GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

While electric vehicles are capturing the vehicle market, petrol and diesel-based cars still need to be put in trend. Maximum Indian citizens today own fuel-based vehicles, be it two-wheeler or a four-wheeler. But these fuel-based cars also have a history of superseding one another. Petrol cars have always been the favoured alternative amongst fuel-based vehicles.

Initially, diesel usage focused on heavy vehicles operated for commercial purposes like duty trucks, etc. But with the advancement of technology today, diesel vehicles have become widely popular and opted for daily use vehicles like passenger cars.

But do you know that your motor insurance premium changes for the type of car you use? Fuel may be the reason. Want to know how? Without any further delay, let’s get started.

1. How much is your car’s price:
Diesel-powered and petrol-powered cars are priced differently in the Indian market. Usually, the price of vehicles that have diesel-powered engines is high when compared to their petrol-powered counterparts. A higher price directly reflects on the motor insurance and premium prices.
Therefore, the more expensive a car you have, the higher the motor insurance premium you have to pay. So, figure out the maintenance and premium charges you will have to pay in the future and create a budget in advance so that you do not get surprises of additional premiums like motor insurance.

2. Repair influences the premium charges:
Yes! Even the cost of repair influences the motor insurance premium prices. The repair charges for diesel-based vehicles are much higher than those for petrol-based cars. Therefore, the company charges high premiums for your motor insurance to help cover the claims if you make any in the future. Similarly, if your car has expensive spare parts or is priced in the high-end range, the companies will charge you high motor insurance premiums.
This proves that fuel has a massive impact on premium charges. Having this information before you make any purchase will help you put things into perspective, especially budget-wise. Many factors should be considered when someone decides to purchase a car, one of which is the motor insurance, its premium charges, claims, add-ons, and other features which vary from one insurance provider to another.

3. Is your car fuel efficient:
Fuel efficiency is another influencing factor that determines higher motor insurance premiums. While petrol-powered cars have great starting and ignition power, diesel-based cars are beneficial for vehicles purchased to last longer.

4. Let’s have a look at the engine:
The engine capacity of your petrol-powered car is lesser than that of diesel-based cars, thus raising the motor insurance premium prices for diesel-powered vehicles. The better the engine capacity, the higher the premium. Who knew that fuel could be such a powerful influencing factor in the premium prices of motor insurance?

5. Cannot miss IDV (Insurance Declared Value):
If the market value estimation is high, the IDV will be increased, directly impacting the premium. Usually, the IDV of diesel-based cars is high, which leads to a rise in premium prices.

We hope this blog gives you a crisp and clear idea about your motor insurance premium charges. This will help you arrive at a decision or educate you about motor insurance and what factors impact the premiums which will come out of your pocket. And there is no doubt about how crucial it is to purchase motor insurance to protect your car and yourself against the financial burden.

Click HERE to learn more about motor insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Insurance is an effective mechanism that protects the insured from the financial loss incurred due to damage to an asset. The prudent instrument protects high-value assets like vehicles, in the absence of which the victim has to shell out large sums of money to compensate for the damages to own property and third-party damages.

Despite the safety provided by online car insurance and its allied merits, sometimes the insurer does not approve a complete settlement, leading to being partially compensated. With proper knowledge regarding the procedure, related proofs, and some tips to remember while making claims, it is possible to receive a complete car insurance settlement.

Reasons for partial settlement:
Comprehensive car insurance is the easiest way to ensure that the insured is covered for maximum damages and receives the entire claim amount. If you haven't purchased comprehensive car insurance, you may encounter only a partial settlement for the following cases.

1. Depreciation:
Loss of value of a car due to wear and tear and usage is an inevitable factor that is considered while paying out claims. Damages to parts, including fibre and glass parts, tubes, tyres, etc., are only settled after considering their depreciated value according to the fixed depreciation rates and the age of the vehicle. A zero depreciation cover can help supersede this clause, but several conditions must be considered to avail of its benefit.

2. Partial car insurance coverage:
A partial cover protects the insured from the financial burden of third-party damages and has fewer inclusions while being less expensive than the latter. The policy restricts customisations and is ideal for infrequently used or old vehicles. The policy excludes NCB and its own damages, limiting its scope and increasing the financial burden on the insured.

3. Policyholder negligence:
Negligence while driving is a major cause of accidents. Suppose your insurer suspects that the driver was under the influence, negligent of general driving safety norms, or holding an invalid driver's licence at the time of the accident. In that case, your claim may be rejected or partially settled, depending on the severity of the issue and the claim amount.

4. Lack of proof:
It is essential to submit valid proof of the accident while filing a claim. With inadequate evidence, the insurer may not process the whole claim amount. Pictures of the accident site, eyewitness testimonies, and immediate filing of an FIR are some of the required proofs asked for by the insurer.

5. The car is used for business purposes:
If the insurer discovers that your personal car was used for business or commercial purposes at the time of the accident, you might not get a 100% claim or even a denial of the claim by the insurer.

Tips to speed up the claim settlement process:
While there is no fixed way to guarantee complete settlement, by following the below stated steps, you can ensure the fulfilment of your responsibilities to ensure that you receive the highest amount of claim possible.

1. Initiate the settlement process immediately:
Starting the process immediately after the accident is vital to ensure a quick settlement. It is ideal for raising the claim within seven days of the accident.

2. Keep all the relevant paperwork ready:
Each payment processed to rectify the effects of the accident, including maintenance of the car or replacement of parts, medical bills, the FIR copy, etc., should be maintained and provided to the insurer as proof.

3. Negotiate your demands:
Before reaching the final settlement, which you must ensure is in writing from the insurer, recheck if the amount is justified. Do not refrain from negotiating the sum with adequate reasoning. Consider seeking the help of a legal professional to make the process faster and ensure that your demands are satisfied.

When purchasing conventional or online car insurance, it is critical to read the fine print to ensure awareness regarding all the inclusions so that you can raise proper claims appropriately to settle at the earliest.

Click HERE to buy online car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Applying for a car insurance claim may be a stressful procedure, regardless of how well you may have painted the picture for yourself. However, not all insurance companies are trying to steal your hard-earned money. You can cope with any problems with car insurance claim settlement that may arise by just being informed of the specifics involved in the procedure.

Having a car insurance claim denied is common, though. There's a good chance that someone you know has experienced it. Additionally, it frequently occurs that the policyholder cannot understand why their car insurance claim was denied, which only heightens their frustration.

However, you need to know a few things concerning the rejection of a car insurance claim.

Reasons for denial of car insurance claims:
A typical car insurance coverage will often cover loss or damage brought on by theft, accidents, or other people. However, it would be absurd to assume that your car insurance company will pay for any losses or damages that result from the normal wear and tear the car experiences over time and with use.

What should you keep in mind to avoid your claim from getting denied?

1. Give accurate documentation, even when applying online:
Refrain from giving false or inaccurate documentation for insurance purposes, even if you are applying for a claim online. If you submit a claim and the insurer discovers that the supporting documents are incorrect, misleading, or even phony, your claim may be denied.

2. Read the policy document in its entirety:
Because they are more knowledgeable about the policy's terms and conditions, insurers can better find a point you ignored and use it to support their decision to deny your claim. To avoid this, policyholders are encouraged to carefully read their policy contracts to be informed of what will be covered and what won't. Feel free to seek assistance from someone knowledgeable in insurance jargon to clarify the policy and assist you if you are unsure of what it says.

3. Save every invoice and receipt:
It would be a good idea to have such accessories covered under an add-on cover if your car is equipped with anti-theft gadgets, an expensive radio system, or anything else that is not included in the car's standard equipment. The bills or receipts for purchasing those accessories must be presented, though, if you ever need to claim for the damage or loss of those items. The related invoices and receipts must be available. In every other case, the assertion is likely to be disproven.

4. Remain within the claim intimation time window:
Insurance companies typically stipulate that policyholders have 48 to 72 hours to notify the insurer of any incident or accident after it has happened. Always do so. However, this may only sometimes result in your claim being denied.

5. If a car is stolen, file an FIR right away:
You would be quite stressed if your car got stolen. To register a claim, particularly in the event of a theft, you must first file an FIR at your local police station. Take notice of this step. A claim's submission or approval could be complex without an FIR.

6. For co-passenger protection, take a separate cover:
Co-passenger insurance must be purchased separately for each passenger if you want to provide coverage for them while riding in your car. If you do not have adequate coverage for your fellow passengers, the insurance company may deny your claim for their injuries in the event of an accident.

You can conveniently buy online motor insurance policy, but getting a car insurance claim granted might be challenging. Nothing in this is set in stone, and you may always contact your insurance provider to figure out how to resolve a denied claim or learn the reasons for the denial of your claim. Invite those with knowledge of insurance issues to assist you.

Click HERE to buy online motor insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Many people are passionate about cars and love to add them to their collections with multiple vehicles of different classes and brands. Are you someone who owns multiple cars? If yes, your primary concern would be maintaining the insurance documentation of individual vehicles

What's the solution? If you own more than one car, you can have a single insurance policy covering all your vehicles. Yes, you read it right. The IRDAI offers a provision of paying a single premium for your multiple cars under a multi-vehicle policy or motor floater policy.

Let's understand in depth about this motor floater policy.

Merits of a multi-vehicle policy:

● It can cover up to 05 personal cars registered under a single owner.

● Helps in reducing the hassle of paying and managing multiple premiums and remembering the renewal dates of different policies for different cars.

● Customisation flexibility is offered to the insured to add or remove the cars covered in the policy.

● When you insure more than one car with the same insurance policy, you can be sure that you will save money and get better deals. The likelihood of long-term benefits is assured.

● A hassle-free process will result in less paperwork, and both the insurance provider and car owners may find the process convenient. The management and renewal of the insurance will be simpler for car owners since there will eventually be a single due date for all cars.

● The premium will be calculated and charged based on the usage of the cars, which is a crucial advantage for the insured.

Limitations you must be aware of.
There are a few restrictions you should be aware of before choosing to purchase multi-car insurance.

● Policy premium burden:
With a single renewal date, payments would typically be in substantial sums. Compared to allocating funds for various programs in an equitable manner, this significant money may put a strain on your finances.

● High-risk driving:
If the owner-driver is considered under the high-risk category, the policy's total cost may go up. Thus, it is important to have disciplined driving behaviour and a good record to avoid paying hefty premiums.

● Failure to renew on time:
Failing to renew your car insurance before expiry could cause all the cars covered by the policy to expire. This will happen because there will be a single renewal date for all the cars. If you forget to renew the policy on time, all the cars could become uninsured. Furthermore, you risk losing the NCB on all the cars if you go past the 90-day grace period following the renewal date.

Even though there are a few significant restrictions, insurance companies are working on solutions that could eliminate them, such as simple payment choices and extended grace periods so that you can have best car insurance in India.

*Imp:
The multi-car or motor floater policy is in its initial stage of formulation in India. It has some clauses and is applicable for selective services. Make sure to check further details with your insurance company for a better understanding and get the best out of your car insurance plan.

Click HERE to buy the best car insurance in India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.