everyday wear, such as fading paint, rust, or everyday scratches.

A proper understanding of two-wheeler insurance dent cover helps avoid confusion during the claim process and enables an informed decision. Knowing about coverage details is crucial before filing a claim. Read on to know more. 

Contents

• Which Two-Wheeler Insurance Policy Covers Dents and Paint Damage?
• When Are Dents and Paint Damage Actually Covered?
• What Dent and Paint Damage Will the Insurer Not Pay For?
• How Does Zero Depreciation Cover Change a Paint or Dent Claim?
• Should You Claim for a Small Dent or Paint Scratch?
• How Do You File a Dent or Paint Damage Claim?
• Key Takeaways
• Frequently Asked Questions

Which Two-Wheeler Insurance Policy Covers Dents and Paint Damage?

A comprehensive or standalone own-damage policy covers dents and paint damage. Whereas the third-party cover doesn't, as it just compensates for the losses you cause to other people and their properties and not your bike repair.

A comprehensive policy combines two components: the third-party coverage mandated by law and own-damage cover, which compensates for repairs to your own vehicle. Therefore, the kind of motorcycle insurance that you have will determine whether or not a claim for a dent or repaint is possible. If you have only the minimum legal coverage, you will have to bear the repair costs for your own bike.

The way to determine which one you have is by checking the policy document. If you have a comprehensive or own-damage policy, then the document will mention an Insured Declared Value (IDV, which is the sum insured of your bike) and a separate own-damage section. On the contrary, a pure third-party policy neither reveals these, but only shows the legal liability cover that the Motor Vehicle Act makes mandatory.

When Are Dents and Paint Damage Actually Covered?

Dents and paint damage may be covered by your insurance policy if the damage is caused by a sudden, accidental event as opposed to gradual wear and tear. The insurer's primary concern is the cause before they decide to fund the repairs.

Generally, these are the kinds of situations that are covered:

• A crash with another vehicle, a wall, a pole, or a kerb

• The bike falling, skidding, or tipping over, even when parked

• Fire, an explosion, or a short circuit

• A natural event like a flood, storm, cyclone, or a falling tree

• The bike is damaged deliberately by vandalism or it is affected by a riot

In all these scenarios, the damage is instantaneous and unforeseen. The insurer uses this criterion to decide whether or not to compensate for the dent or the repainting.

Consider the typical situation of losing control of a bike on a wet road. The fall dents the fuel tank and peels the paint off one side of the bike. As it happened during a single accident, a comprehensive coverage or own-damage bike insurance policy will compensate the insured for dent removal and an exterior repaint, except for the standard deductions.

What Dent and Paint Damage Will the Insurer Not Pay For?

The insurance company will not cover damage such as dents or paint deterioration resulting from normal use and ageing. These changes occur gradually and are considered wear and tear, a type of damage typically not covered by any own-damage policy.

Usually, the following things are not covered:

• Paint loss or colour change caused by prolonged sun exposure

• Minor scratches resulting from regular parking and vehicle washing

• Development of rust and chrome fade on metal parts

• Failure of mechanical or electrical components, which are different from body damages

A third-party policy creates a second gap: it never covers damage to your own bike, accidental or not. If you hold a standalone own-damage cover bought on its own, you are still covered for accidental dents, just not for third-party claims.

How Does Zero Depreciation Cover Change a Paint or Dent Claim?

Zero depreciation cover does not determine whether a dent is covered; it simply changes how much you will receive as a reimbursement. In this manner, the insurance company will not take into account the depreciation of the vehicle's parts, such as painted and plastic parts, based on age; therefore, you will be compensated for the major portion of the repair costs.

In the absence of this feature, the insurance company will discount its payout for parts that depreciate over time. Panels that have been painted, fibre, and plastic on a bike are components that lose their value very rapidly, so a regular claim can mean that you have to cover quite a bit of the repainting yourself.

A zero depreciation cover helps most in the first few years of a new bike. That is when parts are still valued high and a repaint or panel swap costs the most.

Should You Claim for a Small Dent or Paint Scratch?

It is often not worthwhile to file a claim for a minor dent or scratch of the paint. Two types of expenses can be involved here.

• The first one is the deductible (the amount you pay before the insurer starts paying) that applies to every own-damage claim. If the cost of repainting works out to ₹ 3,000 while your deductible is ₹ 2,000, the insurer will cover only ₹ 1,000, which hardly goes a long way in helping you with the claim.

• The second one is your no-claim bonus (NCB, essentially a price reduction you get when you do not make a claim for a year). After five claim-free years, it can slash your next premium by as much as 50%, and the moment you make a claim, even a minor one, the bonus is back to zero.

Thus, in the case of a single shallow scratch, going to a repair shop is generally less expensive than making a claim. A minor paint job at a local garage can be just a few thousand rupees, quite often below the value of the bonus you would sacrifice in such a situation.

The situation changes when the damage is large. If a fall cracks the fairing and dents two or three panels, the repair can run to many thousands of rupees, far above your deductible. There is a claim that makes sense, and the lost bonus is a small price next to the bill you avoid.

How Do You File a Dent or Paint Damage Claim?

To file a dent or paint claim, first notify your insurer and then get a motorcycle inspection before a repair done. A claim being cut is often caused by a repair done before permission.

Generally, the process of getting a claim goes like this:

1. The very first thing you should do after the damage is to notify your insurance company immediately. This could be done via their app, phone call, or website.

2. Next, you will have to provide them with images of the damages along with your insurance, and bicycle details.

3. After that, it would be the surveyor's turn to see the bike. They may do it either at a garage or by asking you to upload the photos of the bike if the damages are minor ones.

4. The last step is to have the repair work authorized and then you may either decide to get the service done at a cashless network garage or, if you pay initially, you can lodge a claim for reimbursement later.

For minor dents and scratches a police FIR is usually not needed. You need a police report only when there is theft, a fire, or another vehicle and a third party involved.

Key Takeaways

• Only comprehensive or own-damage insurance can cover the costs of dents and repainting. A simple third-party insurance won't be able to cover the repair of your own bike.

• The damage should be caused by a sudden event, not just the result of the wear and tear over time. Accidents, falls, fire, floods, and vandalism are all valid; whereas fading paint, rust, and everyday scratches are not.

• A zero depreciation cover will increase the amount you get paid for parts made of paint and plastic. If you don't have it, the insurance company will discount the claim based on the age of those parts.

• Often, a minor scratch won't even cost you much if you repair it yourself. When you claim, you'll lose your no-claim bonus, and also have to pay a deductible, so it makes sense to keep claims for bigger damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly asked questions on, does two-wheeler insurance cover dents and paint damage?

1. Can I get insurance for scooter scratches?

Yes, in case you have insurance with comprehensive or own-damage cover, and if the scratch was due to an accident or a fall.  

2. Should I go for the insurance claim for a minor paint scratch?

Usually not. Making a claim is more expensive in the long run because even if the repair costs less than your deductible, there is still the loss of the no-claim bonus that must be taken into account.  

3. Is a third-party two-wheeler insurance sufficient for indents?

No. A third-party only policy is designed for paying damages that you are liable for to the other person or their vehicle. So if you dent or repaint your own bike, you have to get comprehensive/own-damage insurance.

4. Could you tell me if I need an FIR to make a claim for a dent or a scratch?

No. An FIR is generally not needed for minor accidental dents or scratches. You will require a police report only if the incident constitutes theft, fire, or involves another vehicle and a third party.

5. If I make a claim for a small dent, will my premium increase?

Definitely it might increase the premium. Claiming once will cancel your no-claim bonus so that you will pay the full premium next time. Besides, if you make small claims frequently, the price might increase even more. 

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