In today’s day and age, several individuals choose to get around town with the aid of their own car. Cars are convenient forms of transportation as they allow people to get from one place to another in a reasonable amount of time. An important aspect of owning a car today is owning an accompanying car insurance policy that helps protect the owner of the vehicle.
The value of car insurance lies in the fact that it provides coverage in the event that the policyholder’s car is damaged in an accident or natural disaster or if it has been stolen or vandalised. As opposed to having to pay out-of-pocket for any of these damages that the vehicle might sustain, policyholders are required to pay car insurance premium to their car insurance company. As a result of this payment, car insurance providers pay for some, if not all, the costs associated with damage sustained to the respective cars of policyholders.
The importance of car insurance is made clear in the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 which stipulates that car insurance is a legal requirement for all car owners to possess. Third-party liability car insurance is a must and even the most basic car insurance plans are required to provide this form of coverage.
Given that there exist several different car insurance plans available in the market today, it is important to compare the varied car insurance plans you come across. These comparisons are best made online as more information is accessible
on the internet and it is often easier to draw comparisons across several different categories. Comparisons allow you to accurately determine the best car insurance plan available that provides several benefits
for a low price. Consider the following key factors associated with these comparisons.
For starters, by comparing different car insurance policies keeping in mind their price, you will be able to determine whether they are suitable for your budget or not. Third-party car insurance policies are often far more affordable than comprehensive car insurance plans. That being said, the former doesn’t provide as much coverage in comparison to the latter. Comprehensive car insurance policies provide an added layer of coverage as they offer add-ons ranging from zero depreciation cover to roadside assistance cover
By drawing comparisons between different car insurance policies, you will be able to understand which policy will provide you with the most appropriate coverage. Coverage options range from third-party car insurance plans to those that are comprehensive policies. In the case of third-party car insurance plans, policyholders’ avail of the bare minimum form of coverage in contrast to comprehensive policies which have several optional add-ons.
When you compare different car insurance policies you will be able to better ascertain the kinds of services offered under each plan. It is worth noting the after-sales services that a car insurance provider provides. HDFC ERGO for instance provides its policyholders with several additional services that include overnight car repair services. It has a huge network of cashless garages that are spread across the country.
Availing of valid car insurance is a must not only because it is a legal requirement but because it provides car owners with convenience. Availing of car insurance is a straightforward and easy process that can be completed from the comfort of one’s home. Interested applicants are simply required to fill out the required details such that they can get an instant quote.
Aspects to compare | Third Party Insurance | Comprehensive Car Insurance |
Coverage offered | Third party insurance, as the name obviously suggests, covers you only against any third party liability. It is the most basic insurance cover and is mandatory in India. | A comprehensive car insurance plan on the other hand reduces the risk factor significantly as it covers both own damage as well as third party liabilities. |
Availability of add-ons | No, you cannot opt for any add-on covers under this policy. | Yes, you have the liberty to opt for add-on covers to further boost your existing car insurance policy |
Customization | No, there is no customization possible. A standard policy is applicable for all. | Yes, it allows the customization of IDV or Insured Declared Value as per your needs thereby significantly reducing your premium amount. |
Advantages | You can rest assured that you are covered in case of any damage to a third party, whether a person or property. | It gives you coverage against natural calamities like earthquakes, cyclones, storms etc. Manmade acts like theft, vandalism, fire etc are also a part of the coverage. In addition to this, you can also benefit from the NCB or No Claims Bonus during your yearly renewal in case of no claims filed. |
Drawbacks | It leaves you vulnerable to a multitude of risks and can cause regret when you will have to shell money from your own pocket in the event of own damage. | Although the premium amount may be higher than a third party insurance cover, it justifies the surplus coverage it offers. |
Before you compare car insurance online, you must know about different policy types. Here are different car insurance policy you can opt.
Third Party Car Insurance: A third party car insurance policy covers you against any third
party liabilities that are damage caused to someone else’s property/vehicle or injuries to someone while driving your insured car. However, you cannot raise a claim for own-damage to your vehicle with this cover. Buying a Third-party
car insurance policy is mandatory under The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.
Comprehensive Car Insurance: Compared to a third party car insurance policy, a comprehensive policy will cover damages/injuries to third-party and Own
Damages. It means a comprehensive cover will provide coverage for damages to your car in case of an accident, fire, natural calamities, man-made calamities, theft and any insurable peril.
Standalone Own Damage Cover: A standalone
own damage policy protects you from loss of expense due to car damage by accident, a natural disaster, earthquake, fire, theft, etc. Own Damage insurance, in contrast to standard third party car insurance, is optional. If you already have
a third party car insurance policy, which is a mandatory requirement, adding your own damage coverage will guarantee that your vehicle is always fully insured.
There are several factors that come into play when different car insurance policies are compared with one another. Some of the more pertinent of these have been examined below.
There are numerous benefits to compare car insurance online. Let us see some benefits below:
After you compare car insurance online, you can simply purchase it by going through following steps:
Step 1 - Visit the insurer website.
Step 2 - Navigate to car insurance page from that website.
Step 3 - Enter your vehicle registration number along with make model details.
Step 4 - Choose between comprehensive or third party car insurance policy.
Step 5 - Opt for add-on covers like zero depreciation, no claim bonus protection if you opt for comprehensive cover.
Step 6 - View quote, pay the premium online and you will immediately get the car insurance policy online at your registered email id.
• Cost: It is important to invest in a car insurance policy that offers maximum coverage in the price it is availble. Consider looking for the best car insurance plan while comparing car insurance online.
• Reviews: When
you go online, you will find several reviews that will give you an idea of how important car insurance is and how well it will meet your needs. While checking the best car insurance policy, check customer reviews before hitting the
buy button.
• Coverage: When you compare car insurance policies, always consider the coverage offered. Even check out the add-on covers available with the comprehensive cover, which will increase the premium cost
but will help you get benefits during car insurance policy renewal.
• Read the car insurance policy thoroughly: It is vital to look at the details in the car insurance contract, which can lead to miscommunication
with the insurer at the time of claim. So, read the contract thoroughly to avoid claim rejection.
• Garages Part of the Network: Always remember to check the number of cashless garages network of the insurer when you compare
car insurance online.
• Insurance Company History: The insurance company's claim history must be taken into consideration when comparing car insurance online. Choose a company with a high claims settlement ratio.
• No-Claim Bonus: When you compare car insurance quotes, be sure that the NCB is considered since a quotation may be issued without the NCB. This discount grows with the number of consecutive claim-free years and can
reach upto 50%.
By drawing comparisons between different car insurance policies, you can determine the benefits that each plan provides based on the premiums tethered to each of them. You can also determine which plan is best suited to your budget. If you have a modest budget, then a third-party car insurance plan is ideal as the premium associated with it is much lower in comparison to the premiums associated with comprehensive car insurance plans.
Car insurance plans can be compared online in the comfort of your home. The benefits associated with comparing these plans online are ample.
● For starters, it is easier to draw comparisons online as there is more information available.
● Next, it is possible to read several reviews online pertaining to the different car insurance plans in question.
● You can educate yourself on the different policies available and learn their premiums which can help you make an economically sound decision.
● You can make these comparisons at any point in time and aren’t pressured by a salesman who might have an incentive to favour one insurance plan.
Car insurance policies can be effectively compared online by taking a look at the following factors pertaining to the policies in question. These factors include the following.
● Premium Charged – Different policies have different premiums which must each be considered as per your budget.
● Coverage Provided – While more comprehensive policies provide more coverage, third-party car insurance policies tend to be limited in the scope of their coverage.
● Claim Records – It is important to compare different car insurance providers’ claim settlement ratios to determine how likely they are to provide coverage.
● Network of Cashless Garages – The more cashless garages a car insurance provider has under its network, the better the car insurance policy.