When we save up all of our money and put it toward the purchase of a car or motorcycle, we get a satisfying sense of accomplishment. But if someone steals this vehicle or bike, it hurts us a lot and makes us angry.
Important information regarding what steps to take in a situation like this will be provided to you in this article.
Have you ever heard of someone you know, a relative of yours, or even your bike being taken?
Therefore, the answer is going to be yes. Because something like this must have happened to either him or you at some point in the past.
We must have heard a lot of different stories about stolen motorcycles. This occurrence is also capable of occurring with both you and me.
What to Do If the Motorcycle is Stolen?
If your motorcycle is stolen in the USA, you should take the following steps:
1. Contact the police
If you are in the US and your motorcycle is stolen, you should contact the police as soon as possible. Call the emergency number (911) or the non-emergency number of your local police department to report the theft.
Provide them with as much information as possible, including the make, model, color, license plate number, and any identifying features of your motorcycle.
The police will likely ask you for a description of the circumstances surrounding the theft and any details about any witnesses or surveillance cameras in the area.
They will then create a police report and begin an investigation to try and recover your stolen motorcycle.
2. Contact your insurance company
If your motorcycle is stolen in the US, you should contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the theft and initiate a claim.
Your insurance company may require you to provide a copy of the police report and any other relevant information. They will investigate the claim and work with you to determine the value of your motorcycle and any damages that may have occurred during the theft.
Depending on your policy, you may be able to recover the full value of your motorcycle or a portion of it. It is important to review your insurance policy carefully and understand your coverage in case of theft or other damage.
3. Search for your motorcycle
After reporting your stolen motorcycle to the police and your insurance company, you can begin searching for your motorcycle. Here are some steps you can take:
Look for any evidence of your motorcycle, such as broken locks or cables. Check if there are any surveillance cameras in the area that may have captured footage of the theft.
Notify local motorcycle clubs and online communities about the theft. They may be able to keep an eye out for your motorcycle and help you recover it.
Contact local pawn shops and dealerships to see if they have any information about your motorcycle. Some thieves may try to sell stolen motorcycles quickly to these businesses.
Check online marketplaces such as Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for listings of motorcycles similar to yours. If you find a listing that matches your stolen motorcycle, contact the police immediately and provide them with the details.
Post about the theft on social media platforms and ask your friends and followers to share the post. This can increase the visibility of your search and may help someone recognize your motorcycle.
Remember to stay safe during your search for your stolen motorcycle. Do not confront anyone suspected of stealing your motorcycle, and always work with the police to ensure a safe and legal recovery.
4. Notify motorcycle clubs and online communities
Notifying motorcycle clubs and online communities about the theft of your motorcycle can be a helpful step in trying to recover it. Here are some tips for reaching out to these groups:
Reach out to any local motorcycle clubs in your area and inform them about the theft. They may be able to share information about the theft with their members, who can keep an eye out for your motorcycle.
Look for online forums or social media groups for motorcycle enthusiasts and join them. Share information about your stolen motorcycle and ask for help in locating it. These communities can be a great resource for spreading the word about your stolen motorcycle.
Share information about the theft on your own social media accounts and ask your friends and followers to share the post. This can help to increase the visibility of your search and may lead to someone recognizing your motorcycle.
Keep an eye on online marketplaces such as Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for listings of motorcycles similar to yours. If you find a listing that matches your stolen motorcycle, contact the police immediately and provide them with the details.
Remember to provide as much information as possible when reaching out to these groups, including the make, model, color, license plate number, and any other identifying features of your motorcycle. The more people who are aware of the theft, the greater the chances of someone recognizing your motorcycle and reporting it to the police.
5. Check with local pawn shops and dealerships
Checking with local pawn shops and dealerships is another important step in trying to recover your stolen motorcycle. Here are some tips for doing so:
Research and make a list of all the pawn shops and dealerships in your area that sell motorcycles.
Call or visit each pawn shop and dealership on your list and ask if they have any information about your stolen motorcycle. Provide them with a description of your motorcycle and any identifying features.
If you have filed a police report, provide a copy of it to the pawn shops and dealerships. This can help them to identify your motorcycle if it is brought in for sale or trade.
Keep checking back with the pawn shops and dealerships regularly to see if they have any new information or if your motorcycle has been recovered.
Be cautious of anyone who contacts you offering to sell your motorcycle back to you. This could be a scam.
Recovering a stolen motorcycle can take time, but checking with local pawn shops and dealerships can be a valuable step in the recovery process.
6. Stay alert for scams
Staying alert for scams is an important part of trying to recover your stolen motorcycle. Unfortunately, some criminals may try to take advantage of the situation by contacting you and offering to sell your motorcycle back to you. Here are some tips for staying safe and avoiding scams:
If someone contacts you out of the blue offering to sell your stolen motorcycle back to you, be cautious. This could be a scam.
If someone claims to have your stolen motorcycle, ask for proof of ownership or other identifying information. Verify their identity before making any payments.
If someone asks you to wire money in exchange for your stolen motorcycle, this is likely a scam. Don’t send money until you can verify the legitimacy of the offer.
If you receive any suspicious offers or information about your stolen motorcycle, report it to the police immediately. They can help you to investigate and avoid potential scams.
Recovering a stolen motorcycle can be a long and frustrating process. Don’t rush into any deals or offers without carefully considering the risks and potential consequences.
If you feel uncomfortable or unsure about any situation related to the recovery of your stolen motorcycle, seek help from the police or a trusted advisor.
7. Stay in touch with the police and your insurance company
Staying in touch with the police and your insurance company is essential when your motorcycle is stolen. Here are some tips for maintaining contact:
Keep in touch with the police department handling your case to get updates on their investigation. Ask for a case number and contact information for the investigating officer so you can follow up with them.
If you come across any new information that might help the investigation, such as a sighting of your motorcycle or information on a suspect, be sure to share it with the police department right away.
Keep your insurance company informed of any updates on the status of your stolen motorcycle. They can help you with the claims process and provide any assistance you might need.
Don’t assume that the police or insurance company will follow up with you. Reach out to them regularly to check on the status of the investigation and the insurance claim.
Recovering a stolen motorcycle can take time, so be patient and persistent in your efforts to stay in touch with the police and insurance company.
By staying involved and providing any new information you come across, you can help increase the chances of recovering your motorcycle and potentially identifying the culprit responsible for the theft.
Documents required to claim the stolen vehicle from the insurance company:
The details of the documents you will need to claim the stolen vehicle from the insurance company are as follows:
- Motorcycle theft FIR copy.
- RC i.e.. registration certificate copy of the vehicle.
- Copy of vehicle owner’s Aadhaar card or identity card.
- Copy of the driving licence of the vehicle owner.
- If the vehicle was taken on loan, then a copy of the loan agreement.
- Copy of car insurance.
- Copy of the court order, in which it will be written that the police searched the vehicle to do so, but the vehicle could not be traced.
- Both car keys
Note: If any key has been stolen, do not forget to mention it clearly in the FIR. There is no such hard and fast rule as the Insurance Regulatory Authority, i.e., IRDA, but insurance companies have now made it necessary for their protection. People are often negligent in this regard.
Online facility to buy insurance:
At the present time, it is possible to purchase insurance and make payments online.
In addition to this, many businesses are now providing customers with the option of choosing a better insurance policy for themselves by comparing the various premiums offered by the various providers.
Do not overlook the importance of carefully reading over the insurance policy documents.
Be sure to keep a secure copy of it with you. When filing a claim for a stolen vehicle, avoid keeping any paper deficiencies that could cause the claim to be denied.
How to claim insurance if the motorcycle is stolen?
if a vehicle or bike that belonged to you, a member of your family, or a close friend was taken.
Also, if you had insurance on your car, the insurance company will pay for any damage to your car that was caused by it being stolen.
But you must file the insurance claim within the time limit if you want the insurance company to pay you.
In the event that your vehicle is stolen, you can file an insurance claim in any one of the following ways:
If any vehicle is stolen, first of all you have to collect all the documents of that vehicle – Registration Certificate, Pollution Certificate, Driving License, Insurance copy, one of your photo ID and Pollution Certificate.
After collecting all the documents, register the FIR [First Information Report] of bike or car theft by going to the police station as soon as possible.
In the FIR, you have to give information about where the vehicle was stolen, at what time it was stolen, and how it was stolen.
On registering an FIR, you will also be given a copy of an FIR by the police station. If you are not given a copy of the FIR from the police station, then you should ask for it yourself.
Even after registering an FIR, if the police are unable to search your car or bike. So now it is your turn to claim from the insurance company.
To claim insurance, you have to go to the office of the insurance company. You have to take a claim form by going to the office to claim the vehicle stolen.
If you have got the insurance done through an agent number, then you can take the help of that insurance agent here.
After filling the form correctly, attach the required documents and submit it in the office.
You must repeat the work you completed by visiting the insurance office by visiting your district’s RTO office.
After this, you have to wait for some time. And in the meantime, keep going to the insurance office and the police station to get information about the process of searching your vehicle.
If the police are unable to find your vehicle even after 90 days of its being stolen, then take a “no trace” certificate from the police.
Now submit this no-trace certificate to the office of the insurance company.
After this, the insurance company will appoint a surveyor for this matter. And get the incident report prepared.
Note here – Answer all the questions asked by the surveyor correctly. Do not hide any fact of any kind.
After the surveyor sends his report to the company, you will be given the claim for your vehicle.
Normally this process takes up to a month. But due to the working system of different companies, this time may be more or less.
What to do if the insurance company does not pay the claim even after having motor insurance?
If there is an opportunity for compromise in the claim, then you can also proceed in this manner. In the event that this causes you harm, you have the option of participating in a consumer forum.
The voice of the customer is always taken into consideration here.
The forum’s judges have ruled on multiple occasions that insurance companies are to blame for failing to provide adequate service.
It has resulted in the insurance companies being required to pay their bills in full.
In this instance as well, if you are unhappy with the decision, you have the opportunity to appeal it.
You have the option of bringing your complaint all the way up to the State Consumer Forum if, for instance, you are dissatisfied with the decision that was taken by the District Consumer Forum.
It may take some time, but rest assured that your opinion will ultimately be heard.
Conclusion
There is no longer a time when it is sufficient to buy a vehicle, and when the automobile was stolen, people used to sit with the help of the police. Those days are long gone.
As a consumer, it is essential to have a level of awareness. It is very important to know which of your important papers should be collected as soon as possible in the event that your motorcycle is stolen.
This will allow you to settle the claim for your stolen vehicle as quickly as possible. If your bike is stolen, this information is very crucial to know.
