Two Wheeler Insurance Companies in India (2026)
All 26 general insurance companies in India offer two wheeler insurance, and third-party cover is legally compulsory for every registered two wheeler under the Motor Vehicles Act. New two-wheelers require a longer third-party policy at the time of purchase than cars do, which is the main structural difference between the two categories.
Key Facts
| Insurers offering two-wheeler insurance | 265 |
| Compulsory cover | Third-party only, under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 |
| Long-term third-party for new two-wheelers | 5 years |
| Third-party premium | Set by IRDAI, identical across insurers |
| Metric used | Incurred claim ratio, motor line |
| Data verified | September 21, 2026 |
List of Two Wheeler Insurance Companies in India
The current practical list contains 26 general insurers offering two-wheeler products. It includes the four public-sector general insurers and 22 private-sector general insurers. The motor ICR below is for the insurer’s entire motor business, not only two-wheeler policies. IRDAI reports ICR by line of business and does not publish a separate two-wheeler ICR for each insurer in this statement.
| # | Company | IRDAI Reg. No. | Sector | Motor ICR FY2024-25 | Cashless garages | Long-term policy | Claim channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The New India Assurance | 190 | Public | 106.40% | No official number published (1,184 city-wise + more brand-specific and specialised garages) | 3-year OD + 5-year TP / long-term options | Online, branch, claims |
| 2 | United India Insurance | 545 | Public | 99.49% | No official number published (city-wise list available on official website) | 1-year OD + 5-year TP | Online, branch |
| 3 | The Oriental Insurance | 556 | Public | 113.34% | No official number published (cashless garage locator available on official website) | 1+5 / long-term TP | Online, branch |
| 4 | National Insurance | 58 | Public | 118.74% | No official number published (cashless garage locator available on official website) | 1+5 / long-term TP | Online, branch |
| 5 | ICICI Lombard General Insurance | 115 | Private | 64.21% | 7,100+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 6 | Bajaj General Insurance | 113 | Private | 68.54% | 7,200+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 7 | HDFC ERGO General Insurance | 146 | Private | 101.80% | 2,000+ | 5+5 / long-term + TP | App, portal, branch |
| 8 | Tata AIG General Insurance | 108 | Private | 75.83% | 5,300+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 9 | SBI General Insurance | 144 | Private | 84.20% | 8,700+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 10 | IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance | 106 | Private | 89.72% | 8,500+ (total number of network garages/no separate number for two-wheeler published officially) | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 11 | IndusInd General Insurance | 103 | Private | 82.80% | 11,000+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 12 | Cholamandalam MS General Insurance | 123 | Private | 72.65% | 8,500+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 13 | Generali Central Insurance | 132 | Private | 67.89% | 3,500+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 14 | Royal Sundaram General Insurance | 102 | Private | 75.86% | 8,000+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 15 | Shriram General Insurance | 137 | Private | 67.05% | No official number published (cashless garage locator available on official website) | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 16 | Universal Sompo General Insurance | 134 | Private | 58.91% | 13,500+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 17 | Magma General Insurance | 149 | Private | 78.96% | No official number published (cashless garage locator available on official website) | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 18 | Liberty General Insurance | 150 | Private | 78.33% | 4,300+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 19 | Acko General Insurance | 157 | Private | 82.08% | 5,000+ (total number of network garages/no separate number for two-wheeler published officially) | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, digital claims |
| 20 | Go Digit General Insurance | 158 | Private | 67.04% | 10,000+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal |
| 21 | Navi General Insurance | 155 | Private | 79.06% | No official number published | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, digital claims |
| 22 | Zuno General Insurance | 159 | Private | 69.61% | 5,400+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal |
| 23 | Zurich Kotak General Insurance | 152 | Private | 77.88% | 6,500+ | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 24 | Raheja QBE General Insurance | 141 | Private | 86.96% | No official number published (cashless garage locator available on official website) | 1+5 / long-term TP | App, portal, branch |
| 25 | Kshema General Insurance | 162 | Private | 79.83% | No official number published | 1+5 / 5-year TP | App, digital claims |
| 26 | Kiwi General Insurance | 171 | Private | N/A | No official number published (cashless garage locator available on official website) | 5-year TP | N/A |
The FY2024-25 motor ICR figures show a wide spread. Among private insurers, Universal Sompo reported 58.91%, while HDFC ERGO reported 101.80%. Among public-sector insurers, National Insurance reported 118.74% and United India 99.49%. These figures should not be treated as rankings because ICR measures claim amounts relative to earned premium and does not directly measure claim-settlement quality.
A high ICR does not automatically mean an insurer is better at settling claims, and a low ICR does not automatically mean claims are being rejected. It is a financial measure that should be read alongside solvency, complaints, service experience, product wording and the availability of suitable repair facilities.
One Difference from Car Insurance Worth Checking: An insurer’s cashless garage network for two wheelers is not necessarily the same as its car network. Some insurers explicitly allow users to filter their locator by vehicle type, including two wheelers. ICICI Lombard, for example, separates car, two-wheeler and commercial-vehicle garages and reported 7,100+ two-wheeler garages as of September 2026.
HDFC ERGO similarly publishes a separate two-wheeler garage figure, while some insurers like National Insurance allow users and policyholders to find cashless facilities through a cashless garage locator available on their official websites.
The Third-Party Requirement for New Two Wheelers
Third-party insurance is legally compulsory for every registered two wheeler in India under the Motor Vehicles Act. A new two wheeler must be sold with a longer third-party policy than an annual one, and that requirement is longer for two wheelers than for cars.
What this means in practice when you buy a new two-wheeler:
- The dealer arranges the compulsory long-term third-party cover at the point of sale, and its cost is built into the on-road price
- Own-damage cover is separate and optional. You can take it annually even where the third-party portion runs longer
- When the long-term third-party policy expires, you renew it yourself. Nobody reminds you, and this is where a large share of lapsed two wheeler policies begin
What happens at expiry. The obligation to hold third-party cover does not end when the dealer-arranged policy does. Riding without it is an offence under the Motor Vehicles Act, and the penalties for a repeat offence are higher than for a first one.
Long-Term Policies: Are They Worth It
A long-term two wheeler policy covers you for more than one year in a single purchase. The third-party portion is compulsory for a new vehicle. The own-damage portion is optional, and whether it is worth buying depends on a trade-off most buyers are never shown.
| Parameter | Annual own-damage policy | Long-term own-damage policy |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal effort | Every year | Once every few years |
| Risk of lapse | Higher, easy to forget | Lower |
| Price certainty | None, repriced annually | Locked for the term |
| Freedom to switch insurer | Every year | Only at term end |
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| No-claim bonus | Applied annually | Applied at term end, structure varies |
| Benefit if you sell the vehicle | Transfer or refund on the remaining year | Refund on the unexpired portion, subject to terms |
Verdict:
a long-term own-damage policy suits riders who keep a two wheeler for several years and want to remove the lapse risk, which is the single biggest problem in this category. An annual policy suits anyone who wants to keep switching insurers for price or service, or who may sell the vehicle within a year or two. The lapse risk argument is stronger than it sounds, because a lapsed two wheeler policy costs more than an unexpectedly high renewal ever will.
Add-On Covers Available
Add-on covers for two wheelers work the same way as for cars, but the range is narrower, because the repair economics are different and some car add-ons have no meaningful two wheeler equivalent.
| Add-on | What it does | Worth considering if |
|---|---|---|
| Zero depreciation | Pays the full cost of replaced parts without deducting for wear | The vehicle is under roughly five years old |
| Roadside assistance | Towing, jump start, flat tyre, fuel delivery | You ride long distances or outside your own city |
| Engine protection | Covers engine damage including water ingress | You ride in a flood-prone city |
| Consumables cover | Pays for oils and other items a standard claim excludes | Any claim involving significant repair |
| Pillion rider cover | Personal accident cover for the passenger | You regularly carry a pillion |
| No-claim bonus protection | Preserves the discount despite a claim | You have several claim-free years accumulated |
Verdict:
zero depreciation delivers the most value on a newer two wheeler, because plastic body panels depreciate quickly and a standard claim deducts heavily for them. Pillion rider cover is the two wheeler-specific one most often overlooked and is inexpensive. Beyond those, the add-on range is thin enough that it rarely decides which insurer to buy from.
How to Choose a Two Wheeler Insurer
Choosing a two wheeler insurance company depends on the same four checks as car insurance, with one important adjustment. Check the garage network filtered for two wheelers rather than assuming an insurer’s car network applies, because the two are different sets of businesses.
- Two wheeler garages in your city. Filter the locator specifically. An insurer with strong car coverage where you live may have very few two wheeler garages there.
- Motor-line incurred claim ratio. Use the motor figure, not the blended company ratio.
- Claim process for small claims. Two wheeler claims are usually low value, and the effort of claiming can exceed the amount recovered. App-based photo claim settlement matters more here than in car insurance, where the sums justify more process.
- IRDAI grievance data. Complaints relative to policy count.
One practical point on small claims. For minor damage, claiming can cost you more in lost no-claim bonus than the repair is worth. Work out the bonus you would forfeit before filing, because on a two wheeler that calculation frequently favours paying the repair yourself.
Renewing After Your Policy has Lapsed
A lapsed two-wheeler policy can leave you exposed to significant legal and financial risk. Third-party insurance is compulsory, and riding without it is an offence under the Motor Vehicles Act. A lapse can also affect your No Claim Bonus (NCB) and may require the vehicle to be inspected before a new policy is issued.
What Lapsing Actually Costs You
You are riding without the legally required third-party cover. Third-party insurance is compulsory for vehicles used on public roads. Driving an uninsured vehicle is an offence under the Motor Vehicles Act. If you cause an accident during the uninsured period, you do not have the protection of an active third-party policy. Third-party death and injury liability is unlimited under the standard motor liability framework, while third-party property-damage cover is subject to the applicable policy limit.
You can lose your No Claim Bonus. IRDAI’s current guidance says that if a comprehensive motor policy lapses for more than 90 days, the accrued NCB is lost. NCB applies to the own-damage premium, not the third-party premium.
You need an inspection. IRDAI states that in case of a break in insurance, the vehicle has to be inspected; its consumer guidance says this applies even when the lapse is only one day. Additional inspection charges may also apply.
Your new policy does not cover the uninsured gap. The new policy starts according to its effective date and terms. It does not retrospectively cover accidents or damage that occurred while the vehicle was uninsured.
How to Renew a Lapsed Policy
- Stop riding the vehicle until third-party cover is in force. This is the part people skip, and it carries the highest exposure.
- Get a quote from your previous insurer or a new one. A lapse does not prevent you from switching.
- Arrange the inspection. Ask the insurer what form it takes before you commit, because a physical inspection may mean transporting an uninsured vehicle.
- Declare the lapse and any prior claims honestly. Understating either can void the new policy.
- Check whether the no-claim bonus survived. Ask for it in writing on the new policy schedule rather than assuming.
The practical prevention. Set a calendar reminder for a month before expiry rather than relying on the insurer to contact you, and note the expiry date of the long-term third-party portion separately from the own-damage renewal date. Those two dates rarely coincide, which is exactly why the third-party portion is the one that lapses unnoticed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many two wheeler insurance companies are there in India?
All 26 general insurance companies registered with IRDAI are licensed to sell two wheeler insurance. A small number write mainly commercial or crop business and have little retail two wheeler presence, which narrows the practical choice. Standalone health insurers and life insurers cannot sell motor cover of any kind.
Is two wheeler insurance compulsory in India?
Third-party two wheeler insurance is legally compulsory for every registered two wheeler under the Motor Vehicles Act, and riding without it is an offence. Own-damage cover, which pays for damage to your own vehicle, is not legally required. A new two wheeler must be sold with a longer third-party policy than an annual one.
What happens if my two wheeler insurance has lapsed?
A lapsed two wheeler policy means you are riding illegally and are personally liable for any third-party injury or damage you cause. You may also lose your accumulated no-claim bonus, and the insurer will require an inspection of the vehicle before issuing fresh own-damage cover. Stop riding until third-party cover is back in force.
Do I lose my no-claim bonus if my policy lapses?
Your no-claim bonus survives a short gap between policies but is lost entirely beyond the permitted window, after which the discount restarts at zero. Ask the new insurer to confirm in writing on the policy schedule that the bonus has been carried forward, rather than assuming it applied.
Are long-term two wheeler insurance policies worth it?
A long-term own-damage policy removes the annual renewal effort and the lapse risk, which is the biggest practical problem with two wheeler cover, and it locks the price for the term. It costs more upfront and prevents you switching insurers until the term ends. It suits riders keeping a vehicle for several years and not those who may sell it soon.
Can I transfer my two wheeler insurance to a new owner?
Two wheeler insurance can be transferred to a new owner when the vehicle is sold, and the transfer should be recorded with the insurer alongside the registration transfer. The no-claim bonus belongs to the previous owner rather than the vehicle, so the seller can carry it to their next vehicle and the buyer starts without it.
Disclaimer:
MyRupia is not an insurance intermediary and does not sell insurance policies. This page is published for information only. Policy terms vary between products; always read the policy wording.
ON THIS PAGE
Not sure what you need?
Speak with an expert who charges for advice — not for selling a policy.