|Car Insurance
Car insurance is a legal agreement between you, the insured, and the insurance company or the insurer, wherein the insurer is liable to cover any financial losses that occur because of an accident or theft of the car or damages to a third party because of the car. The extent of coverage, however, depends on the terms and conditions of the car insurance policy document.
Now buy your dream car without the financial stress of owning one. Car insurance allows you to safeguard yourself and your dependents from financial losses that could arise out of damages to your car. The damages may occur because of accidents, theft, natural calamities, and much more. Buying car insurance is simple, hassle-free, and convenient.
Third-party liability insurance is the most basic and minimum requirement on your car as per Indian law. It covers you against any financial and legal liabilities that arise out of damages to a third party or their property because of your car.
A comprehensive policy is more detailed than the third-party liability policy, with much larger coverage. It not only covers losses from damage caused to a third party but also financial losses to you because of damage to your car or property because of the car.
Under this policy plan, you need to pay the insurance premium amount based on the number of kilometers covered by the car.You are covered as per the inclusions of the comprehensive and the third-party liability policy on a pilot basis for a year.
Coverage | Third-Party Liability Policy | Comprehensive Policy |
Damages to a third party or their property. | Yes | Yes |
Damages to the car due to natural calamities like storms, cyclones, floods, etc. | No | Yes |
Damages to the car due to fire, theft, etc. | No | Yes |
Personal Accident Cover | Yes | Yes |
Injury to a third party | Yes | Yes |
Choice of add-on covers | No | Yes |
Zero Depreciation Cover – Taking the zero depreciation cover on your car insurance policy protects you from suffering any further deductions on your claim amount because of the depreciation value of the damaged parts of the car.
No Claim Bonus Cover – The No-claim bonus cover makes you eligible for a bonus from your insurer in case no claims were made on the policy in the past year.
Emergency Assistance Cover – The Emergency Assistance Cover allows you to drive hassle-free in any part of India. In case of an accident or a breakdown, you get immediate site repair or towing assistance wherever you are.
Key Replacement Cover – The key replacement cover allows you to claim a free replacement of your car keys in case you misplace or lose the key. The replacement is done free of charge, where the insurance company pays for the replacement
Return To Invoice – In case there is a difference between your car’s insured value and purchase value, the return to invoice cover helps you cover the gap during your claim in case of a loss or theft.
Engine And Gearbox Protection Cover – The engine and gearbox cover helps cover costs of repairs on any parts of the engine and gearbox, like nuts, bolts, screws, etc., and the corresponding labor charges for repair and replacement as well.
Consumables Cover – The consumables cover helps cover costs of consumables like engine oil, nuts, bolts, gearbox oil, grease, washers, etc., during repairs or
Passengers Cover – The passengers’ cover in your car insurance policy helps secure you financially from any damages or injury to other passengers in the car during the accident.
Car Downtime Expenses – Car downtime expenses cover help you with reimbursement for any travel and other expenses incurred while your car is under repair or service at a network garage. You get a daily allowance from the insurance company to help cover any such expenses.
General wear and tear of the car.. | Depreciation in the value of the car. |
Any electrical or mechanical breakdowns of the car. | If the driver was under the influence of intoxicants like drugs or alcohol during the time of the accident. |
If the driver was violating any traffic rules during the time of the accident. | Add-on covers not taken as part of the insurance policy. |
Based on the IDV of your car. IDV is the insured declared value or the market value of the car. The IDV amount stated by the insurance company directly affects your car premium amount.
Check the claim application process. Make sure that the insurer you choose has a quick claim application and settlement process with minimal hassle.
Look out for the extra service benefits offered by the company. Insurance companies often float limited period offers where you can get great discounts on your insurance premiums or win yourself some extra benefits and services at minimal or no cost along with your car insurance policy.
The claim settlement ratio of the insurance company is significant. A higher claim settlement ratio means that the company has settled a much larger number of claims compared to the total claim requests received.
Ensure that the insurance company has a qualified customer support team that is accessible and available at all times. Look for an insurer that offers 24/7 customer support in case of emergencies or needs.
Opting for an insurer with a large network of cashless garages can be advantageous. Whenever you have any repair work to be done on your car, you can go to the nearest associated garage for a cashless repair. The insurance company pays for the repairs.
Compare the quotes offered by different insurers and check for the inclusions and covers offered by each.
IDV of the car – The IDV or insured declared value of the car is the current market value of the car after considering the depreciation amount. The IDV indicates the amount you can claim in case your car is stolen or has undergone complete damage. | Age of the car – Brand new cars have a higher insurance premium than older ones. The depreciation amount deducted from the IDV is higher for older cars. As your vehicle continues depreciating, the policy premium keeps reducing. |
The type of policy – The premium amount is higher for comprehensive policies than third-party liability-only policies because of the coverage offered in the former. | Add-on covers – By taking add-on covers on your car insurance policy, you are liable to pay a higher premium amount on the policy. With every new add-on cover, the premium value increases. |
Deductibles – Deductibles are the amount that the policyholder is committing to pay before the insurance company can start paying for the repairs and damages. The higher the deductibles amount, the lower the premium on your insurance. | Claim history of the insured – You are eligible for a no-claim bonus if you do not make any claims on your insurance policy for an entire. If you go without making any claims for five consecutive years, you can earn up to a 50% discount on your next car insurance renewal premium. |
Engine capacity of the car – Cars that have higher engine capacities attract higher premium amounts compared to those with smaller engines. | Other factors – Other factors that could affect the value of your insurance premium include the age of the owner, model and make of the car, city of registration, etc. |
Get Best Claim Settlement Process – You can compare the terms and conditions mentioned under the policies of different insurers to see what benefits you and what does not work for you and opt for the insurer with the most hassle-free claim settlement process.
Compare Online – By comparing various policies and plans online you can find some great deals and discounts on the premium amounts offered by insurance companies. | Lower IDV – The IDV of your vehicle determines the premium amount you pay. Opting for a lower IDV of your vehicle automatically reduces the premium you have to pay. |
Drive Safely – Installing safety or anti-theft devices in your car reduces the chances of losses due to theft. Therefore, car insurers charge premiums in your favor as there are lower chances of an insurance claim due to theft of the car. | Safety Device – By taking add-on covers on your car insurance policy, you are liable to pay a higher premium amount on the policy. With every new add-on cover, the premium value increases. |
Increase Deductibles – Deductibles refer to the maximum amount you are committing to pay in case of an accident, damage, or theft before your insurer can step in and pay. Committing a higher amount of deductibles means that the insurer will either have to pay a lower amount or not have to pay at all, thereby reducing your premium amount. | Long Term Policy Discount – Several insurers offer an attractive policy discount to those policyholders who sign up for a long-term policy with them. |
AAI Membership – Being a member of organizations like AAI or WIAA can sometimes work to your advantage as several insurers offer huge discounts to such members. If you are a member of such an organization, it is always better to check with your insurer and availing of the discount, if applicable, before arriving at the final premium amount. | Avoid Lower Amount Claim For NCB – Having made lesser or no claims in the previous year makes you entitled to a no-claim bonus from the insurer, provided you have opted for the NCB cover that is. Using your no-claim bonus, you can save a huge percentage from your premium amount. |
Car-Insurance
Car insurance is a legal agreement between you, the insured, and the insurance company or the insurer, wherein the insurer is liable to cover any financial losses that occur because of an accident or theft of the car or damages to a third party because of the car. The extent of coverage, however, depends on the terms and conditions of the car insurance policy document.Now buy your dream car without the financial stress of owning one. Car insurance allows you to safeguard yourself and your dependents from financial losses that could arise out of damages to your car. The damages may occur because of accidents, theft, natural calamities, and much more. Buying car insurance is simple, hassle-free, and convenient.
*T&C Apply
Usually, car insurance companies do not impose restrictions on how many times you can file a claim on your policy. However, you must bear in mind that every time you claim your insurance, you are reducing your chances of a no-claim bonus.
In case of an accident, you must call your insurance company regardless of whether it was your fault or not. Notifying your insurance company of any such event is advisable.
Yes, absolutely. Temporary insurance allows you to get coverage on your car for a limited period as short as even a day. Most such policies are usually comprehensive, but the coverage can be customized as per the policy-seeker and the insurer.
Car insurance premiums go up based on the claims you have made in the past, whether the accident was your fault or not. However, in the latter case, your premium will not suffer a very high increase.
To ensure that the chances of rejection of your claim are low, you must do the following:
While third-party liabilities policies are the most basic requirements as per Indian law, they also come at affordable premiums. The comprehensive plans are most inclusive with much greater coverage and therefore, come at a higher cost. You can decide on which is the more suited policy plan for you based on:
You can save your car insurance premium in many ways:
Personal accident cover is an add-on to your car insurance policy that offers protection in case of accident or damage to the policyholder. In case of injury or death of the policyholder, the insurance company pays a lump sum of money to the nominee.
Usually, car insurance policies offer coverage for up to 6 months or 12 months, based on the term opted for by the policyholder. After the term expires, the policyholder needs to renew their policy to reap the benefits of their insurance policy.
Yes, it is possible. Two people can get insurance on the same car. All you need to do is take a non-owned policy, with the terms and conditions as per the insurer. The name of the insured and the car will be mentioned on the policy.
You can visit the RTO website where your car is registered. Enter your car’s registration number and click on ‘proceed’ to reach a page with all your policy details.
Though the inclusions of your car insurance policy can be increased or reduced based on your requirements, the most basic car insurance policies include:
A first-party insurance claim is when you submit a claim to your insurance company for damages to your own car. For example, if you run the car into a tree and damage the bonnet in the process, claiming for the losses from this damage is known as a first-party insurance claim.