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As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, it is mandatory for every vehicle plying on Indian roads to have a valid motor insurance policy. Non-renewal of motor insurance can land a vehicle owner in trouble, with a fine of ₹2,000 or imprisonment of up to 3 months, or both. Hence, it's essential to renew your car insurance policy promptly.
However, before renewing your car insurance, there are certain factors you should keep in mind. For example, rather than physically visiting your insurer's office, you can choose to renew your car insurance policy online. This way, you can complete car insurance renewal quickly and conveniently from the comforts of your home.
Read ahead to know some useful tips you should keep in your mind while renewing car insurance online.
Do it yourself
Rather than depending upon someone else or asking a broker to do it on your behalf, you can always renew your car insurance policy yourself. New-age insurance companies have simplified the process of online car insurance renewal. All you need to do is head here to our website, enter your renewal details and pay the premium online.
When you renew your car insurance policy yourself, you are in a better situation to analyse your requirements, determine the extent of coverage, and make an informed decision.
Renew well before the expiry date
As mentioned before, driving an uninsured car is a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Hence, you should renew your car insurance policy well before its expiry date. Additionally, renewing your car insurance before its expiry date may save you from the hassles of getting your car re-inspected by the insurance provider.
Also, suppose you fail to renew your car insurance policy even after 90 days of its expiry date. In that case, you will lose out on your accumulated NCB as it will automatically get reset to zero.
Determine the type of cover
While renewing your car insurance policy, you can add/modify your policy coverage and add-ons. There are two types of car insurance cover you can avail of – standalone third-party liability cover or a comprehensive cover (third party liability + own damage cover).
As per the law, you should mandatorily renew your car insurance policy's third-party component before its expiry date. However, a wise decision is to opt for the comprehensive cover since it also keeps your car financially protected against the damages, should there be an accident or collision.
Choose the right IDV
When you opt for a comprehensive car insurance policy, you're required to set an Insured Declared Value (IDV) of your vehicle. This will be the maximum value the insurance provider is liable to pay in case of the total loss of your car.
It's important to choose the right IDV for your car. In case you choose a lower IDV, you may not get enough compensation if your car gets damaged beyond repairs. On the other hand, if you choose unnecessarily high IDV, it may swell up the premium amount for your car insurance renewal.
Don't forget to claim NCB
NCB or No-Claim Bonus is the insurance provider's discount to the policy buyer after every claim-free year. So, if you haven't made any claim during the current policy period, do not forget to claim NCB at the time of renewal. By claiming the NCB, you can get up to a 50% discount on the premium (for own damage cover), which you need to pay during your car insurance policy renewal.
Select the add-ons carefully
Many insurance companies allow you to attach add-ons or riders (at an additional premium) with your car insurance policy. These add-ons are meant to enhance the coverage of your policy. You need to be diligent while selecting the add-ons at the time of renewal. It's because you neither want inadequate coverage nor an unnecessarily high premium.
Some add-ons we recommend adding at the time of car insurance policy renewal include engine protection cover, zero depreciation cover, accessories cover and roadside assistance cover.
Renewing a car insurance policy online is a convenient and hassle-free method to keep your vehicle adequately protected against adversities. Also, it allows you to choose your add ons and customise the policy to suit your requirements better.
In case you're looking to renew your car insurance policy, you can do it easily on our website. ICICI Lombard's car insurance renewal process is simple and hassle-free. All you need to do is head here, enter your policy details, and pay the premium using your debit/credit card or net banking facility.