10 salient features of motor insurance

Comprehensive (or Package policy): To cover for loss/damage to your vehicle, you have to buy a Comprehensive Policy. This will provide both Third Party and Own Damage covers. As is not well known, taking policy for Own Damage is not mandatory. However, it is advisable to cover for damages to own vehicle too.

2.  Risks covered

The damage to your vehicle could be on account of - Natural disasters such as earthquake, flood, storm, etc. - Man-made disasters such as accident, theft, fire, riots, malicious act, etc.- While in transit by rail/road, lift, elevator, etc.

3.  Insured ValueThe vehicle is insured for a value (called Insured Declared Value in policy parlance) based on the manufacturer’s price of the vehicle minus the depreciation as per the vehicle’s age.

Third Party cover is as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. While damage to third party property is covered up to a sum of Rs.7.5 lakhs (for car)/Rs.1 lakh (for 2-wheelers), there is no such limit on the cover for injury/death to the third party.

4.  PremiumYour premium would be determined by- What type of vehicle you own such as model, capacity, age, fuel type, etc.- Which city you stay in- What is your age / profession- What has been the claim experience- Modifications made / Accessories added to the vehicle

5.  Premium saving optionsOne of the most common options to save premium is the facility of no-claim bonus (NCB), whereby you get a discount in your premium if you haven’t made any claim in the previous year. Moreover, this discount increases with each successive year of zero-claim and goes up to, as high as, 50%. Since this benefit is available year after year, one should avoid making any small claims.

(FYI: NCB is applied only on the Own Damage premium and not on the Third Party Liability premium. NCB is given to ‘you’, not your vehicle. As such you can transfer your NCB to any new vehicles that you buy. If your policy lapses and you don’t renew it within 90 days, you will lose the benefit of NCB.)

Other strategies to reduce your premium include installing safety devices; having membership of an automobile association; or opting for higher deductibles.

6.  Add-onsYou can enhance the protection by opting for Add-on covers to insure for risks that are not covered under a standard policy. Some of the common add-on covers include zero depreciation, no-claim bonus protection, accidental hospitalization, etc.

You can also buy add-on cover to provide personal accident cover to the unnamed co-passengers in your vehicle or Workmen’s Compensation to the driver.

7.  ClaimsSimilar to your health insurance, many insurers nowadays offer cashless facility if the vehicle is repaired at their authorized garages.

Alternatively, you always have the option of getting the vehicle repaired at your preferred garage and then claim reimbursement from the insurer.

8.  ExclusionsYou will not be eligible for claim if- It is a normal wear and tear- Depreciation- Mechanical or electrical breakdown- Using the vehicle for purposes other than what is it intended for (e.g. using a private car as a taxi)- Person driving the vehicle does not hold valid license- Person driving the vehicle is under the influence of alcohol or drugs

9.  DeductibleDeductible is the minimum specified amount of any claim that you will bear, with the balance claim amount being payable by the insurer. A standard policy normally has a compulsory deductible or excess of Rs.50 for 2-wheelers/Rs.500 for 4-wheelers.

Higher deductible reduces the insurer’s liability as also the likelihood of fraudulent claims. As such he may offer lower premium for higher deductibles. However, too high a deductible may defeat the very purpose of insurance. Hence an appropriate balance is desirable.

10.  PortabilityVehicle insurance is portable. In other words, you can change your insurer without losing the benefit of any no-claim bonus that you may be eligible for.

Sanjay Matai is a personal finance advisor, author and blogger.