ICICI Lombard is proud to present the latest, updated version of our Insure app. This version has been improved keeping in mind the feedback that we have received from our esteemed customers. All the reviews and comments that are left on our various communication platforms have been taken into consideration while revamping the app.

Most of the negative feedback that we received was around storage space, accessibility, interface and the ease of use. All of these aspects have been addressed in the latest variant. For example, the previous version was considered as putting a heavy burden on user’s precious storage space. We have gone ahead and made the app lighter than ever before, now requiring just 6 MB of space on your phone.

Accessibility and navigation, which were considered as pain points before are bettered, now offering an enhanced interface that is lucid, streamlined and simple with more information packed on a single page. Talking about information, we have made the app even more comprehensive by adding offline policy details, in addition to the online policy details already present. Simplicity is taken up a notch as well. Buying and renewing policies are far easier, thanks to the reduced number of steps required to complete the process.

Be it car, bike, travel, or health insurance – everything can be taken care of from your smartphone. Need to buy or renew a policy? Want to raise a claim? Track status of claim or locate cashless garages or hospitals? All of this, and more, can be done on the go. There are many features in our new and improved Insure app that make it a must-have on your phone. Here are a few of them.

Packed to the Brim

The Insure app not only provides a wealth of information about your policy, but also allows you to perform tasks that would otherwise prove time-consuming and laborious. We have taken great care to ensure that all your online insurance requirements are catered to, in the most engaging and lucid way possible.

There are some truly outstanding features that we have incorporated in the app, and we’ll talk about them later in detail; but for now, let us talk about what else is possible. For most of you, buying or even renewing the policy is a hassle. It’s something that you would not want to spend more time on than required. The app lets you buy and renew a policy online and immediately, without any paperwork!

Before purchasing a policy you would definitely be interested in the quote. There is a facility within the app, which lets you calculate your insurance premium and get instant quotes. Lodge a car insurance or bike insurance claim, purchase add-on covers for your policy and 24x7 roadside assistance are some of the other nifty features.

Rapid Claims Process

Anyone familiar with raising a claim for car or bike insurance knows what a lengthy and time-consuming process it can be. You have to call the insurer’s customer service, fill up the claim form, wait for the surveyor to assess the damage and then take the car to the garage. It all sounds like an ordeal, but, not anymore!

ICICI Lombard’s Insure app comes with the InstaSpect feature, which makes filing a car or bike insurance claim an instantaneous and easy task. The app has live video inspection functionality that is employed for claim assessment. With this, a live video inspection can be scheduled with a claim manager, who will assess the damage and convey the extent of liability. Once the insured agrees to what is offered, the vehicle damage repair process will be initiated. As simple as that.

Mobile Self-Inspection

In line with our vision of enhancing customer satisfaction, we have brought in the mobile self-inspection feature for renewal of your motor insurance policy. Renewal of the insurance cover is critical to availing the benefits of the policy. However, due to hectic schedules, most of our customers simply forget or delay their insurance renewals. What adds to the frustration is the tedious process of renewing the policy.

Insure app provides the user with a smooth and convenient way of renewing their motor insurance policy. All the user has to do is upload a video of the vehicle taken from their phone by following a few simple guidelines through the app. This step takes care of the mandatory inspection required for renewals and also reduces the time taken for the entire process to be completed from 2-3 days to just a few hours. Cool, don’t you think?

Harnessing the Power of Telematics

IL Assist is another unique feature that is present in the Insure app. This feature relies on technology and provides the latest in vehicle tracking and monitoring. It makes use of telematics and provides 24x7 roadside support for your vehicle. Apart from that, it also gives you critical updates on the health of your car, as well as alerts on geo-fence violations and over speeding.

With proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act, the premium for third party insurance for motor vehicles could increase by at least 10-15%. Third party car insurance, which is the only mandatory component of a motor insurance policy, accounts for 30% of the premium.

The main objective behind the proposal is to increase the compensation offered to accident victims and provide timely assistance to them. If passed, the amendment seeks to revise the present compensation of ₹ 25,000 to ₹ 2,00,000 in case of death due to hit-and-run accidents.

For grave injuries, the proposed compensation is ₹ 50,000, as compared to the present compensation of ₹ 12,500. In case of fatal accidents where the offending vehicle and owner have been identified, there is a provision for compensation up to ₹ 10,00,000. Additionally, insurance companies will have to pay the compensation within 30 days.

Are you planning to buy a used vehicle in India? You're not alone! Second-hand bikes and cars are purchased both online and offline daily in our country. However, before you make a purchase, it is always best to be prepared for the paperwork that you'll have to take care off. Don't fret, we've done the homework for you and put a document checklist together. Take a look!

Vehicle purchase document

The first document you need to collect is the original invoice of the vehicle. Check for the owner's name, chassis number, engine number and other essential details. It will help you confirm the real owner of the car or bike and also help you determine whether the vehicle is being sold for the first time. If the seller is not able to provide it, he/she should give a receipt to serve the purpose.

Registration document

The most critical bike or car document that you need while purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is the registration document also called a Registration Card (RC). You will need to transfer the RC to your name. Visit your RTO and submit the following documents to begin the transfer process:

• Original RC
• Form 29 & 30
• Copy of bike/car insurance papers
• Copy of valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
• Copies of residence proof, such as a voter ID, passport or electricity bill
• Crime Report of NCRB

If the RC is missing, submit Form 26 and copy of First Information Report (FIR) filed at the police station to the RTO for a duplicate RC.

Download RTO forms

No Objection Certificate (NOC)

In case there is a bank seal on the RC book, it means the original buyer took the vehicle on loan, and the RC cannot be transferred to you. You will need to take Form 35 stamped and collect an NOC from the car or bike loan provider/bank, stating loan clearance. The seller must also submit RTO Form 28, which is an NOC proving no liabilities exist on the owner, which can legally prevent him/her from selling the vehicle.

Transaction documents

You will need to make the purchase/sale agreement or the sale transaction receipt with the vehicle owner. The agreement must be executed or notarized on a stamp paper. You will also need to issue a delivery note or challan, which indicates you've taken the physical delivery of the vehicle from the owner, and you will be henceforth responsible for all types of litigation, traffic offence, etc.

Tax receipt

Road tax payment at the right time is a must for both four-wheelers and two-wheelers. It is typically paid at the time of registration. Collect the RTO road tax receipt copies from the owner of the vehicle before sealing the deal.

Motor insurance

Third-party legal liability insurance is mandatory for all vehicles in India, including both cars and bikes. If you start driving the pre-owned vehicle without insurance, you may end up paying an unnecessary fine. Motor insurance also protects you from accidental damage and natural calamities. So transfer the insurance policy for the used vehicle in your name. The insurer may ask for an inspection of the car or bike before transferring the policy to you.

It is a good practice to check the number of claims the owner has made on his car insurance policy or bike insurance policy in the last few years, as this will indicate the number of accidents and repairs the vehicle has seen.

If the insurance policy has expired, you need to buy a new one before taking the vehicle on the road. Check our motor insurance policies online to secure your ride.

Pollution certificate

Before purchasing the vehicle, make sure that the owner has the Pollution certificate. The PUC document is mandatory for all vehicles. If you don't have the PUC certificate, you may have to pay a hefty fine on the road. If the owner does not furnish the PUC document, get the pollution test done for the vehicle before possession.

Payment documents

When you make the payment to the seller, keep a couple of copies of the DD/cheque you issued. Also get a few copies of the payment receipt, duly signed by the seller.

Investing in a property along with loan must go hand in hand when it comes to securing your home while applying for an home insurance. Basically, as per a study made by experts it has been observed and come to a conclusion that individuals opting for property as an investment must also invest in buying an home insurance.

Home loan insurance: Today there are many banks that provide home loans and even home insurance because of their tie-ups with many other general insurance companies. This option has become a compulsion in many countries, because such a combination of home loan with home insurance provides enough cover to the insured and his property. Many banks in India too provide good coverage on insurance. For instance: a bank covers against various misfortunes i.e. incase of illness, accidental death,permanent total disability. In case of any employment loss, then there are certain banks that cover three EMI payments. This policy also covers in times of earthquake, loss of property or damage to the building and/or any of its contents. There are also certain companies that provide comprehensive coverage for structure and contents against the listed natural and man-made calamities. Also, people are given the option of continuing with the same policy even if the loan term ends.

An unconscious patient needs to be given immediate CPR

Between 1990 and 2016, the death rate due to cardiovascular diseases rose by 34% in India. While a heart attack is a serious, life-threatening occurrence that is increasingly spreading across our country, it is possible to save someone’s life if only one knows how to provide basic heart attack first aid.

Witnessing a loved one or even a stranger in the deathly embrace of a heart attack is overwhelming and scary. But what’s worse is to be helpless and to not know what to do. After reading this quick guide on heart attack first aid, you will feel more empowered and aware to help save a life.

Spotting a Heart Attack

The symptoms of a heart attack differ for men and women, but the need for quick action remains as crucial. Spotting a heart attack by quickly realizing the symptoms is critical in order to provide heart attack first aid. >

Men

• Crushing/ burning chest pain
• Sensation of squeezing, pressure or discomfort in the chest
• Discomfort or tightness in the neck and/or jaw
• Shortness of breath and palpitations
• Pain in the arms, often left arm, shoulder blades and back

Often, men suffering a heart attack will break out in a sweat and can lose consciousness. The pain is usually gradual and can last for several minutes. It’s not uncommon for the pain to fade and come back again, in which case heart attack first aid becomes essential.

Women

• Pressure or pain in the lower chest
• Pressure or pain the upper abdomen
• Pressure in the upper back
• Nausea and lightheaded
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme fatigue

Women suffering a heart attack usually believe it to be indigestion, a heart burn or extreme tiredness. Being aware and providing heart attack first aid will do no harm even if it turns out to only be indigestion.

Providing Immediate Heart Attack First Aid

For a Conscious Patient

• Ease strain on the patient’s heart by helping them in a comfortable position. An ideal position is on the floor, leaning against a wall with head and shoulders supported and knees bent.
• Loosen the clothing around their neck, chest and waist. For instance, if they are wearing a tie, remove it and unbutton the top button.
• Call for help but don’t let bystanders crowd the patient. Avoid leaving the patient unattended.
• Call an emergency helpline number 112 or 102 for an ambulance. You can call the local, neighbourhood hospital if you believe that’s going to be quicker.
• If the patient has prescribed medicine for a cardiovascular diseases, help them take it.
• Continuously monitor the patient — check their breathing, pulse and keep an eye on their consciousness.

For an Unconscious Patient

Heart attack first aid for a patient who loses consciousness goes a little beyond the above steps.

• Make sure to inform the ambulance/emergency number operator that the patient is unconscious. This is essential because they will despatch the ambulance with needed equipment like a defibrillator, which is used to restart the heart, ECG machine, ventilator, oxygen cylinder, etc.
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is advised when the patient is unconscious.
• If you aren’t trained in CPR, provide hands-only chest compressions. You can be guided by the emergency number operator/medical assist on call to perform them.

How to Give Chest Compressions (for adults)

• On the centre of the patient’s chest, place the heel of your hand, one on top of the other and lace your fingers together.
• Keep your shoulders directly above your hands and straighten out your arms.
• Compress chest at least by 2 inches by pushing hard and fast.
• Compress at least 100 times per minute with minimal interruptions.
• Let the patient’s chest rise completely before you push down again.
• Stop only if the patient starts breathing normally again, a trained person or medical assistant takes over, you’re too exhausted to continue properly or an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available.

Simple steps to help you file a claim under your health insurance policy

So you’ve opted for a health insurance to safeguard your finances against the soaring healthcare costs. Now that you have this assurance, it is important to understand how the claim process works, to ensure you are not worrying in case of an emergency.

Opposed to common belief, making a claim is relatively easy. Let’s get acquainted with the various elements of the claim procedure to avoid unpleasant surprises in your time of need:

Claim Type

Claims are commonly of two types:

Claim Intimation

Claim intimation is a crucial step of the claim process as it informs the insurer of the upcoming expenses. There is a high possibility of your claim being denied if you fail to inform within the specified time as mentioned in your policy.

In case of planned hospitalization at a network hospital, the specified time required to intimate your insurance company is at least 1-2 days in advance. For emergency hospitalization, you have to inform the company within 24 hours.

Claim Forms

Pre-authorization forms encapsulate all the information required to make a cashless claim. You have to submit a copy of required documents such as cashless ID, photo ID, previous consultation documents, if any for the company to approve the expenses. These documents will be verified by the hospital or a Third Party Administrator (TPA) to check if the illness or ailment is covered under the benefits of the policy.

For reimbursement claims, no pre-authorization form is generally needed. However, after discharge you need to submit all the documents pertaining to the out-of-pocket expenses. You can mail these documents along with the duly filled claim form to your service provider or TPA.

Claim Investigation

Claim investigation helps the insurance companies analyze and differentiate fraudulent claims from the genuine ones. Your claim form and documents will be thoroughly scrutinized and a suitable decision will be made.

Therefore, ensure you fill in the details correctly in the form and submit the documents as per the requirement.

In today's times, when critical illnesses and medical inflation are on the rise, a wellness program comes as a relief for policyholders. Read on to understand wellness programs and their benefits.

What is a wellness program?

ICICI Lombard General Insurance offers wellness program along with your health insurance policy or super top-up plan. Through it, you, as a policyholder, are rewarded with wellness points for keeping yourself hale and hearty by pursuing any of the activities covered. These points can be redeemed later as per the redemption terms and conditions, subject to a maximum.

Why should I opt for a wellness program with my health insurance policy?

According to a recent report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the probability of death in India from the four major non-communicable diseases – cancer, cardiovascular, chronic respiratory,and diabetes,is 26% for individuals aged 30-70 years. Let us have a look at the probable underlying causes:

As evident, these four diseases can be prevented or controlled with a small yet significant change in lifestyle. While diseases caused by heredity, radiation and infections are not avoidable after a certain extent, tobacco use and sedentary lifestyle should be controlled to ensure a long and healthy life.

Home insurance premiums may be exempted in the future

Fiscal Support Needed for Home Insurance

Insurance is a way of protecting oneself from a financial loss. It provides the insured a hedge against unforeseen loss events. General insurance provides protection against loss to property, unanticipated expenses, or future income.

The government strives to improve insurance penetration, both life and non-life. It provides tax exemption for the amounts paid as premium for life insurance as well as health insurance.

The government is also involved in creating capacity for insuring risks from terrorism and motor third party damage. Property insurance is of equal importance. Almost every business entity insures its property – factory and/or office premises. Home insurance is as good as non-existent.

Individuals Consider Home Insurance Avoidable

There is an absolute lack of awareness about home insurance. Even the sections of the population that are aware of and avail life and health insurance are ignorant of the importance of insuring their homes and belongings. It does not cost much but the premium for home insurance is considered a cost that can be avoided. General insurance companies have negligible portfolios of home insurance.

Don’t let the documentation process intimidate you

Are you excited to sell your car and upgrade to a better model? That’s wonderful, however, selling a car comes with an additional set of responsibilities! While you may be focusing a lot on buying your new car, there are a few things you have to consider in regards to selling your old one.

You need to ensure that you transfer your motor insurance policy  and other documents in the right manner to avoid any issues that may arise in the future. Here’s what you need to know for a smooth handover.

• Importance of the Documentation Process
  You will continue to be held responsible for any liability related to the car, even after you sell it, if you don’t follow the proper documentation process. To free yourself of future liabilities associated with your car, you need to pay attention to two aspects of the process, transactional and RTO.


• Transactional Documents
  Once you’ve finalized the deal with the prospective buyer, you should get a sale affidavit and delivery note signed by them. Make sure to attach the prospective buyer’s identity proof and address proof like PAN Card and Aadhaar Card. Don’t forget to attach the cheques that you are receiving as the payment to the sale affidavit. It’s essential to get the sale affidavit notarised and signed as it acts as an agreement transferring all vehicle related liabilities to the buyer.


• RTO Documents
  Here are the important car insurance transfer forms required by the RTO.


• Form no. 28
  This is an application for receiving an NOC from the registering authority. This is essential as it acts as proof that you have no unresolved liabilities or obligations related to the vehicle.


• Form No. 29
  This form acts as a notice to the RTO that the vehicle is being sold by the owner and that all required documents have been handed over to the buyer.


• Form No. 30
  This form acts as a confirmation to form no. 29.


• Clearance Certificate
  The clearance certificate is a simple application made to the RTO, informing them that your vehicle has been sold. It includes the details of the buyer, seller and the vehicle.


• Motor Insurance Policy Transfer
  The buyer doesn’t have to take a fresh policy for the car, you can simply transfer your existing policy to them when you’re selling a car to them. Vehicle insurance transfer will also rid you of any legal issues that may crop up later. You must fill a fresh proposal form and submit it to the insurance company. Attach all the documents listed above as well as the previous policy. On receiving these documents, the insurance company will pass the endorsement of transfer. The entire activity must be completed within a period of 14 days. Now you know the steps you need to go through for a hassle-free handover of your car and its policy cover. As important as it is to transfer your old car’s policy, it’s also crucial to get an insurance cover for your brand new ride.

Know how an in-patient AYUSH cover can benefit you and your family

In 2013, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) asked health insurance companies to provide cover for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) treatments. Similarly, there are several ongoing government initiatives also, to promote alternative medicine, including the promise for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-like Ayurveda hospital.

In November 2014, the Department of AYUSH was elevated by forming a government body – Ministry of AYUSH – in order to develop education and research in the natural medicine departments and therefore make maximum medical assistance available to patients.

The departments include Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) as well as other alternative medicine systems. The Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy was started in March 1995, whereas the name AYUSH was coined in March 2003.

Despite such government initiatives and interventions to popularize AYUSH, both the rural and urban Indian population are still largely inclined towards allopathic treatments. According to the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), 90% of the Indian population – both rural and urban – prefer allopathic treatments over alternative healthcare options.

However, AYUSH offers several benefits over allopathy, especially for recuperation from critical illnesses like cancer. It is believed to cause minimum side effects and considered to focus on treating the cause of the disease rather than just the symptoms. The treatment methods use organic components and are more cost effective.

AYUSH Benefits Under Your Health Insurance Policy

With the IRDAI move asking insurers to provide cover for AYUSH treatments, the demand for health insurance for alternative treatments has increased to some extent. An AYUSH cover in your health insurance policy covers in-patient hospitalization expenses.

The medical expenses incurred for in-patient treatment taken under Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy will be covered in the policy. We also reimburse enrolment fees paid by the policyholder to Yoga institutes as part of our preventive and wellness healthcare add-on. The sum insured for this benefit ranges from ₹2,500- ₹20,000 depending on the plan.

Insurance calculators are available for all types of policies including health, home, motor, student, travel etc.

It is very likely that someone looking for an insurance policy begins his search on the internet. Apart from authentic company websites, there are numerous websites that provide insurance policies to potential customers. The reason for this expansion of the internet in the insurance sector is the fact that it is much easier for a person to acquire an insurance policy online as against the conventional means.

Although the convenience is due to the absence of paperwork, the websites providing insurance policies also try to further simplify a potential buyer’s choice. This is done through various support tools that these websites put forth for their consumers. One of the most popular and very successful tools that almost all insurance websites employ is the insurance calculator. For every type of policy, there is a particular type of calculator. The following are examples of some tools that you could use.

The Health Insurance Calculator:

These calculators are primarily used for situations such as calculating the premium in a family floater health insurance plan that includes medical coverage for your whole family. The calculations for such a situation can be quite complicated and time consuming with numerous possibilities of errors. This is why tools such as this one are provided to help you make confident and informed comparisons between policies.

The Home Insurance Calculator:

These are calculators that are used for home insurance policies. These can be used for policies that cover your whole house as well as for policies that only provide coverage for the items in the house. With a home insurance policy, you are also required to declare the total value of belongings in the house. Apart from this, the premiums of home insurance policies also vary on the basis of the validity period which can range from anything between one year to five years and even more.

The Motor Insurance Calculator:

The advancements in technology have left no industry untouched. From automobile to aviation, every industry has adopted technology to come up with innovative products to woo their customers. Like other industries, the insurance industry as well has started implementing technological developments in their business operations, making it easier for their customers to access and buy their products.

Talking about the motor insurance sector, it has seen a rapid transformation in recent years. From innovative insurance products to Artificial Intelligence (AI) based premium calculation, technology has impacted this industry in multiple ways. Let's have a look at some of the most significant technological advancements that are revolutionising the motor insurance industry:

Use of telematics for premium calculation

The insurance companies have adopted a concept called 'Usage Based Insurance' where telematics devices are attached to vehicles to monitor the risks associated with it. These telematics devices record the driving patterns of vehicle owners, including the distance travelled by them each day, the average speed at which a vehicle is driven, and how safely it is being driven.

These records are then used to calculate vehicle-specific motor insurance premiums, based on the risk associated with each vehicle. For example, if a car is regularly driven at high speeds on highways, the insurance premium for it will be higher as compared to a vehicle which is being driven at low speeds inside a city.

The adoption of telematics ensures a fair price for car insurance customers as it increases affordability for those who drive less and practice safe driving habits. It also helps insurance providers to accurately determine accident damages and reduce the number of fraudulent claims.

ICICI Lombard is one of the few insurers in India that uses this technology to offer vehicle-specific motor insurance policies. A vehicle owner can choose an insurance plan for his/her vehicle, based on the kilometres that he/she shall be driving in a year. In case the coverage gets exhausted, there is an option to get a top-up.

Installation of dashboard cameras for maximum car security

Insurers have started installing cameras on the dashboard of a car. These cameras can record forward, sideward, and even rearward videos. These recordings can be beneficial and can be used as evidence in case a policyholder gets involved in an accident. It provides insights about the accident to the insurers and helps them to determine the authenticity of a claim.

This will not only help in bringing down the fraudulent claims but also in expediting the claim-settlement process. Not only for four-wheelers, but some insurers are also even providing helmet cameras for two-wheelers to record an accident scene.

Smartphones apps for every insurance-related help

Many insurers in India have introduced their smartphone apps with which a user can get any help related to his/her motor insurance policy within minutes. The apps can be used for multiple purposes, such as to buy or renew the policy, raise a claim, or call for roadside assistance in case the need arises.

Additionally, these apps can be synced with car's dashboard camera so that it can record videos of an accident, record conversations with witnesses and other parties involved in the accident, and capture any relevant document on the scene. Through these apps, the policyholders can also get on a video chat directly with the insurer's representatives and justify their claim.

Use of blockchain technology

Many motor insurance companies in India have started integrating blockchain technology into their existing workflows. This helps other insurance players to access data regarding insured vehicles, including smart card details, owner details, telematic records etc.

This makes it easier for them to identify the claims and verify its authenticity. It also helps the insurers to reduce the time required for the underwriting of claims. They can now easily tap into online databases and check the vehicle owner's data and quickly assess the claim amount to be paid.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 came into effect on September 1, 2019, with an intent to curb road accidents in India and boost road safety. This massive update to the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 has led to the introduction of fresh penalties and license requirements for vehicles along with new operating standards for both personal and commercial motor vehicles.

The new Motor Vehicles Bill brings forth a jaw-dropping surge in the fines for traffic rules violators. The Bill also seeks to spread awareness towards road safety and aims to discourage drivers from flouting traffic rules and regulations.

Here are some of the key points of the Motor Vehicles Act (Amendment) Act 2019 that you must know:

• Mandatory Motor Insurance:

The Bill instructs the Central Government to create a special Motor Vehicle Accident Fund that will be designed to provide compulsory vehicle insurance to vehicle owners. Car insurance and two-wheeler insurance offered by the Government has been targeted to ensure:

• Medical treatment for road accident victims under the ‘golden hour’ scheme.
• Monetary compensation to the next of kin of a person who has died in a ‘hit and run’ accident.
• Monetary compensation to the next of kin for a person grievously injured in a ‘hit and run’ accident.
• Monetary compensation for to other victims as identified under the new guidelines.

• Vehicle Recall:

Under the amended Motor Vehicles Act 2019, the Central Government reserves the rights to recall a vehicle of any make and model if it poses a persistent threat to drivers, environment or the public at large. The ‘recall’ use has been hailed as a great step towards bringing accountability in the auto industry. With the recall clause, a vehicle manufacturer will be liable to:

• Provide full reimbursement to the vehicle owner against the recall.
• Substitute the recalled vehicle with a replacement vehicle that has similar or higher specifications.

• Road Accident Compensation:

The amended act prescribes compensation and immediate cashless treatment for accident victims with the ‘golden hour’ period. Under the clause, the golden hour is described as the ‘one-hour’ post a major accident, wherein prompt, life-saving medical treatment can be given to the victim, thus saving his/her life. The act also envisions providing interim relief to third-party insurance claimants, seeking compensation.

• Minimum compensation in case of death in a hit & run case: Rs. 2 lakh.
• Minimum compensation in case of grievous injury in a hit & run case: Rs. 50,000.

• Legal Protection for Good Samaritans:

Under the good samaritans provision, any civilian administering aid (medical/non-medical) to an accident victim will not be pursued with legal/criminal action due to the death of the victim. The same is applicable in the case of seriously injured victims. However, the legal cushion is based on three factors:

• The assistance given to the victim should be in good faith.
• The assistance should not be based on rewards expectations, monetary or otherwise.
• The assistance given should be entirely voluntary.

• Increased Penalties:

The main talking point of the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 is the steep rise in the monetary penalties for traffic violators. Despite facing opposition from various sections, the hiked penalties have been enforced and have already witnessed rigorous implementation. If you drive without motor insurance then you will have to pay high penalty.

A majority of the states have welcomed this surge aimed at reducing traffic violations, drastically. Below is the full list of traffic violations and their revised fines as per the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019:

Traffic Violations & Increased Penalties

Traffic Violations	Previous Fines (Rs.)	Revised Fines (2019) in Rs.
Travel without a ticket (public transportation)	200	500
Driving without license	500	5000
Overspeeding	400	● 1,000 for light vehicles ● 2,000 for medium vehicles
Driving under the influence	2,000	10,000
Dangerous driving	1,000	Up to 5,000
Vehicle speeding/racing	500	5,000
No helmet	100	1,000 + 3 months suspension
Driving without insurance	1,000	2,000
Two-wheeler overloading	100	1,000 + 3 months license suspension
No permit vehicle	100	1,000 + 3 months license suspension
No seat belt	100	1,000 + 3 months license suspension
Riding without a helmet	100	1,000 + 3 months license suspension
Juvenile offences	N/A	25,000 fine for the guardians with 3 years jail term. Juvenile to be tried under the Juvenile Justice & Protection Act
Violation of licensing by cab aggregators	N/A	25,000 to 100,000
Driving post-license disqualification	500	10,000

• Insurance Cover – Top Priority

Be it car insurance or two-wheeler insurance, getting vehicle insurance policy done right has become a top ’to-do’ on everyone’s list. You can buy car insurance online or get your vehicle insured through third-party insurance companies.

With the implementation of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, rules and penalties have become stricter, thus getting yourself the obligatory insurance cover is of greatest significance.

The enforcement of the Act will ensure that the vehicle owners, especially who have two-wheelers will now be more inclined to opt for vehicle insurance. Now, if you are wondering how to avoid the steep fines and penalties for traffic violations, then simply follow this:

“Wear a helmet, put the seatbelt on, don’t drink & drive, stay in your lane, keep your license handy, and most important of all, keep your car and your loved ones safe with motor insurance."

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 7 structures have collapsed each day in India during 2010-2014. The structures mainly comprised of residential buildings and commercial buildings with 4919 and 1610 fatalities respectively. In addition, Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of deaths caused due to collapse of structures, followed by Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Such alarming statistics only point towards a need for greater awareness while choosing a site for construction or a home to live. While it may not be possible to safeguard one’s home from the ill effects of a calamity, it is possible to control the extent of damage. Here are a few precautions to reduce the likelihood of you becoming a victim of a building collapse:

Check the Foundation

It all begins with the kind of foundation you build for your home. In case the property is located around a swampy ground, a stronger foundation is required as compared to solid grounds. But having said that, one cannot overlook the fact that even solid grounds require robust foundations.

Build Earthquake-Proof Constructions

A seismic zone map released on September 20, 2016 by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) states that 59% of households in India are vulnerable to severe and moderate earthquake.

Effective pre-planning carried out by the government and builders and general awareness in this regard has the potential to save thousands of lives. Thus, it will be a wise step to learn from other earthquake-prone countries such as Japan that is several steps ahead from the rest of the world in building earthquake-proof structures. Among the several methods, the most common is installing beams that transfer the sway, dissipation units, and incorporation of flexible material.

Are you a car enthusiast who spend hours admiring the masterpieces with wheels from around the world? Have you been pining for a specific car, luxury or vintage, that is not available in India? We feel your pain; it’s quite the disappointment when the thing you most desire is not available in your country.

Don’t worry! You can always purchase a car and import it to India and drive your dream car in your own country. A motor insurance policy will provide the financial security to your imported car against any loss or damage it may suffer during any unforeseen circumstances. Here are some of things about importing a car in India you must know as per the provisions laid down by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT):

When Can You Import a Car?

You are allowed to import a car in India only under the following circumstances:

• If the car is not manufactured by Indian companies.
• If the car is not registered in any other country, under any of their laws.
• If the car is not leased or loaned at the time of importing.

The Type of Car You Can Import

It’s important to know that the process of importing a car in India is permitted only through certain custom ports. They are as follows:

• Mumbai
• Nhava Sheva
• Delhi Air Cargo
• Chennai
• Kolkata
• Cochin
• Tughlakabad

Things to note when importing a car via dealer

You can always seek help of a dealer to import your new ride to India, which will make the process easier and quicker also you need to buy car insurance for your imported car to protect against unforeseen circumstances. . However, in order to do the same, you need to follow certain guidelines as listed below:

• Get the Road Worthiness Certificate issued by any testing agency of the country from where you’re importing the car. This is to ensure that your importation certificate is compliant with the rule 126 under Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
• While importing the car, you must submit a written proof that serves as a confirmation that the compliance certificate as required under rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 will be submitted within six months of the importation process.

Import Duties on Cars

This can be one of your main concerns while importing a car in India. Following are the applicable import duty rates for importing a car in India:

Exceptions

The IRDAI’s new guideline will ensure fair pricing of motor insurance products and will provide greater flexibility to the vehicle owners

A motor insurance policy consists of two parts - own damage (OD) cover and third party (TP) liability cover. While the OD part provides coverage for any damage caused to the insured vehicle, the TP part covers the policyholder’s legal liability arising due to damages inflicted to a third party individual or property due to his/her negligence driving.

Until recently, all car and bike owners had to buy an OD cover and TP insurance policy from the same insurer. However, on 21st June 2019, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) declared via a circular that from September 2019 onwards, vehicle owners can choose to buy or renew a standalone OD cover from the insurer of their choice. All car and bike owners should buy a car insurance or a two wheeler insurance for their vehicle’s safety.

What was the previous industry norm?

In July 2018, the Supreme Court of India made it mandatory for all motor insurance companies to provide a comprehensive 3-year long TP insurance policy for cars and 5-year TP cover for two-wheelers. This was done to address the issue of non-renewal of policy by the vehicle owners after its lapse.

However, the Supreme Court’s mandate was applicable only for TP cover, and not for OD cover. Thus, vehicle insurance companies started selling bundled products that included a 3-year or 5-year TP coverage (as applicable) along with the 1-year OD coverage.

Since most insurers did not sell any standalone product, at the time of renewal, either the policyholder had to renew the OD cover from its existing insurer by paying the quoted premium or purchase another bundled plan – that will include a TP cover + OD cover – from any other insurer. Such a scenario created a misalignment in the motor insurance market. Let’s understand this with the help of an example.

Suppose while buying a new car, the dealer offers the customer a policy package of a 3-year TP and 1-year OD cover from insurer Z. A year later, at the time of OD renewal, the customer is bound to buy it from insurer Z as no other insurer will offer him/her a standalone OD policy.

This arrangement also meant that the customer has to stuck with insurer Z for 3 years, even if he/she does not get the coverage at a competitive price. This significantly compromised the bargaining power of consumers. The IRDAI’s new regulation aims to handle this issue.

What is IRDAI’s new arrangement?

In a circular dated 21st June 2019, the IRDAI stated that it is no longer compulsory for insurers to sell bundled TP and OD policies for cars and two-wheelers. It has also made it mandatory for the insurers to sell year-long standalone OD covers for both new and old vehicles.

Further, the regulatory body has given vehicle owners the flexibility of choosing their insurers, wherein the TP liability cover and OD cover can be purchased from the same or different insurance provider.

Opting for a used car leads to more savings and enables you to buy a premium model in the same budget.

When it comes to buying a car, you need to take a lot of crucial decisions, such as, what will be your budget, the type of car you wish to purchase, the make, model, and colour of the car, choosing a car insurance whether you will make the full down-payment upfront or avail the services of a car loan. One such important choice that you need to consider is whether you would like to purchase a new car or opt for a second-hand car.

While purchasing a brand-new car can be an exhilarating thought, opting for a 2nd hand car has its own advantages. According to the market surveys, the used car sales in India have gone up by 50% during the past one year, mainly due to the entry of organised players in the segment and greater assurance of the vehicle being sold. Read more to know about the 7 major benefits of buying a second-hand car instead of a new one and how it can be a smart decision for you:

Facilitates affordability and savings

The most specific advantage of opting to purchase a second-hand car instead of a new one is that it facilitates more affordability and hence, increases your savings. You can own a pre-owned car of your preferred make and model at a much lesser price when compared with a new car of the same model. For example, you can own a 3-year old Maruti Swift Dzire at an approximate price of Rs.3 to 3.5 lakhs whereas the new car will cost you around Rs. 6 to 8 lakhs, depending upon the variant. However in this case, motor insurance is something you should always rely on

Minimizing the depreciation of your vehicle

The value of a new car starts depreciating from the moment it is driven out of the showroom. Typically, the market value of a car decreases by about 20% per year for the first few years after its purchase. This means that a new car will lose roughly 50% of its value during the first two to three years. Though various cars have different depreciation rates, some luxury cars have a steep depreciation rate over the first few years.

Cars that are in low demand also lose their value quite significantly over time. You can avoid that hit by buying a second-hand car as it would have already suffered its maximum depreciation by then and will not lose much value in the forthcoming years. Some of the factors that you should keep in mind before calculating the depreciation and buying a second-hand car at much cheaper rates include:

• Brand: Some brands have prolonged value due to their popularity, while others lose their value significantly due to increasing competition. Thus, thorough research can get you close to 60 percent of a car’s price in three years.
• Vehicle Condition: It is recommended to check the fuel exhausts and any oil leaks before choosing your second-hand car which gives you the power to bargain better and save money on future repairs
• Performance: A car offering better distance per liter of fuel is your best bet as it will not only save you money but is also an indicator of a car’s good performance.

Avoiding the registration fees and other charges

When you buy a new car, you will have to make numerous payments to the Government, such as one-time registration fees, road taxes, and other RTO charges which swell up the on-road price of the vehicle. Opting for a used car is instead a better option to avoid these extra charges as it would have been already paid by the first owner of the vehicle. This, in turn, will help you get full value for your money and you don’t need to shell anything extra out of your pocket to take your favorite car out for a spin.

Document Checklist for Buying a Second-hand Car

Second-hand car buyers should check the following documents thoroughly before confirming the purchase:

• Registration Certificate
• Purchase Invoice of the car
• All documents for existing insurance policies
• Documents for the service history of the car
• Forms- 28, 29, 30, 32, 35
• Invoices for Road Tax
• Pollution Control Certificates
• Owner’s Manual

Full assurance and warranty for the vehicle

Life is full of uncertainties and insurance is the best way of protecting yourself from them. Often people insure their health, home and assets but ignore their source of income. An accident can leave you partially or permanently disabled for the rest of your life and result in loss of income.

A majority of casualties arise due to road accidents and the numbers of accidents have increased in the past few years. Most accident-related policies have a permanent or partial disability cover where a fixed percentage of sum insured is paid to the policyholder depending on the nature of disability.

While choosing a policy you must opt for income protection benefits depending on your monthly expenditure. The benefits of monthly income are triggered only in the event of death or permanent disability. For temporary disability, income protection benefit would be available only for a brief period.