GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Everyone dreams of purchasing a car in life. Reasons can be numerous; after all, having your car has several benefits. You can visit any place at any time at your convenience. You will no longer feel constrained in your life; cars have made the world a smaller place. That's not all, as owning a car is a status symbol too. People feel more secure and enjoy more private trips in their car.

But owning a car makes you liable to all the extra liabilities that come with it. Your car may get severely damaged in an accident; theft is always a threat; moreover, if you own a car you are also liable to damages caused to it by pedestrians and property. Hence it is important that you have car insurance that covers all these liabilities. You can buy car insurance online within a few minutes. It will make you feel more secure in case of any mishap. But will making modifications in your car affect your car insurance in any way?

More or less, every modification will affect your insurance, increasing the insurance premiums. When arriving at the new quotation insurance companies generally look at two factors risk of theft and risk of an accident. If you have an entirely cosmetic modification, it will increase the value of the car hence increasing its risk of theft. If you are making modifications that affect the performance of the car, it will increase the risk of an accident. These modifications severely affect your car insurance:-

• Engine modification- Engine modifications tend to increase performance and acceleration of the car. This tends to increase the risk of an accident.
• Brakes and Suspension - Overall, control of the car lies in the breaks. Modifying brakes or suspension will affect the overall performance of the car.
• Car Interior - Modifying the car interior is purely a cosmetic change to the car. It would not affect performance. However, it will increase the value of the car and will increase the risk of theft.
• Paint Job - Getting a paint job on your car may end up completely changing how your car looks. Getting decals and vinyl on the car will also change the look of the car. This may make the car more desirable, increasing the risk of theft.
• Rim Job and Wheel Modifications - Mostly wheel modifications and rim jobs are cosmetic effects and do not have severe effects on the performance. Some modifications might change road performance too.
• Change in the Engine - Engine is the heart of the car and a major aspect in calculating the car insurance premium. Getting engine changed can have a severe effect on your premium.

It is important to notify your insurance company whenever any modification or alteration has been made. Not notifying your insurance company may revoke your insurance policy and any coverage will be declared void. Modifying a car generally increases its value. This makes car insurance even more important as you stand to lose more in case of any unforeseen event. If you do not yet have one, you can buy car insurance online. Living in constant worry of losing your car is not worth it. Getting your car insured with a comprehensive policy is a step forward towards a worry-free future.

While driving a car is a pleasure, a misfortunate incident can spoil everything. A tree falling over your car, water entering mechanical parts during rains and floods, road accidents, etc. are all incidents that do not come with any prior warning. Accidents happen in our daily life, and when a car is involved, it becomes a very costly affair. This is one of the reasons to have the best personal accident insurance policy in india.

Car insurance ensures that during any unfortunate accident, you will be able to ride the difficult waves created in your life with ease. Insurance policies usually cover damage to cars, pedestrians, and property. To claim car insurance after an accident, there are some dos and don'ts that you must keep in mind: -

Do's: -

• The insurance company must be immediately notified when the accident occurs. They must be provided with a general description of how things happened, damage to the car, and surroundings.
• File an FIR. Without an FIR, you cannot raise a claim. The police must be intimated about the accident and the FIR copy must be obtained.
• Taking photos of the scene can help further your cause and can later be submitted as valid proof for claim settlement.
• Make a note of any witnesses near the accident scene. Ask them for their contact details along with their address. The witnesses can help in the future in shedding light on the occurrence.
• To raise the claim with insurer proper documents, need to be submitted to them. Documents include a soft copy of - the FIR, claim form duly filled and signed by yourself, your insurance policy, car registration certificate, driving license, receipt of other expenses incurred, and medical receipt in case of injuries.
• Contact a lawyer if you can, as they can provide legal advice over the entire matter and help you get the appropriate claim amount.

Don'ts: -

• Do not hide facts from your insurer. You must notify them of the entire events to the best of your knowledge. If the surveyor finds discrepancies in your claim, entire coverage might be deemed void.
• Don't move away from the accident scene. Doing so without the insurer's permission can delay the claim process. Some insurers even provide tow and pickup services. Repair work must not be done without the approval of the insurer,
• Do not settle for third party settlements to avoid FIR. Without FIR, you cannot raise a claim with your insurance company.
• Don't sign settlement papers without legal counsel. If you believe the settlement provided is not enough, you can raise the issue with your insurer to obtain a better settlement.

Car accidents are sorrowful events that often lead to major damage and trauma, in worst cases, death. It is necessary to follow good traffic etiquette and rules. Car accidents can often leave a permanent mark on you. The financial burden after the accident is too much to bear for a single person. It is of utmost importance to have the best personal accident insurance policy in India. Having the best personal accident insurance policy in India will ensure that in the perilous time after the accident, you would not be financially burdened. It will provide you with financial security in what might be one of the difficult times in your life. Drive safely.

As the new year rolls in, it is time to begin setting down goals for the year, or New Year’s resolutions as we call them. It is at the beginning of the year that you make sure to stick to your goals and try to make positive changes in your life. Whether it is waking up early, travelling to someplace new, meeting new people or keeping away from technology, most of these goals become close to non-existent as January comes to an end.

However, of the most common goals for the New Year, is to become fit and healthy, shouldn’t cease to become important but must be maintained throughout the year and beyond, to have a long and healthy life. So this is what your fitness goals for 2020 should look like: -

Even though you probably hear everyone say this all the time, one of the most crucial practices which you must adopt immediately is drinking a lot of water. Water is, without a doubt, responsible for most bodily functions. In order to remain healthy, it is necessary to consume a considerable amount of water every day. Dehydration can cause serious urinary infections or kidney stones.

• Exercise regularly but in moderation. Do not overdo it the first time you begin a workout. Start slow and ease into a harder regimen. If you begin with rigorous exercise, you can severely injure yourself. Also, make sure to do it the proper way as exercising the wrong way could cause a lot of damage. For instance, if you use weights, lift with your legs and not your back, or you could end up dislocating your disks or worse.
• If you aren’t one for high-intensity workouts or weight training, a great way to get some exercise is by doing yoga. Not only does it allow you to stretch and work your body, but it is also a great way to learn how to concentrate better. It is an excellent way to relax your mind and be at peace. Yoga is great for both the body and mind.
• While you must ensure your body gets regular exercise and movement, it isn’t enough. You must maintain a proper diet and eat different kinds of food for a regular intake of all the necessary nutrients. Do not neglect any food category, and to make sure that you consume foods specific to your body’s needs, you could consult with a nutritionist. Make it a habit to eat the right quantities at the right time and avoid snacking on junk food at odd hours of the day.
• As a human, your body is prone to illnesses and injuries and thus, it is crucial to have health insurance. There are many different kinds in the market, and it is your responsibility to choose the best health insurance policy in India, to avoid any hassles when you need any kind of relief.

We only have one body, and we must take really good care of it. Whether it is eating nutritious food, exercising regularly and correctly, sleeping on time or finding a company that offers the best health insurance policy in India, how you choose to remain fit and take care of your health is up to you.

One of the most serious problems in today’s date is pollution, whether it is air, water, noise or otherwise. Air pollution has led to an increase in health issues and has become an issue that needs to be resolved at the earliest. A major contributor to it is car pollution. There are thousands and thousands of cars on the streets at any given point of time, and they emit smoke and other harmful gases which have only added to the pollution, and the situation only gets worse when there is already smog in the atmosphere due to other air pollutants. As a responsible citizen, and more so as a human, here are some ways you can help reduce the car pollution levels during smog season:

• Try to Warm up Your Car in Advance: During the winters, when the smog is the worst, cars take slightly longer to start, especially if it is a few years old and runs on diesel, so it is advisable that you warm it up a few minutes before you actually have to leave. This way, the car does not consume too much fuel, does not emit high quantities of smoke or gas and thus, helps reduce the pollution a little.
• Turn Off the Engine When the Car Isn’t Moving: It is a very common tip, yet many people do not follow it. When you are at a red light or have pulled over to the side for a short period, make sure to turn off the engine or at least the air conditioning since it puts more pressure on the engine, which in turn burns more fuel. The more you save fuel, the less pollution you cause.
• Do Not Skip on Maintenance: A car is an investment, and you must take care of it. Irrespective of whether you experience a breakdown or not, make sure to take it to the workshop regularly to get the issues fixed. If you continue to drive your car despite there being something wrong with it, it will consume larger quantities of fuel and will thus cause more air pollution. Also, make sure that you do subscribe to private car insurance in india for protection against any losses caused to the car.
• Make Sure to Get A Pollution Check: Every couple of months, take your car to get a pollution check done, so you know its level of emissions and can understand if it does adhere to the pollution regulations. With an increase in the level of air pollution, the government has made is mandatory to get a Pollution Under Control Certificate which states that your car is not releasing a high amount of smoke or gas and is thus, allowed to be driven around.
• Choose to Travel Via Public Transport: One of the best options is to leave your car behind and to take a means of public transport instead, such as the bus or the metro/local train. Indeed, this option might not always be the most comfortable, but it goes a long way in reducing the level of pollution since there are fewer cars on the roads.
• With the way things have escalated in terms of the pollution, it is imperative that you keep certain habits in check to not contribute to it any further. The way people take private car insurance
   in India very seriously, they must also take environmental concerns equally seriously.