GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Owning a car entails a considerable amount of responsibilities. You must take care of it adequately to maintain its functionality for long periods. Before you start driving, you must know how to keep it properly and prevent any breakdown. From knowing how to drive to changing your wheel if it gets punctured to checking all the fluid levels, there's plenty to learn and explore.

Additionally, you may also require expertise in jump-starting your car. Jump-starting your car is a viable alternative to starting your vehicle when using a key doesn't do the trick. You must know how the battery functions and why and when you should jump-start. If you do not learn the basics, you can cause severe damage to the car.

There may be several instances when you may presume the need to jump-start. However, to avoid damage, you must know when your vehicle needs a jump start and when it does not. This way, you can deal with your car better and more efficiently. Regardless, you should always buy the best car insurance in India to protect your vehicle against all damages.

This article will list all the possible reasons your car needs a jump start. They are –

1. Low battery:
Being low on battery is one of the biggest reasons for jump-starting your car. You'll probably need to jump-start your car if you have a low or dead battery. It is because your car would not start on its own. This may also arise if the battery needs to be heated up more. You'll experience this more often during cold weather. Batteries can give up due to old age as well.

2. Malfunction of starter:
If there is no problem with your battery, we move on to the starter. The starter may be dysfunctional. It can either be contaminated or extremely old. It can also malfunction due to corrosion. The best way is to check for weird noise that the starter might make. Often even jump starting does not ignite the car's engine if the starter is broken.

3. Bad spark plugs:
The ignition system has a built-in system of intricate parts that keeps it going. If one of them malfunctions, the car may not start. Apart from the starter, the spark plug is also included in the ignition system. It can malfunction due to clogging or contamination due to oil leaks. This can prevent the car from starting, and it may most certainly need a jump start.

4. Clogged or contaminated fuel lines:
Sometimes the problem is not with the ignition system or even the battery. In such a case, the problem lies in the fuel lines. If they are frozen or clogged, the fuel may not rush smoothly to the engine. This can disrupt the smooth start of the vehicle. It can be solved by jump-starting, but it will start creating problems again. Your car may stop in the middle of the road if it is not resolved soon. Jump-starting is not the permanent solution here.

Jump-starting a car is a practical way to rescue you from an emergency and help you reach the service centre or garage. However, it is not a permanent solution to fix the delay in running your vehicle. If you wish to have a smooth experience with your car, practise the preventive maintenance tips provided by the manufacturer.

Additionally, you must purchase the best car insurance in India that offers comprehensive protection against all maintenance and accident-allied costs. Car insurance can benefit you when your car demands high repair costs or, in the worst case, a total loss due to extensive damage.

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.

The feeling of riding a motorcycle in the morning is otherworldly. But it's not only the early morning atmosphere that gives this ethereal feeling to the rider. It's also the smooth functioning of the engine and the swift and excellent acceleration of the motorbike in the morning. Many people experience this but do not pay much heed to why this happens.

This blog aims to make this phenomenon more understandable for curious bike fanatics.

1. Reduced friction:

The smooth ride that the engine provides in the morning and the minimum noise directly result from the engine's internal temperature. However, other parts of the engine maintain their temperature even when kept at rest throughout the night. Due to the thermal expansion of metals, there needs to be a proper gap between various working parts of the engine.
For example, to permit the expansion of the piston, there is a gap within the block of the engine. There is less friction, resulting in less noise in the morning due to this gap between the piston and the cylinder wall in the morning. This occurrence applies to almost every moving part of the engine.

2. Viscosity:

Another reason the engine feels smooth in the morning is the oil's viscosity. Viscosity is inversely proportional to temperature. In the early morning, the engine oil is cold, making it denser in volume. This higher viscosity accounts for maximum lubrication in the engine, which results in the smooth running of the bike.

3. Fuel management systems:

As far as better crisp acceleration in the morning is concerned, the fuel management system of the bike is the most responsible. The bike's fueling is divided into two- either fuel and air can be mixed proportionally by a carburettor, or the fuel is atomised at high pressure, mixed with clean air, eventually entering the engine's combustion chamber.
Carburettors give you a crisper throttle response due to the richer mixture between fuel and air. But nowadays, these are slowly being phased out due to the increasing pollution by carburettors.

So, do you really need to warm the bike up before starting it? This is another question that greatly puzzles bike enthusiasts.

There's no real need to warm up an engine for more than a minute before starting it. For a long time, all bikes used a carburettor for combustion. This type of engine tends to run poorly until appropriately warmed.

So, there is still a misconception that you must let the engine warm up before you start riding it. But it would be best if you were careful about hammering the throttle before the engine has gotten all nice and warm.

Riding a motorcycle gently for the first few miles is a good idea because putting the engine under extreme pressure while still cold increases the chances of damage and breakdown.

This damage is dangerous and can result in the maintenance fees burning a hole in your pocket. The best solution to counter this is investing in a good bike insurance that pays great dividends.

Click HERE to know more about bike insurance plans.

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.

Driving is an activity that requires extreme carefulness, responsibility, and special attention at all times. One tiny mistake can lead to significant damage to a person and property. Road accidents are frightening and can even prove to be fatal. Hence, being on your best behaviour when driving is recommended.

However, accidents while driving can take place due to a variety of reasons. One of them is the disturbance from your outer surroundings. This can also include the distractions that your passenger may create. It may induce driving concerns and cause road accidents or violations of road safety rules.

Apart from the driver, the passengers must also be highly responsible and dutiful while the car is in motion. They can play an essential role in maintaining peace inside the vehicle. If you're a co-passenger and want to contribute to the vehicle's safety, here are a few ways. Regardless, you should have private car insurance in India to protect yourself and your vehicle.

Let's discuss here how you can support your driver by being a responsible co-passenger.

1. Be attentive:
If your driver is getting distracted by texting or calling on the phone, call them out on their behaviour. It can be dangerous even if they talk with the passengers in the back seat. You must stay attentive to such situations and speak up whenever necessary. Politely request them to focus on the road.

2. Don't draw attention:
You can help your driver focus by not distracting them by any means. You should not talk to them unnecessarily or argue with them in the car. Emotional responses can distract the driver. Moreover, you should refrain from clicking pictures or showing them things on your cell phone. You should lay low and avoid all these activities.

3. Be careful of your surroundings:
You can easily be the co-driver for your driver by being extra cautious on the road. You can help them navigate busy streets by being their additional set of eyes. You can also help them read road signs, point out intersections, or alert them about possible hindrances they may fail to see.

4. Put on good music:
Good music can make the atmosphere inside your vehicle cheerful, serene, and lively. It can calm the nerves of your driver and help them focus better on the road. You should take control of the music in the car. You can put some of the driver's favourite tracks in a playlist on shuffle. This way, they need not constantly touch or operate the music system.

5. Keep quiet:
Small talk with the driver is alright, but you should refrain from having a full-fledged conversation that can distract the driver. You should not shout, yell, or sing loudly in the car. All these can make your driver lose focus completely. You should pause the music or stop talking when a congested road is approaching.

6. Stay out of sight:
You need to lay low and stop obstructing the view of your driver while driving. You should not physically block the driver from seeing the road well. They should also be able to see outside the windows. Apart from that, you should always be an adjusting and supportive co-passenger.

These are just some tips and tricks that you can use to be a good passenger inside the vehicle. It can lead to lesser accidents and mistakes on the road. A car journey becomes enjoyable and safe when the driver and co-passengers have a good understanding and coordination. The more focused the driver is, the better. Don't forget to buy private car insurance India and safeguard your finances against loss due to accidental damages to your car.

Click HERE to buy private car insurance 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.

Driving a car without insurance is considered illegal in India. Automobile owners weigh the pros and cons of different options available in the policy market. Before buying car insurance, people consider various factors such as covers, add-ons, services, premiums, etc. In this article, we will be talking about premiums and how they can vary depending upon the kind and size of your car.

What is a premium?

A premium is an amount you pay your insurer to keep your policy valid. The duration of payment can vary from monthly to quarterly to annual payments.

What factors affect the premium?

1. Model and make of your vehicle
2. Engine capacity
3. The driving experience of the policyholder
4. Age
5. Location

Besides the points mentioned above, previous claims and traffic violations can also affect your insurance premium.

We better understand what premium is and how they can be affected. Let's look at premiums for SUVs and sedans.

1. The make and model:

Car insurance can vary significantly depending upon your car's size, make, and model. If you intend to buy an SUV or a sedan, remember that these models are charged the highest premiums. Putting in ample research into the car model and the respective insurance premium is essential.

2. Driving record:

Another crucial factor that decides the total cost of your premium is the driving experience. If you have no records of accidents, then the premium rates can be significantly lower. Even a minor skip such as running a red light or speeding ticket can affect the premium rates too. Insurance companies analyse your driving records to understand the risk associated with your driving and how likely you are to get into accidents. The more the chances of accidents, the higher the premium rates.

3. Location:

If you live in an area with high crime rates, the insurers tend to charge higher premiums.
The premium amounts can be excessive if your locality is prone to crime and vandalism.

4. Coverage and add-ons:

Coverage and add-ons are the services insurance companies provide when you buy an insurance policy from them. If you opt for the basic package and maintain a good driving record, the insurer will likely settle for a lower premium.

5. Age of the vehicle:

The age of your vehicle is another factor that insurance providers consider when offering insurance. The depreciation value of your vehicle increases with time. Adding to that is the wear and tear that the vehicle went through over the years, reducing the value of the car. Therefore, older cars will have a lesser premium.

6. Engine capacity:

The CC or the engine capacity affects the premium and higher the CC, higher the premium. And since SUVs and sedans have higher CC, their premiums are also higher.

7. Engine type:

Cars running on petrol have lesser premiums than cars running on diesel. A vehicle running on CNG has a higher premium than diesel engines. If you intend on adding a CNG unit to your sedan or SUV, keep in mind that the premium costs will increase significantly.

8. Modifications:

Modifications that alter the look or performance of your car will have a higher market value. This, in turn, will increase the cost of the premium on the vehicle. The look and feel of the car is a lesser talked about factor when it comes to insurance prices.

These are some factors that affect the premium of your insurance coverage. Irrespective of the kind of vehicle you buy, the points mentioned above determine the overall cost of your insurance. Before finalising your car insurance renewal, do not forget to look through various insurance providers and their services for a price best suited for your needs.

Click HERE to know more about car insurance renewal.

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.