Car insurance is an essential financial safeguard for vehicle owners, offering protection against accidents, theft and damages. However, if you drive responsibly and do not make any claims during your policy tenure, you become eligible for a No Claim Bonus (NCB)—a reward in the form of a discount on your car insurance premium. The NCB is an excellent way to reduce the cost of your car insurance renewal while promoting safe driving habits.
In this blog, we will discuss the IRDAI norms for NCB, its benefits, calculation methods and whether it can be transferred or protected.
IRDAI norms for NCB
It is mandatory for car owners in India to buy a car insurance that takes care of third party damages. However, a policy that takes care of own damages becomes a necessity. These package policies are expensive, but the no claim bonus feature offers attractive discounts on the premiums.
What is a no claim bonus?
A no claim bonus (NCB) is much like a reward for prudent use of the vehicle and adhering to the rules of the road. It allows the insured a discount on the premiums if no claims are drawn from the car insurance or two wheeler insurance policy . This discount increases every year, provided, the claim has not been made yet. In other words, the safer you drive, the less you will have to pay in bike or car insurance premiums!
However, this discount is applicable only on the Own Damage premium, and not on Liability premium.
What are the NCB discount rates?
The no claim bonus feature gets you discounts in the premium ranging from 20% - 50%. However, the discount rates are dependent on the age of the policy and when the last claim was made.
Benefits of NCB
Given below are a few benefits of NCB:
- Lower Premium Costs – If you buy a car insurance online, NCB decreases the cost of renewal premium significantly.
- Encourages Safe Driving – Policyholders are motivated to drive responsibly and avoid unnecessary claims.
- Transferable – NCB can be carried over even if you sell your car and buy a new one.
- Long-Term Savings – Over time, NCB accumulation leads to substantial savings on insurance premiums.
How is NCB calculated?
The calculation of no claim bonus in car insurance is straightforward and depends on the own damage premium of the policy.
For example, if your car insurance premium (excluding third-party cover) is ₹20,000 and you have a 35% NCB:
NCB Discount = 35% of ₹20,000 = ₹7,000
Thus, your premium payable would be:
₹20,000 - ₹7,000 = ₹13,000
Can the no claim bonus be waived?
Yes, the no claim bonus can be waived on the following occasions:
- If a claim has been made
Any claim made from the policy resets the bonus to zero. This is followed, regardless of the size of the claim, or even if the claim was made because of theft of the vehicle.
- Expiry of policy
The no claim bonus will be cancelled if the policy has been expired for a span of over 90 days.
Can the NCB be protected?
Regardless of when you make the claim or how big it is, the NCB will be reset to zero if you make any claim at all. In order to ensure that the bonus is not waived after small claims, the NCB protect add on can be bought. By paying for the add on, making small claims will not affect the bonus at all. However, these claims should stay within the predetermined limit.
Can the NCB be shifted to other motor insurance policies?
In case you want to change your insurance company, the no claim bonus can be shifted to the new motor insurance policy you buy. However, you should produce sufficient proof of the NCB of your previous policy and ensure that no claims were made. The no claim bonus can also be transferred from vehicle to vehicle.
Conclusion
The No Claim Bonus in car insurance is a valuable feature that rewards responsible vehicle owners with lower premium costs. By avoiding unnecessary claims and renewing your car insurance online on time, you can enjoy significant discounts and long-term savings. Additionally, taking advantage of NCB protection plans ensures that you don’t lose this benefit even if you make minor claims. To maximise your NCB, always compare policies and choose the best plan that aligns with your driving habits.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.