Protect Yourself and Your Pillion Rider

Posted on: Feb 11, 2022 | | Written by:

Protect Yourself and Your Pillion Rider

Published on February 11, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

A two-wheeler insurance is a policy which safeguards you against damages that may occur due to theft, accident or natural disaster. Whether it be your scooter or motorcycle, two-wheeler insurance (depending on the type chosen) protects you from the costs you may need to incur for your own repairs and for liabilities in case of damage to the other person or their property. Moreover, it is also a legal requirement for all individuals to have insurance before plying their vehicles on the road, else you will be fined and penalised as per the prevailing motor vehicle laws of the state you reside in.

Types of Two-Wheeler Insurance Plans

Mainly, there are two types of two-wheeler insurance plans prevalent in India. These are third-party insurance and comprehensive insurance. Let us examine the features of each of these.

Third Party Two-Wheeler Insurance

As is evident by its name, the third-party insurance is mainly intended to protect the owner from legal liabilities that can arise when damage is caused to another person or their property in an accident you may be involved in. However, the third-party insurance provides no benefits to you in case of accidental damage or loss due to theft of your own vehicle. It is a fairly popular form of insurance, especially in the case of older vehicles since it has lower premiums due to its limited coverage. It also helps people comply with the mandate as governed under the Indian Motor Vehicle Act of 1988, which clearly states that any two-wheeler plying on the road needs to have, at the minimum, a third-party insurance cover. Non-compliance to this rule, results in penalties and fines.

Comprehensive Two-Wheeler Insurance

Comprehensive insurance protects you from several possibilities. This one policy has all the features of the third-party insurance, but also safeguards you from expenses related to damages to your own vehicle as well. It also, typically, covers mishaps like theft, damages due to natural calamities, man-made disasters, fire etc. Most comprehensive insurance policies also provide personal accident cover in case of you sustaining any injuries while riding your vehicle. This coverage, as mandated by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA), has been raised to Rs. 15 Lakhs from the erstwhile Rs. 1 Lakh. Comprehensive two-wheeler insurance also comes with several add-ons, which are extra features which can be added over the base policy and payable accordingly. These will be discussed in the next section.

Let us now come to the topic at hand, regarding pillion or passenger cover. As per amendments to the insurance laws and regulations in India, in most comprehensive two-wheeler insurance policies the passenger (pillion rider) is covered by default in case of sustaining any injuries and the expense related to treatment. However, this is not necessarily included in third-party insurance. If you have chosen to take a third-party insurance policy, then you will need to get an add-on known as Passenger Cover which protects those riding with you, should an accident befall.

Passenger Cover: This add-on is specifically intended to protect the interests of the passenger in case of injury, disability or death in an accident while riding with the owner of the two-wheeler. It is like a top-up to the base insurance policy and comes with an additional premium added to the original premium cost. The big advantage of this add-on is that it helps provide for the treatment costs and offers financial aid to the family of the rider in case of permanent disability or death. It also frees you from the legal obligation of paying for them.

Conclusion

Whether you ride your two-wheeler alone or with a passenger, insurance is both a mandatory requirement and prudent to have. It provides you protection from damages that may arise due to accident or theft and can also cover your medical treatment related expenses, should the need arise. By paying a little extra, you can also get the requisite protection for those riding with you.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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