Dirt Bike Insurance: How to Apply Online in 2025?

Posted on: May 10, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Dirt Bike Insurance: How to Apply Online in 2025?

Dirt biking has been in India since the 1980s. However, it has garnered a lot of interest in the past few years. More people, particularly young riders, find it fascinating to challenge themselves with dirt biking. Dirt biking is physically demanding and requires you to be in good shape and have excellent control. Along with an exhilarating experience, there are a lot of risks involved as well. Thus, making it sensible to choose dirt bike insurance.

Dirt biking is a type of off-road biking experience where one can ride on dirt terrains. It usually involves riding your bike in the mud, and rocks, going up and down mountains, or specially created dirt tracks. Dirt biking usually is used for racing purposes but some people dirt bike for passion as well. It gives an ideal opportunity to explore new terrains and escape from everyday mundane tasks.

As the demand for dirt biking and off-road biking has gone up in the past few years, manufacturers have started launching newer and more sophisticated models. These new bikes are ideal for off-roading and offer a lot of features as well.

What is a dirtbike?

A dirtbike is a relatively lightweight motorcycle. It is specifically designed for off-road adventures on rough terrains that include dirt roads, hiking and trekking trails, and other unpaved surfaces. These motorbikes feature rugged tyres and enhanced suspension systems. They also have a highly durable frame to navigate challenging landscapes.

While dirtbikes gained popularity for their adventurous sporting aspect, in India, dirtbikes are very useful in rural and developing areas. Their sustainability makes them a better choice for off-road biking as well.

What is the purpose of a dirtbike?

Dirtbikes are designed with the specificity of uneven terrains in mind. They are engineered to navigate rugged landscapes where heavier vehicles may not sustain.

When you need to traverse through off-road trails but the path seems too long and dire to walk, and too uneven to take a motorcycle or car, you can use a dirtbike instead. The enhanced designs of dirtbikes help you tackle obstacles and varied landscapes that standard vehicles are not equipped to handle. You can also use them for adventure activities such as motocross racing, trail riding, and more.

Do dirtbikes need registration in India?

The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 mandates that every vehicle owner must have the corresponding two-wheeler insurance plan if they want to ride them on public streets. Similarly, every vehicle must also be registered with the Regional Transport Offices, commonly known as the RTO. This mandate extends to dirtbikes as well, especially if they are purchased for common use on public roads.

To register your dirtbike, you must ensure that it complies with the RTO specifications. For instance, back in 2018, certain models of the Kawasaki, namely Kawasaki KLX and Kawasaki Kl, were not permitted for registration in India. This was purely due to the non-compliance with specifications. However, you need to register your vehicle in India to ride it, so it is best to purchase compliant dirtbikes.

Is there a need for dirt bike insurance?

Any bike that you want to ride on public roads legally requires a bike insurance policy. And if you own an adventure bike, you will mostly ride it on public roads as well as do off-roading with it. Thus, you need dirt bike insurance. On the other hand, if you exclusively purchase a dirt bike, it is still recommended to purchase bike insurance.

Since you will be riding exclusively on dirt terrains, mud, amidst rocks, etc., any minor mishap can turn out to be quite fatal. Buying insurance for your dirt bike can be a sensible decision in such cases. It will ensure that you are well protected in the unfortunate event of a mishap, the chances of which are a bit high while off-roading.

Coverage of a dirt bike insurance plan

India does not have an exclusive category of dirt bike insurance. If you own a dirt bike or adventure bike, it is highly recommended to choose comprehensive bike insurance . Choosing a comprehensive plan offers you the additional perk of selecting add-ons to enhance the policy coverage further.

For example, due to mud and rocky terrain, any accident can result in significant damage to the engine of the bike. Selecting an engine protection cover for your adventure bike will ensure that damages to the engine are covered as a part of the plan.

Comprehensive bike insurance will have your back in the event of an accident. It will cover expenses related to the repair of the bike and offer a lot of other benefits as well. Here are some of them.

• If there is a natural calamity and your bike incurs damages due to it, the policy will cover those expenses.

• If there are any man-made threats, such as riots, vandalism, strikes, etc., and your bike is at the receiving end of any damages, the policy will have your bike.

• If your bike gets stolen, the insurance provider will compensate you with the IDV of the bike.

• If there is an accident that involves other individuals or vehicles, the policy will compensate for any injuries or damages.

• If you want to customise the policy or add more features, you can take the help of add-ons. Some popular add-ons include zero depreciation cover, engine protection cover, roadside assistance cover, consumables cover, etc.

How much does it cost to insure a dirt bike?

Insurance companies usually consider a lot of factors to decide the policy premiums for a bike. IDV in bike insurance is one of the most prominent parameters. Insurance providers consider IDV or insured declared value, which is the current market valuation of the vehicle for insuring. The following are some other parameters.

• The manufacturer and model of your bike.

• The current value of the bike or IDV.

• Any add-ons that you might have selected along with your bike insurance plan.

• If you have installed any anti-theft devices on the bike, you will receive a discount.

• If you are a member of the Automobile Association of India, you will receive a small discount.

However, the IDV in bike insurance plays a pivotal role in deciding the policy premiums.

Does the law mandate insurance for dirt bikes?

People usually consider dirt bikes to be off-roading bikes, thereby discarding any need to buy bike insurance. However, that is not the case. If you own a bike that is legal for both road and off-roading, you must register it. And when you do, it is important to buy insurance for the bike. The last thing that you would want to do is to pay hefty penalties for riding without insurance.

Benefits of getting a dirt bike insurance

The mandated law for vehicle insurance in India was reasonably designed for the benefit of the citizens. It states that you need third party bike insurance and personal accident cover. The remaining forms of two-wheeler insurance, such as Own Damage cover, add-ons, etc,. are subjected to your preferences.

Insuring your dirtbike with standalone third party bike insurance as well as Own Damage two wheeler insurance, or opting for comprehensive two wheeler insurance is highly beneficial. Here are the benefits of dirtbike insurance:

• Financial Protection -

Two wheeler insurance helps cover repair costs arising due to accidents, natural disasters, and other uncontrollable calamities, thus reducing the expenses to be paid from your pocket.

• Legal compliance -

Third party bike insurance aids in complying with local Indian laws and protects you against legal liabilities. You can use claims to pay for damages and injuries that you may cause to another person.

• Comprehensive coverage -

comprehensive two-wheeler insurance plans protect you financially against unforeseen events, including natural disasters, such as cyclones, earthquakes, floods, etc. Including add-ons with these policies also safeguard you against total financial loss.

There are numerous benefits to having a suitable dirtbike insurance. It provides you peace of mind to ride your vehicle in uneven terrains or go on off-trail adventures, knowing that your insurer will protect you financially in case of damages or injuries from unexpected circumstances.

The actual requirement for dirt bike insurance:

Getting dirt bike insurance might be more important than you think. Even if you go off-roading occasionally, there are a lot of risks associated with it. The ground might be too wet, and you might end up on a trail with a lot of loose gravel, which makes it quite difficult for your bike to find grip, and so on. These are common occurrences and might result in accidents. If you are using an adventure bike for off-roading, the repair costs will not be cheap. Insuring your bike will save you a lot of trouble and expenses. And prevent you from paying penalties.

Conclusion

The popularity of dirt biking has been on the rise for a few years now. As more enthusiasts take to dirt biking, the demand for dirt bikes will mostly increase in the coming years. If you are planning to buy a dirt bike to quench your thirst for off-roading, it is recommended to opt for comprehensive bike insurance for adequate insurance.

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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