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NCB in Bike Insurance: No Claim Bonus for Two Wheelers

NCB in Bike Insurance: No Claim Bonus for Two Wheelers

My Motor Team•13 min

If you don't make an own-damage claim during your bike insurance policy year, your insurer can reward you with a discount at renewal.

This discount is called No Claim Bonus (NCB).

NCB in bike insurance starts at 20% after the first claim-free year and can gradually increase to a maximum of 50%.

The important part is that this discount applies to the own-damage premium, not the third-party premium.

Here's how NCB works for two-wheelers, how to check your current NCB, and what happens when you claim, change your bike or switch insurers.

Let's get started.

What Is NCB in Bike Insurance?

NCB in bike insurance is a discount you earn for completing a policy year without making an own-damage claim.

Think of it as your insurer rewarding you for a claim-free year.

The longer you go without making a claim, the higher your NCB can become, up to the maximum applicable slab, sounds good right?

This means a good claim history can actually help bring down the own-damage portion of your bike insurance premium when you renew.

What Does NCB Stand For in Two-Wheeler Insurance?

The NCB full form in bike insurance stands for No Claim Bonus.

In easy words, NCB means a discount you earn on your own-damage premium for not making an eligible claim during the previous policy period.

For example, if you complete your first full policy year without an own-damage claim, you can become eligible for a 20% NCB at renewal.

Read: No Claim Bonus in Car Insurance

How Is NCB Different From a Regular Insurance Discount?

A regular or normal discount might depend on an insurer's pricing, an offer or any other eligibility condition.

NCB is different because you earn it through your claim history.

It also grows over consecutive claim-free years. So, rather than being a one-time promotional discount, NCB can continue benefiting you at future renewals as long as you remain eligible for it.

How Does No Claim Bonus Work for Two-Wheelers?

The No Claim Bonus for a two-wheeler works in yearly stages.

Complete a claim-free policy year and you move into the applicable NCB slab.

Continue without making an own-damage claim and the discount increases at subsequent renewals.

Under the standard NCB slabs, it can go from 20% to 25%, 35%, 45% and finally 50%.

If you're unsure which part of your premium NCB reduces, our guide on third-party vs comprehensive bike insurance breaks down exactly what each cover includes.

Why Do Insurers Reward You for Not Claiming?

Well a policyholder who doesn't make an own-damage claim costs the insurer less in claims during that period.

So, NCB rewards this claim-free history while also giving you a reason to maintain your bonus over the years.

For you, the benefit is easy: a higher NCB can mean a lower own-damage premium at renewal.

Is NCB Tied to You (the Owner) or to the Bike?

Usually, NCB is linked to the policyholder's claim history, rather than permanently belonging to the bike.

That's why you may be able to retain your NCB when you sell your old bike and purchase another vehicle.

It also states why someone buying your used bike doesn't automatically get the NCB you earned.

Does NCB in Bike Insurance Cross-Link to Own-Damage vs Third-Party Cover?

Well, yes, and this is an important distinction.

NCB applies to the own-damage portion of your bike insurance premium. It does not lessen the third-party premium.

IRDAI-filed policy wordings state NCB as a discount on the own-damage premium.

So if you're comparing your renewal premium with your NCB percentage, don't expect the same percentage reduction on your whole insurance bill.

What Is the NCB Slab / Discount Percentage Chart for Bike Insurance?

The NCB percentage in bike insurance increases with consecutive claim-free policy years.

Here's the standard NCB slab for your reference:

Claim-Free HistoryNCB Discount on Own-Damage Premium
1 claim-free year20%
2 consecutive claim-free years25%
3 consecutive claim-free years35%
4 consecutive claim-free years45%
5 consecutive claim-free years50%

These slabs are shown in IRDAI-filed motor insurance policy wordings.

For example, suppose the own-damage premium used for your renewal calculation is ₹2,000 and you're eligible for a 35% NCB. A 35% discount on ₹2,000 would be ₹700.

Remember, though, that this doesn't mean your total insurance premium will fall by 35%, because NCB isn't applied to a third-party component.

What Is the Maximum NCB You Can Earn on a Two-Wheeler Policy?

Well, for the standard NCB slab, the maximum NCB is 50%.

You usually reach this after five consecutive claim-free years. After that, simply completing more claim-free years doesn't keep increasing the standard NCB percentage beyond 50%.

How to Check Your Current NCB in Bike Insurance?

Wondering about how to check NCB in bike insurance? Start with your existing policy document.

Look for terms such as:

  • No Claim Bonus
  • NCB
  • NCB %
  • Applicable NCB
  • Previous NCB

The exact wording and location can vary between insurers so make sure to stay updated on that.

Before renewing, it's also worth doing a quick bike challan check on MyMotor so you're not caught off guard by pending fines at RTO verification.

How to Check NCB Online Using Your Policy Number?

You can also cross-check your overall vehicle insurance status - not just NCB - using your registration number.

For that, go to your insurer's official website or app and retrieve your bike insurance policy using the details it asks for, such as your policy number or registered contact details.

Download or open the policy document and look at the premium or NCB section.

You can also check your renewal quote. Your insurer will usually show the NCB being considered while calculating your own-damage premium.

How to Check NCB via the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) Portal?

Don't just rely on the IIB portal as your main way to find your current NCB percentage.

For an accurate current NCB in bike insurance, check your latest policy document, renewal notice or your insurer's official portal/app.

If the information still isn't clear, contact the insurer directly and ask them to confirm your recorded NCB.

How to Check Your Previous NCB Before Renewing?

Check your expiring policy document or renewal notice first.

If you've misplaced it, log in to your insurer's website/app and download another copy, or ask the insurer to provide your policy and NCB details.

It's actually worth checking this before paying for your renewal, especially if you're changing insurers.

How to Get and Download Your NCB Certificate?

An NCB certificate is useful when you need to prove the No Claim Bonus you've earned, especially when changing vehicles or insurers.

Depending on the situation and insurer, you may also hear terms such as an NCB confirmation, NCB retention certificate or NCB retention letter.

What Is an NCB Certificate and Why Do You Need One?

An NCB certificate confirms the No Claim Bonus you've earned from your previous claim-free insurance history.

You may need it when you:

  • Sell your existing bike and buy another one
  • Move your insurance to another insurer
  • Need to establish your previous NCB entitlement
  • No longer have the old policy readily available

Keep the certificate or confirmation safely along with your previous insurance records.

How to Request an NCB Certificate From Your Current Insurer?

Here, contact your existing insurer through its official website, app, customer support or branch and request an NCB certificate or confirmation.

The insurer may ask for details such as your:

Policy number → vehicle registration number → policyholder details → sale/transfer documents, where applicable

Once verified, your insurer can provide the relevant NCB document or confirmation according to its process.

How Long Is an NCB Certificate Valid For?

Don't assume that an NCB certificate keeps your bonus alive forever.

Standard motor policy wording states that NCB is allowed when the policy is renewed within 90 days of the previous policy's expiry.

The exact documentation and retention process can depend on your circumstances and insurer, so check the conditions on your NCB certificate and confirm them with the insurer when transferring or retaining NCB.

How to Transfer NCB to a New Bike or a New Insurer?

So, one of the biggest advantages of NCB is that you don't necessarily have to start from zero simply because you change your bike or insurer.

Your eligible claim-free history can usually move with you, subject to the insurer's verification and applicable conditions.

Can You Carry Your NCB to a New Bike When You Upgrade?

Yes. If you sell your existing bike and buy another eligible bike, you can actually retain the NCB you've earned.

Ask your insurer for the needed NCB confirmation or retention document and provide it while insuring your new bike.

Don't assume the transfer will happen on its own just because the new policy is in your name. Complete the insurer's needed NCB transfer process.

How to Transfer NCB If You Switch Insurance Companies?

Here, changing your insurer doesn't automatically mean losing your NCB.

When buying the new policy, declare the NCB you've earned under your previous policy.

The new insurer may ask for your previous policy document, renewal details, NCB certificate or other proof.

Make sure that the NCB you declare is correct. Your new insurer can verify your previous insurance and claim history.

What Is an NCB Retention Letter and When Do You Need One?

An NCB retention letter or certificate is proof that you have retained the NCB earned under your previous policy.

It can be useful when you sell your old bike but aren't immediately transferring the bonus to another policy.

If you need one, ask your existing insurer for its specific process and needed documents.

Does NCB Transfer to a New Owner If You Sell Your Old Bike?

No. Your NCB does not automatically transfer to the person buying your bike.

This is one of the most common NCB misunderstandings that people have.

The bike's ownership and insurance can be transferred, but the previous owner's accumulated NCB isn't simply handed over to the buyer.

The new owner needs to get their own NCB eligibility.

Once ownership changes, remember NCB and RC transfer are two separate processes - see our RC transfer and car ownership details guide for the paperwork side.

How to Claim and Protect Your NCB?

Well, you don't normally "claim" NCB like an insurance claim.

Instead, your eligible NCB is applied as a discount when you renew your own-damage cover.

That makes your claim decisions during the year important.

Does Filing a Claim Reset Your NCB to Zero?

Under standard annual motor policy terms, an own-damage claim can affect your NCB entitlement at the next renewal.

Standard wording provides NCB when no own-damage claim has been made or is pending during the preceding year(s).

However, don't blindly just assume that every policy works identically.

Long-term policies and policies with an NCB protection add-on can have different conditions.

So, make sure to always check your specific policy wording before deciding.

Should You Pay a Small Repair Bill Yourself Instead of Claiming?

Sometimes, yes but do the maths first.

Suppose a repair costs ₹1,000 but making the claim would cause you to lose a valuable NCB at renewal.

Paying for that small repair yourself could potentially make more financial sense.

But for a large repair bill, preserving NCB may not justify paying everything out of pocket.

Compare:

Repair cost vs. claim amount + deductible + potential NCB impact

Then choose whichever costs you suitable or less overall.

What Is NCB Protection Cover and Is It Worth Adding?

NCB Protection is an optional add-on offered with some motor insurance products.

Depending on its terms, it can allow you to retain some or all of your NCB even after an eligible claim.

IRDAI's product records include NCB protection add-ons for two-wheelers.

Whether it's worth paying for depends on the add-on price, your current NCB, your bike's value and the exact claim limits and conditions.

Read the wording carefully because NCB protection is not unlimited protection against every type or number of claims.

What Happens to Your NCB If Your Bike Insurance Policy Lapses?

If your policy has already lapsed or is close to expiry, the fastest way to lock in your existing NCB is to renew your bike insurance on MyMotor before the grace period runs out.

A short delay in renewal doesn't necessarily mean your NCB disappears immediately.

However, you shouldn't leave the policy expired for too long.

Standard motor insurance policy wording provides a 90-day window from the previous policy's expiry date for retaining NCB eligibility on renewal.

How Many Days' Grace Period Do You Get to Retain NCB After Expiry?

For NCB purposes, the standard rule is 90 days from the expiry of the previous policy.

This shouldn't be confused with having active insurance coverage during those 90 days.

If your policy has expired, you can be uninsured during the gap, even though your NCB may still be retainable if you renew within the permitted period.

So don't treat the NCB retention window as a free pass to ride without valid insurance.

Can You Restore a Lost NCB After a Long Break in Cover?

If you cross the applicable NCB retention period, you may lose your accumulated bonus and have to start again.

If your policy has been expired for a long time, contact the insurer before purchasing the new policy rather than entering your old NCB percentage yourself.

The insurer can confirm what, if anything, can still be carried forward.

Is NCB in Bike Insurance the Same as NCB in Car Insurance?

The mechanics are nearly identical - if you also insure a car, see our full breakdown in No Claim Bonus (NCB) in Car Insurance for the four-wheeler slab chart.

Whether it's a car or two-wheeler, NCB rewards claim-free insurance history by providing a discount on the own-damage premium at renewal.

Are the NCB Slabs Different for Two-Wheelers and Cars?

Under the standard motor NCB structure, the slabs are the same:

20% → 25% → 35% → 45% → 50%

IRDAI-filed policy wording describes these slabs as applicable to all types of vehicles under the standard structure.

So whether you're trying to understand how much NCB in car insurance or bike insurance, the standard maximum is usually 50% after the needed consecutive claim-free years.

Want to know your exact renewal premium after NCB? Check your bike insurance and NCB eligibility on MyMotor before your policy expires.

Frequently Asked Questions

Well, it doesn't simply move to the new bike automatically. Ask your existing insurer for the needed NCB proof or retention document and submit it while insuring your new bike.

No. The previous owner's NCB doesn't transfer to you with the bike. Your NCB is based on your own eligible insurance and claim history.

Two months is usually still within the standard 90-day NCB retention window. Renew as soon as possible and confirm your eligibility with the insurer.

An own-damage claim can affect the NCB available at your next renewal under standard annual policy terms. Before making a small claim, compare the repair amount with the deductible and the value of the NCB you could lose.

Yes, you can usually carry your eligible NCB when switching insurers. Keep your previous policy and NCB proof available because your new insurer may verify your claim-free history.