Car
Insurance
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A car insurance policy protects you financially if your car causes damage to someone else's vehicle or property in an accident. It also covers damage to your own car from accidents or natural disasters.
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Car Insurance Policy - Everything You Want to Know
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A car insurance policy is mandatory as per the rules of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. Thus, to legally drive your car in India, you need to have at least a third-party car insurance policy. Moreover, the policy will provide financial assistance in case of third-party property damages caused by your car in case of accidents. If an individual suffers an injury or dies due to the car, you can face considerable financial liability for the loss caused. The policy also covers this liability and gives you financial relief. Moreover, opting for a comprehensive car insurance policy will also help cover the damages suffered by your car in case of accidents or theft. Such policies pay for the car’s repair or compensate you financially in case of thefts.
It is always recommended to compare car insurance policies before making a purchase. Following are some of the reasons to do so:
- Get the best plan: There are a lot of car insurance policies available in the Indian insurance market. Each plan promises something better than the other. To know the difference between the different plans, you need to compare car insurance plans.
- Choose a higher IDV: IDV represents your car’s Insured Declared Value. This value reflects the market price of your car after being adjusted for depreciation. Different policies fix the IDV differently. That is why you see different IDVs offered for the same car. Ideally, you should opt for the highest possible IDV to maintain the value of your car.
- Get the best premium rates: Just like the IDV differs across different car insurance plans, the car insurance quotes vary. Needless to say, you would want the lowest possible premium for your car insurance policy. You can choose the best premium rate when you get to compare the different plans before you buy one.
- Get extensive coverage: The coverage features across different car insurance plans also vary. Some companies might have all the covers required for you, while others might not offer so. If you want your plan to have all-inclusive coverage, you should compare different plans and choose a plan that has the required coverage features at the best rates of premiums.
- Avail of higher discounts: Car insurance policies offer attractive rates of discounts, which help in reducing your premium outgo. To search for the highest rate of discounts, you have to compare car insurance policies online because different plans allow different discount rates.
- Get cashless garage service: Every car insurance company has a tie-up with several garages nationwide. However, it is always recommended to go for a company with an exhaustive network of such garages. When you compare car insurance policies online, you can compare which insurers have higher network garages available at your location.
To choose the best car insurance policy, you should compare the different plans available in the market. The online mode has eased the entire comparison process. While comparing, you should look at the following parameters to choose the best policy:
- IDV - The IDV of your car is its market value after deducting the age-based depreciation. IDV reduces every policy year as your car ages. You should choose the highest IDV to enjoy maximum coverage.
- Coverage features – Once you are done with the IDV of the policy, look at the coverage features promised under the plan. Try and opt for a plan that has all the coverage features built into it for the maximum scope of coverage.
- Premium rate – Since you would be paying the premiums out of your pockets, try and choose a plan that has the most reasonable premium rate. When comparing premiums, keep an eye out for the coverage features. Don’t skimp on the coverage to get a lower premium. The coverage vis-à -vis the premium should be balanced.
- Add-ons available – There are add-on covers in car insurance policies that provide great benefits. Look for the available add-ons to enhance the coverage of your policy.
- Discounts available – Car insurance plans allow premium discounts for various factors. Look for the maximum discounts to minimise premiums
- List of networked garages – You can get a cashless claim settlement if you get your car repaired at a networked garage. The best car insurance policy would be the one with the largest network of preferred garages.
Accessories not fitted by the car showroom are calculated separately from the Insured Declared Value. The insurance considers the cost price and depreciation rate.
Depreciation covers the following:
- Nylon/plastic parts, rubber parts, tubes and tyres, batteries, and airbags - 50%
- Fibreglass parts - 30%
- Parts made of glass – Nil
Yes, but only if the person driving the car has a valid driving license. However, the accidents specified under hazards in the policy are covered. If the owner was driving the vehicle, they are covered by the car insurance policy. When you choose or compare car insurance online, you must study the policy minutely to understand who is covered and who is not covered.
Yes, you can insure a car fitted with CNG using a bi-fuel system. The kit should have petrol/diesel or petrol/CNG. It will be insured at an additional premium of 4% on the original cost of the fuel kit. Make sure you specify the CNG system in the proposal form when you buy a car insurance policy online.
The insurance policy is valued at the car’s IDV, which decreases yearly. In case of a theft or total loss of the car, the compensation paid to the owner is the depreciated value of the car based on the age of the vehicle. This add-on ensures that the invoice value of the car is paid without factoring in depreciation. This cover might be available for cars up to the age of 3 years as per the underwriting policy of the insurance company.
During heavy rains, driving your car through flooded roads can lead to engine and transmission box seizures due to water ingression. Repairing such damages can be a very costly affair. This cover will compensate for damages caused to the engine and gearbox due to rain or flood. It also covers damage caused to the engine by leakage of lubricant or coolant due to accidents. The insurer will pay for the repair and replacement of all the internal parts and compensate for the labour costs involved, costs of lubricants or consumables required to undertake the repairs. This cover can be opted for cars up to 3 years of age.
Premium is the amount that you pay to the insurance company for the coverage that the insurer is allowing under its car insurance policy. The insurance company covers specific financial risks, and to cover your risks, you have to pay a premium for the policy annually. The premium payable on a car depends on:
- Type of vehicle
- Age of vehicle
- Period of coverage (1 year or 3 years bundled cover for a new car)
- Add-on covers opted t
- Any applicable discounts/loadings, as per the underwriting rules of the insurer, in case of break-in cases
You can pay premiums online through one of the various modes of payment offered by insurance companies. Once you have shortlisted a car insurance plan and filled out the proposal form, you will be redirected to the payment page of the insurance company. You can then pay through credit or debit cards, net banking, wallets or UPI.
Yes, you would be required to pay the premium again. However, you can avail the benefit of the no-claim bonus offered by your insurance company. Through this benefit, you can get a discount of up to 55% on the own-damage component of your insurance premium depending on the number of claim-free years and the insurance company’s policy.
If the vehicle is modified for a specially abled person, typically, a discount of 50% is offered. The discount is applicable on the own-damage component premium for such modifications. It is also available for institutions engaged with the specially abled in their operations.
Yes, discounts are offered to members of accredited automobile associations. The policy may allow up to a 5% discount on the premium but not exceeding Rs. 200. While discussing the car insurance policy with the insurance company, you should get clarity on the associations that are covered.
Yes, if you install an ARA-approved anti-theft alarm or locking system, you get a discount. It is covered under the own-damage (OD) of the car insurance policy. You can check out and compare car insurance quotes online for further information.
The Automotive Research Association of India, or ARAI, is the body that approves anti-theft and locking systems for vehicles. If a vehicle is installed with such devices, the car insurance companies offer a certain discount on the OD.
The insured will have to bear the following charges:
- The amount of depreciation as per the rate prescribed in case zero depreciation cover is not availed
- The reasonable value of the salvage
- Compulsory and voluntary deductions under the policy if the insured has opted for it.
A car insurance policy claim made during the policy period affects the NCB (no-claim bonus) insurance companies offer upon renewal. The more claims you make, the higher the premium you will pay. Calculate the premiums versus the claims before opting for an insurance policy.
The insurance company can deny your claims in various instances. If you claim an excluded coverage, the claim will be denied. If the claim process is not properly followed and you do not submit the required documents, the claim will be denied. The insurance company always denies fraudulent claims. Moreover, if your car insurance policy has expired and you did not renew it, any claims made on the policy would be denied if the event occurred after the policy expiry date.