If you own a motorcycle or scooter in India, you already know that insurance is not optional. The law says you must have at least a third-party policy. But if you ask anyone who has faced a major accident or had their bike stolen, they will tell you that a basic policy is never enough. That is where Digit Bike Insurance enters the picture. Over the last few years, Digit has grown from a new name to a trusted partner for two-wheeler owners across the country. People talk about the company because of its fast claim settlements and simple online processes. But is Digit Bike Insurance really as good as the advertisements claim? This article gives you a straight answer. We will look at coverage, costs, claim steps, add-ons, renewal, and common mistakes. By the time you finish reading, you will know exactly whether Digit Bike Insurance suits your needs.

What Exactly Is Digit Bike Insurance

Digit is a general insurance company that started with a clear goal. The founders wanted to remove the usual frustrations that bike owners face with traditional insurers. Long waiting times on customer support calls, arguments over small damages, and hidden exclusions were common problems. Digit Bike Insurance was built to solve these issues. The company uses technology heavily. When you buy Digit Bike Insurance online, you get the policy document within minutes. When you raise a claim for a minor scratch or a dent, you can upload photos through the mobile app. The system processes the claim without sending a surveyor to your location. This speed is the main reason why many people prefer Digit Bike Insurance over older insurers like New India Assurance or United India.

Another thing that makes Digit Bike Insurance stand out is the claim settlement ratio. As per the latest available data from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, Digit has consistently maintained a ratio above ninety five percent. That means out of every hundred claims filed, more than ninety five are settled. This number is not just a marketing gimmick. It reflects actual customer experiences across small towns and big cities. Of course, no company settles every claim. Digit Bike Insurance also rejects claims when there is valid grounds such as riding without a license or drunk driving. But compared to many competitors, the rejection rate is lower.

Different Types of Digit Bike Insurance Policies

You cannot buy the right policy unless you understand what each type offers. Digit Bike Insurance is available in three main forms. The first and most basic is the third party liability policy. This is the minimum legal requirement. If your bike hits someone or damages another person’s property, this Digit Bike Insurance policy pays for the losses of that third person. It does not pay a single rupee for repairs to your own bike. It does not cover theft. It does not cover damage from floods or fires. Many people buy this only to save money. But that is a short sighted decision. One small accident can leave you with repair bills of twenty to thirty thousand rupees. The third party Digit Bike Insurance will not help you there.

The second type is the standalone own damage policy. This is less common. It covers repairs to your bike from accidents, theft, natural calamities, fire, and vandalism. However, it does not include third party liability. You would need a separate long term third party policy to be fully legal. Digit Bike Insurance offers this combination only in specific cases, usually for people who already have a three year third party cover from before.

The third and most popular type is the comprehensive Digit Bike Insurance policy. This combines third party liability and own damage into a single plan. It also includes personal accident cover for the owner driver up to fifteen lakh rupees. This is what most bike owners should buy. The premium is higher than a standalone third party policy, but the protection is much broader. If your bike gets stolen, comprehensive Digit Bike Insurance pays the insured declared value. If a tree falls on your bike during a storm, the policy covers the repairs. If you skid on a rainy road and damage the fairing and headlight, you can claim without worrying about legal liability to others.

What Is Covered and What Is Not

Let us get into the details. A standard Digit Bike Insurance comprehensive policy covers damage to your bike caused by the following events. Accident or collision. Overturning. Fire or explosion. Self ignition. Lightning. Burglary or housebreaking. Theft. Riot or strike. Malicious acts by unknown persons. Earthquake whether natural or man made. Flood. Cyclone. Typhoon. Hurricane. Storm. Tempest. Inundation. Hailstorm. Landslide. Rockslide. And damage while your bike is being transported by rail, road, air, or inland waterway.

The personal accident cover that comes with Digit Bike Insurance pays the sum insured if the owner driver dies or suffers permanent total disability because of a bike accident. Permanent total disability means losing both legs, both arms, or eyesight in both eyes. Partial disabilities are not covered under this basic personal accident section. You would need a separate accident policy for that.

Now the exclusions. Every insurance policy has them. Digit Bike Insurance does not cover normal wear and tear. Your tyres and tubes are not covered unless the bike itself is also damaged in the same accident. For example, if you hit a pothole and only the tyre bursts but the alloy wheel and fork are fine, Digit Bike Insurance will not pay for the new tyre. But if the impact also bends the rim and damages the front suspension, the tyre replacement may be included as part of the overall claim. Mechanical or electrical breakdowns are not covered. If your engine seizes because of low oil or your wiring harness fails due to a short circuit, that is not an insured event. Racing or speed testing is excluded. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs voids the policy. Riding without a valid driving license leads to claim rejection. Using the bike for illegal activities or outside India is also not covered.

Add Ons That Actually Make Sense

The base comprehensive Digit Bike Insurance policy is good. But the real value comes from add ons. These are optional covers that you buy by paying an extra premium. Not every add on is useful for every rider. You have to choose based on your bike’s age, where you live, and how you ride.

Zero depreciation cover is the most popular add on. Under a normal policy, when you claim for plastic, rubber, fiber, or glass parts, Digit Bike Insurance deducts a percentage based on the age of the part. A one year old headlight casing might have ten percent depreciation deducted. A three year old front mudguard might have thirty percent deducted. With zero depreciation add on, no such deduction happens. You get the full cost of replacement. This is highly recommended for new bikes up to three or four years old. For older bikes, the premium for zero depreciation may be too high compared to the bike’s market value.

Return to invoice add on is another excellent choice. Imagine your bike is stolen or completely destroyed in a fire. The standard Digit Bike Insurance policy pays the insured declared value, which is the ex showroom price minus depreciation. After two years, the IDV could be thirty percent lower than what you originally paid. Return to invoice ensures that you get the original invoice amount. You pay a small extra premium, but if theft happens, the difference in payout can be fifty to sixty thousand rupees.

Engine protection cover is critical for people living in cities with frequent waterlogging. Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and many other places see roads turning into rivers during monsoon. Standard Digit Bike Insurance does not cover water ingression into the engine. If you drive through a puddle and water enters the combustion chamber, the connecting rod can bend or the cylinder block can crack. Repair costs often exceed forty thousand rupees. The engine protection add on costs around five hundred to eight hundred rupees per year. It is a no brainer if you ride during rainy months.

Roadside assistance add on gives you peace of mind. If your bike breaks down at midnight on a highway, you can call the Digit helpline. They will send a mechanic or a tow truck. Services include flat tyre repair, fuel delivery, battery jump start, key retrieval, and towing to the nearest garage. The add on is especially valuable for long distance riders or those who commute through isolated areas.

No claim bonus protection is the last add on worth discussing. Normally, if you make a claim, your no claim bonus resets to zero. The NCB is a discount on the own damage premium that grows from twenty percent to fifty percent over five claim free years. Losing that discount can increase your next renewal premium substantially. With NCB protection, you can make one claim during the policy year without affecting your accumulated bonus. This add on is useful if you tend to claim for minor repairs. Otherwise, paying for small damages out of pocket and preserving the NCB may be a better financial decision.

How to Buy Digit Bike Insurance Online

The online purchase process is simple. You do not need to talk to any agent or visit an office. Open the official Digit website or download the mobile app. Enter your bike registration number. The system will automatically fetch the make, model, variant, and year of manufacture. You can also enter these details manually if you prefer. Next, you choose the insured declared value. This is the maximum amount Digit Bike Insurance will pay if your bike is stolen or declared a total loss. A higher IDV means a higher premium. A lower IDV means lower premium but also lower claim payout. Experts recommend setting the IDV close to the current market value. You can check online marketplaces like OLX or BikeWale to find what similar bikes sell for.

Then you choose the policy duration. Digit Bike Insurance offers one year, two year, and three year plans. For brand new bikes, a three year policy locks the premium at today’s rates. Even if Digit raises premiums next year, you are protected. For older bikes, one year renewal is more common. After selecting the duration, pick your add ons. The portal will show the premium for each add on separately. Uncheck the ones you do not need. The final premium is displayed clearly. There are no hidden charges.

Make the payment using credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, or digital wallet. Immediately after successful payment, you receive the Digit Bike Insurance policy document as a PDF on your email. You can also download it from the app. Print a copy and keep a digital copy on your phone. The policy is active from the start date mentioned. There is no physical paperwork involved. If you prefer offline purchase, Digit Bike Insurance is available through some bank branches and insurance agents. But online purchase is cheaper because there is no agent commission. You also get a small discount of around five to ten percent.

Claim Process Step by Step

The claim process is where Digit Bike Insurance really shines. For minor damages like scratches, broken indicators, cracked mirrors, or small dents, you can use the self inspection feature. Open the Digit app. Go to the claims section. Upload clear photos and videos of the damage from multiple angles. The artificial intelligence system analyses the images. If the damage is consistent with an accident, Digit Bike Insurance approves the claim within two hours in many cases. You then take your bike to any network garage. The garage confirms the estimate. Digit pays them directly. You only pay the compulsory deductible, which is usually one hundred to five hundred rupees for bikes.

For major damages involving bent frames, broken engine casings, or suspension damage, a physical survey is required. Digit Bike Insurance sends a surveyor to the garage or your location. The surveyor inspects the bike, takes photographs, and prepares an estimate. You can choose a cashless garage from the network. Over four thousand garages across India are part of the Digit network. If you take the bike to a non network garage, you pay for repairs first, collect all original bills, and submit them to Digit. The reimbursement is credited to your bank account within seven to ten working days.

For theft claims, the process is different. You must file a first information report at the nearest police station. Then inform Digit Bike Insurance immediately. Submit the FIR copy, the original registration certificate, the original insurance policy, the tax certificate, the pollution under control certificate, both keys of the bike, and a filled claim form. If the bike is under a loan, a no objection certificate from the bank or financier is also required. Digit will investigate. Once they are satisfied that the theft is genuine and you have cooperated, they settle the claim by paying the insured declared value. If the bike is recovered later, the ownership transfers to Digit because they have already paid you.

Renewing Your Digit Bike Insurance

Letting your policy expire is a bad idea. Riding without a valid Digit Bike Insurance policy attracts a fine. For the first offense, the traffic police can charge you two thousand rupees. For subsequent offenses, the fine increases to four thousand rupees. There is also a possibility of imprisonment up to three months. Beyond the legal trouble, if you meet with an accident while uninsured, you pay for everything out of your own pocket.

Digit Bike Insurance sends renewal reminders via SMS and email thirty days before expiry. You can renew online by logging into your account. The system pre fills your bike details and past claim history. If you made no claims in the previous year, your no claim bonus is automatically applied. The premium shown is lower than last year. Pay the amount, and the renewed policy is active immediately. If you miss the expiry date, you have a window of ninety days to renew late. However, during this period, you cannot ride the bike legally. Also, if you renew after the expiry date, you lose your accumulated no claim bonus. After ninety days, a late renewal is not possible. You have to buy a fresh Digit Bike Insurance policy, and the bike may need a physical inspection.

Long term Digit Bike Insurance policies of two or three years save you from the hassle of annual renewal. They also protect you against premium increases. But if you sell your bike before the policy ends, you can transfer the remaining policy to the new owner. Alternatively, you can cancel it and get a pro rata refund for the unused portion. Only the own damage part is refundable. The third party liability portion is not refunded.

No Claim Bonus Explained

No claim bonus is a reward for staying claim free. Under Digit Bike Insurance, the NCB is applied only to the own damage premium. The third party premium does not get any NCB discount. The NCB starts at twenty percent after one claim free year. After two consecutive claim free years, it increases to twenty five percent. After three years, it becomes thirty five percent. After four years, it reaches forty five percent. After five or more claim free years, the NCB maxes out at fifty percent.

The NCB belongs to you as a policyholder, not to the bike. If you sell your bike and buy a new one, you can transfer the NCB to the new Digit Bike Insurance policy. You have to provide proof of the accumulated NCB from your previous insurer. This can be the renewal notice or the policy schedule. The transfer must happen within ninety days of selling the old bike. If you make a claim, the NCB resets to zero. However, if you have purchased the no claim bonus protection add on, one claim in a year does not reset your NCB.

Common Mistakes That Lead to Claim Rejection

Many people buy Digit Bike Insurance but fail to read the policy wordings. Then they make mistakes that cost them dearly. The most common mistake is setting the insured declared value too low. People think they are saving premium. But if the bike is stolen or totally damaged, they get a much lower payout. Another mistake is forgetting to add engine protection cover in flood prone areas. After one monsoon waterlogging incident, the repair bill can exceed the premium of ten years.

Another frequent mistake is not transferring the policy when buying a used bike. The previous owner’s Digit Bike Insurance does not automatically cover you. You must get the policy transferred to your name within fourteen days of the ownership change. The transfer requires a written application, a copy of the registration certificate in your name, and a small fee. If you do not transfer and then meet with an accident, Digit Bike Insurance will reject the claim.

Riders who modify their bikes also face problems. If you install aftermarket exhaust pipes, custom lights, a turbo kit, or any performance enhancement, you must inform Digit Bike Insurance. Unreported modifications are grounds for claim rejection. The same applies if you use the bike for commercial purposes like delivery or courier services. A personal Digit Bike Insurance policy does not cover commercial use. If you are a Zomato or Swiggy delivery partner, you need a commercial vehicle insurance policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is Digit Bike Insurance valid throughout India including Jammu and Kashmir?

Answer: Yes, Digit Bike Insurance provides coverage across the entire country. However, network garage availability is lower in remote areas of the northeast, Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. In such places, you may need to use the reimbursement claim process rather than cashless. The policy does not cover Nepal, Bhutan, or any other country.

Question 2: Can I cancel my Digit Bike Insurance policy after purchase?

Answer: You can cancel within fifteen days of buying the policy provided you have not made any claim. Digit will deduct a short term cancellation fee and refund the remaining premium. After fifteen days, cancellation is only allowed if you sell the bike, export it, or the bike is permanently scrapped. The third party liability portion is never refunded. Only the own damage portion is refunded on a pro rata basis.

Question 3: Does Digit Bike Insurance cover damage caused by hitting an animal like a cow or dog?

Answer: Yes, collision with animals is covered under the comprehensive Digit Bike Insurance policy. You should file a police FIR if the animal belonged to someone and there is third party liability. For own damage claims, take clear photographs of the accident spot and the animal. The claim will be processed as a normal accident claim.

Question 4: How do I check the status of my claim with Digit Bike Insurance?

Answer: You can check claim status by logging into the Digit website or mobile app. Go to the claims section and enter your claim reference number. You will see the current stage whether it is survey pending, estimation done, approval given, or payment released. Digit also sends SMS updates at each stage. You can also call the customer care number and provide your policy number.

Question 5: What documents are needed for a theft claim?

Answer: For a theft claim, you need the original FIR from the police, the original registration certificate, the original insurance policy, the tax certificate, the pollution certificate, both keys of the bike, and the claim form. If the bike was purchased on loan, a no objection certificate from the financier is mandatory. Missing any of these documents can delay or reject the claim.

Question 6: Can I add a pillion rider cover to Digit Bike Insurance?

Answer: The third party liability component of Digit Bike Insurance automatically covers injury to a pillion rider because a pillion is considered a third party. However, the coverage is only for legal liability. For medical expenses of a pillion rider, the basic policy does not pay. You would need a separate personal accident policy or a health insurance policy. The owner driver personal accident cover of fifteen lakh rupees applies only to the registered owner.

Question 7: Is there a grace period for renewing Digit Bike Insurance after expiry?

Answer: There is no grace period for coverage. The moment your policy expires, you are uninsured. Riding after expiry is illegal. However, Digit Bike Insurance allows late renewal without inspection for up to ninety days from the expiry date. But you lose your no claim bonus if you renew after the expiry date. After ninety days, you cannot renew. You must buy a new policy, and the bike will need a fresh inspection.

Question 8: Does Digit Bike Insurance cover spare parts like chain sprocket or disc brake pads?

Answer: Normal wear and tear of spare parts is not covered. If your chain sprocket wears out after ten thousand kilometers, Digit Bike Insurance will not pay for a replacement. However, if the chain sprocket is damaged in an accident, for example, a stone hits the chain cover and breaks the chain, then the replacement is covered as part of the accident claim. The key is whether the damage is sudden and accidental or due to gradual deterioration.

Final Thoughts

Digit Bike Insurance is a solid choice for most bike owners. The combination of fast claim processing, useful add ons, and a high claim settlement ratio makes it better than many traditional insurers. The online process is smooth, the app works well, and customer support is responsive compared to industry standards. Of course, no insurance company is perfect. Some users have reported delays in reimbursement claims from non network garages. Others have faced issues when the surveyor did not show up on time. But these are exceptions rather than the rule.