Renew your car insurance before it’s too late!

What happens if you do not renew your car insurance policy on time? Read on to know the pitfalls.

Makrand Joshi* (33) has learnt his lesson. Never again will he put off doing a task which he should do at once.

“I was on holiday with my friends and we were in my car. We crossed over to Goa from Maharashtra, and we were just reaching our hotel when the car hit a bump. To avoid crashing into a divider, I swerved into a tree,” he says. On getting out and inspecting the car, I saw that the damages were severe. The bonnet had crumpled and the fender was crushed. My friends told me to call my insurance provider and claim insurance.”

Then he got the biggest shock. “The customer care executive told me that my car insurance had expired a month ago. I had been unaware of this and I was driving without insurance. Naturally, I had to pay for the damages myself,” he rues.

Take a cue from Makrand’s example and get your motor insurance renewal done. Not renewing your car insurance can land you in serious trouble. Even a day’s delay can prove costly. Take the case of Shyam Dandekar* (44), who was aware that his vehicle insurance renewal was coming up. “I was mistaken about the date. When I checked the policy papers, I realised that I was three days late already. Despite numerous requests, I could not renew the old policy, and I had to take a fresh one,” he explains.

Most people take car insurance renewal in India very lightly, but it can have serious consequences. The car insurance policy is a yearly contract between the vehicle owner and the insurance provider, and it must be renewed every year. The insurance provider will initiate a fresh car policy renewal process if the renewal is delayed by even a day. Driving without a valid car insurance policy can prove fatal.

“People cannot be casual about vehicle insurance renewal,” says Rajesh Virmani*, an insurance advisor. “A slight delay is fine in case the policy only covers third party liability. Many insurance providers are happy to renew third party liability after a slight break. But comprehensive coverage policies cannot be renewed after even a single day’s break. This means that any damage to self or the vehicle during the break period will not be covered by insurance,” he explains.

Imagine meeting with an accident or worse, causing damage and injury to another person when one’s motor insurance has expired. “I am very careful about the renewal dates,” says Brijesh Kapadia (44), who says he has never missed a renewal date. “Insurance companies have made the renewal process very easy. I used the online car insurance renewal option for the first time last year, and it was done within minutes. Besides, the insurance provider sends a reminder before the last date elapses. It is sheer careless to not renew the motor insurance on time.”

The risk of not doing the car insurance renewal on time also extends to the insurance provider charging a higher premium after a break in the policy tenure. You may also not get the no-claim bonus if you do not renew on time.

*The characters in this article are fictional and have been used for illustrative purposes.

Renew your vehicle insurance for peace of mind

You bought your first car a year ago, and you also purchased insurance for it at the same time. It has been a great year of driving with your car, and you have no complaints.

Now you realise that your motor insurance is up for renewal, but you are asking yourself, “Do I really need insurance? After all, nothing happened in a year. Why should I pay for something when I don’t really need it?” This line of thinking is both simplistic and dangerous. For one thing, if you have a two-wheeler, it is compulsory to have motor insurance, so skimping on it can land you in legal trouble. For another, having insurance gives you continuous peace of mind in case a third party inadvertently or deliberately damages your car.

Motor insurance also takes care of such eventualities as damage by natural calamities or theft of the vehicle. Hence, you not only need insurance to safeguard yourself against future eventualities, you should also renew it periodically.

Not paying enough attention to motor insurance renewal can cause you trouble, in the sense that you will actually shell out more to continue the insurance after a lapse. Car insurance renewal, fortunately, is a very easy process – if you have an agent handling all the paperwork for you, just ask him or her to keep a track of the renewal dates and follow the process therein.

Motor insurance providers in India are also keeping tabs on renewal dates on behalf of their customers, so you might even receive an SMS or email alert reminding you about the motor insurance renewal. Additionally, you can do away with using your agent’s services by opting to renew the insurance yourself, by logging on to the Internet.

Your insurer company will give you the option of online motor insurance renewal – just log on and enter the required details. You can do the renewal process instantly without any recourse to paperwork, or even buy new motor insurance if needed. You will have to enter the old policy number, the code for it and its expiry date. The new policy documents will be instantly delivered to you via email or courier, as per your requirement.

However, use their online calculator to ascertain the premium you have to pay for the year, if there are any new charges introduced and how much they will affect you, and so on. Besides this, you can request for additional information on new features via email or phone call.

All in all, there are several options for car insurance renewal. We just have to use these options and keep our motor insurance valid – after all, when we take our vehicles out on the road, we are supposed to safeguard not just ourselves and our vehicles, but also the lives of other drivers and pedestrians on the road.

Choosing the Right Tyres to Keep Car Insurance Costs Low

How to Buy Car Tyres

Most people are not aware of how to choose the right tyres for their cars. Buying the correct tyres can save you from having to file a claim on your car insurance, and protect you and those travelling with you. Here are the salient points to keep in mind when buying tyres.

Tube vs Tube-less

Opt for tubeless tyres, since these are a lot safer than those with tubes. Tubeless ones are less prone to bursting, and also provide more cushion in case there is a puncture while the car is being driven. Tubeless tyres are more expensive than ones with tubes, but make up for it in terms of safety, which is important in terms of vehicle insurance.

Size

You can go for the same size as your original tyres, or you can decide to upsize your tyres. There are two decisions to make here.

a) The size will depend on the size of the rim. A larger rim will give you more maneuverability, but at the cost of ride quality and comfort.
b) The size of the tread can also be widened. Don’t go for an increase of more than 20mm in the width of the tread. A wider tread is appropriate if your car has a lot of horsepower, if you want to be able to drive fast or take fast corners. Don’t opt for a wider tread if you want to keep your steering light, you don’t want to disturb your fuel economy, and you frequently drive in peak traffic.

Rubber Compound Used in the Tire

The rubber compound determines the traction and tread life. The quality (or softness) of the rubber is directly proportional to the speed rating of your tyre and the amount of traction you will get, and inversely proportional to the tread life. The higher the speed rating, the better the grip provided by the tyre. The quality of the rubber also determines whether your car will screech when approaching the limits of traction, or just let out a faint sound. Having good traction can help protect against accidents and keep your motor insurance cost low.

Tire Load and Tread

Always buy a tire that can carry your car’s load. Make sure that the tread is appropriate for the kind of roads and weather you frequently encounter. Having a summer tread for driving in the snow can cause dangerous accidents and high car insurance costs.

Choose Car Insurance as a Responsible Vehicle Owner

Being a Responsible Vehicle Owner in an Indian Metro

Believe it or not, there is one death every four minutes due to a road accident in India. And several of them are either due to irresponsible driving or due to improper driving etiquette. Being a responsible car owner is not difficult really. It is just about adhering to the laws and norms, and being sensitive to the needs of other drivers on the road. And, of course, having car insurance is mandatory. We look at some other measures to undertake when driving on the Indian city roads.

Being a Responsible Driver in an Indian Metro

Some of the norms to adhere to include:

• Always follow the rules: Remember, rules are made for your safety and you need to follow them for ensuring a safe experience for yourself and your fellow drivers on the road. So, use a seat belt, keep your driving license updated and carry it with you, make a copy of your car registration papers and stock them in your dashboard. Carry a copy of your updated motor insurance policy as well. In case of accidents or any other problems, you may need to produce these documents to the traffic police.

• Follow Traffic Rules at all Times: Always resort to lane driving and never indulge in over speeding when driving through city roads. Remember, it is important to be patient. Never let road rage get the better of you. Many a times, the conflict could well get out of control. Make sure you obey the traffic lights too.

• Refrain from Distractions when Driving: It is important to maintain focus while driving. Keep your eyes on the road and refrain from distractions as much as possible. Be aware of your surroundings. Drive within the suggested speed limit in order to remain in perfect control of the vehicle.

• Keep Pollution in Check: It is important to carry out PUC checks periodically and seek a clearance certificate. You can easily track these PUC mobile vans down, at multiple locations along prominent roads. All it takes is a short stopover and you get a fresh certificate. Remember, this is how you can also do your bit for the planet you live in.

• Consider Regular Vehicle Maintenance: Make sure your vehicle is well maintained, especially if you are using it on a daily basis. Take it to the service station for a complete checkup regularly. A well maintained vehicle also means reduced fuel consumption.

Owning a car is a pleasure and there is a lot more you can do apart from ensuring your car insurance is up to date. You need to be a responsible driver to ensure your own safety and the safety of others around you.

Things You Need to Know to Buy the Best Car Insurance Online

Top Things You Need to Know About Buying Car Insurance

You are required by law to buy insurance for your car. Not only should you be protected against theft and damages due to accidents or natural calamities, but also from third party liability (just in case you are liable to pay damages for injuring a third party during an accident). Read on to learn how to choose and buy the best car insurance online.

How is Premium Determined?

Your premium depends on the following factors:

a) City of registration and domicile: Premiums are higher for urban areas with dense populations, or for areas near highways.
b) Make and model of the car: Large vehicles such as sports utility vehicles (SUVs) or commercial vehicles have to pay higher premiums as they tend to have more claims made against them.
c) Fuel type (petrol or diesel): Generally diesel vehicles have a 10%-15% higher premium.
d) Age of the vehicle: For vehicles less than five years old, depreciation is applied based on the years of use to the ex-showroom price to find the Insured Declared Value (IDV). For vehicles older than five years, the market price is taken as the IDV.
e) Claims history: If the car owner has previously claimed an insurance payout, then the premium will be higher.
f) Driver history: The age and profession of the driver is taken into account. If the car has multiple drivers, the premium for that car’s insurance goes up.

How Can I Reduce My Premium?

When buying vehicle insurance online, compare the rates and coverage offered by the different insurance companies. Also, take into account the claim settlement ratio. You can then choose the cheapest one given the coverage offered, and you are all set for online car insurance.

a) Voluntary deductibles: If you volunteer to pay a certain deductible, or can settle small claims on your own without claiming insurance, the cost of the premium for your car’s insurance can be reduced.

Driving Tips for Novices Looking for Best Car Insurance in India

Driving Tips for Novice drivers in India

India is among the fastest growing automotive markets in the world, with car sales going through the roof. As a result, more and more young drivers are taking to the roads, where they could become involved in major or minor accidents. This is why it is essential that novice drivers are assisted with some useful tips so that they can evolve into better drivers. While driving on a deserted road may seem like a piece of cake, the real trouble begins during rush hour traffic on incrowded roads. You can start by checking various car insurance policies and getting yourself the best car insurance in India to protect yourself and your vehicle.

Driving 101 for Novice Drivers

Here is your crash course in driving if you have recently learnt to drive a four wheeler. Remember to get yourself the best car insurance in India before you take your vehicle on Indian roads all by yourself.

• Correct driving distance:Tail-gating or driving too close to the car ahead is the recipe for disaster. Follow the two-second rule, wherein you establish a stationery reference point on the road. Cross the reference point a couple of second after the car ahead has passed it. Keeping a decent gap will not only increase your view of the road, it will give you enough room to come to a sudden halt, which is only too frequent on our roads. At the same time, lagging way behind the car ahead is also a no-no, since it tempts the driver behind you to suddenly overtake and get into that gap.

• Proper use of headlights, signals and hazard warnings: While driving on high beam may give you a great view of the road, it could momentarily dazzle the oncoming vehicle, increasing the risk of accidents or head-on collisions. Always drive on low beam while within the city and do not be a menace to others. Use high beam when there is no auxiliary lighting or on a dark highway. If there is low visibility due to fog, rain or mist, use your fog lamps rather than switching to high beam. Also, before changing lanes in fast moving traffic or while turning, do not forget your indicators, since the driver ahead or behind you will not know where you want to go.

Also, unnecessary overtaking or stopping in the middle of the road for nothing will only put you at further accident risk. Keep all distractions, like your cell phone, out of your sight while driving. Most importantly, do not forget to evaluate the various car insurance policies and get the best car insurance in India to stay protected at all times.

Renew Car Insurance Online, Car Insurance Calculator Online

Keep Calm and Drive...

Throughout the streets and highways of our country, there are apparent signs of unruly drivers and reckless road rage. Traffic congestion is already a cause of much frustration, which is only added to by drivers with little patience and always ready for a fight, beat up people and destroy others’ vehicles, since they cannot put a lid on their rage. If ever you have lost your cool while driving on our crowded and compact streets,you need to read on for tips to control road rage and be a safe driver. While you are at it,make sure you renew your car insurance online  with the use of a car insurance calculator online so you know exactly how much cover you need based on how driving habits.

Tips to Control Road Rage

Rather than causing obstructions and inconveniencing people on the road, read on for tips to keep your rising temper down while driving.

• Empathize with others: Try not to get irritated or angry if someone next to your causes some offence. Recall your prior mistakes and assume that the motorist was in a stressful situation or preoccupied. Losing your temper is easy, but reacting under its influence can prove to be troublesome. Therefore, don’t be a pain to others and empathize if they make a mistake, since you aren’t perfect either.

• Avoid the situation and minimize distractions: Your smartphone must not be used at all while you are driving, since it is a prime cause of distraction. Anything from taking a call to reading texts or updating your status on Facebook (yes, some people even do that while driving) can wait for a few minutes. Pull over to the side and then attend to your engagements.

• Listen to soft music and don’t drive when angry: If you are prone to flaring up at the drop of a hat, then it is best to put on some light, refreshing music to keep your mind calm. Pick up a few blues tracks and let them play while you drive to work. You will not only have a calm temperament, you will not be affected by the stupidity of other drivers. Needless to say that any level of intoxication, emotional disturbance and angry mood are top factors resulting in accidents. Never drive during such times or if you are alone, wait till you sober up or cool down.

Failure to adhere to these tips might result in the loss of your license and insurance papers. Make sure to renew car insurance online in a timely manner. Use a car insurance calculator online to ensure that you have the appropriate cover for your vehicle.