Comprehensive Car Insurance

A comprehensive car insurance is a plan package that offers coverage for the loss and damage sustained by both parties involved in the accident/mishap. It includes comprehensive insurance coverage for the damages incurred by the insured vehicle/car as well as third-party liabilities. It is an all-inclusive comprehensive insurance coverage plan.

Policyholders can enhance the coverage of a comprehensive policy with the help of a number of add-on covers such as zero depreciation cover, NCB cover, Bi-fuel kit cover etc., which are available with it. Although a comprehensive car insurance policy is not mandatory by law unlike a third party only car insurance policy, it is nonetheless recommended.

What are the Features of Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy?

Below mentioned are some key features of a comprehensive car insurance policy:

• Provides compensation for third party liabilities arising due to an accident caused by the policyholder/driver of the insured car.
• Compensation for the damages sustained by the insured vehicle is provided under a comprehensive car insurance policy.
• Personal Accident cover for the policyholder/driver is offered under a comprehensive car insurance policy.
• Provides coverage for third party liabilities and eliminates the need to purchase a third party insurance policy separately to insure the vehicle.
• Various add-on covers are available under a comprehensive car insurance policy. You can opt for add-on cover to enhance the coverage offered under the comprehensive car insurance policy.

Comprehensive Car Insurance Claim Procedure

Below mentioned are some steps that you can follow to file a claim for your comprehensive car insurance policy:

Step 1: Register your Claim: Visit the official website of your insurance company, ditch the paperwork and register your claim on the website, by logging into the website with the username and password used at the time of purchasing the policy.

Step 2: Fill the Form and Submit Documents: Download and fill the claim intimation form with correct details such as car insurance policy details, details of the insured vehicle, details of the owner of the insured car etc. and provide supporting documents along with the claim intimation. Upload the form and supporting documents on the website.

Step 3: Self Survey or Digital Survey: You can opt for self-inspection under which you can provide images while inspecting the vehicle for the damage caused to the vehicle. You can also opt for a digital survey which shall be conducted by the surveyor or workshop partner.

Step 4: Track your Claim: After you informed the insurance provider, filled the form, submitted the required documents and completed the survey, you can track your claim status on the website.

Who Should Buy Comprehensive Car Insurance?

Do you have a doubt if a comprehensive car insurance policy is suitable for you or not, below mentioned is the list of people who should consider purchasing a comprehensive car insurance policy:

1. New Car Owner: Purchasing a car is just like making a big investment. To ensure that your new car is insured fully, you should opt for comprehensive car insurance policy because this policy provides coverage for stand alone own-damage and third party liabilities.

2. Fancy Car Owner: Fancy cars are a huge investment and tend to get broken into or stolen more often as compared to regular cars. A person who owns a fancy car such as a BMW/Mercedes should consider a comprehensive car insurance policy to keep your prized possession secure from damages/theft.

3. Road Tripper: If you love to travel to different places and cities by your own car then you must have a comprehensive car insurance policy to safeguard your car from any emergency and you can also consider a roadside assistance add-on.

4. A resident of Metropolitan City: If you are a resident of a metropolitan area/city then you should consider purchasing a comprehensive car insurance policy to safeguard your car from the risk of accidents, traffic, pollution etc.

5. Overprotective Car Owner: If you are a person who easily gets worried even if you see a single scratch on your car, then you must have a comprehensive car insurance policy because this policy will provide peace of mind while you are driving.

Why Should You Upgrade To Comprehensive Car Insurance?

People quite often make the mistake of purchasing a third party car insurance policy because it’s very affordable and mandatory. What they miss out on is that a third party car insurance policy does not provide compensation for cost of repairs in case of small accidents or damages to the insured vehicle. Despite the fact that a comprehensive car insurance policy may be more expensive than a third party insurance, it does provide more coverage. Below mentioned are some reasons that justify why one should consider a comprehensive insurance policy for their car:

1. Value for Money

When it comes to cost, comprehensive covers prove to be more economical and cost-effective in comparison to the third party plan. A comprehensive policy might look to be a little costlier than third-party insurance, but when you compare the level of damages they insure, the former proves to be the value for money option.

2. Covers Car In Several Situations

Unlike the third party car insurance cover, a comprehensive insurance policy covers your car too along with your third party liabilities. From theft, accident, fire, natural calamities and man-made disasters to liability towards the third party, this cover takes care of everything.

3. Enhancement of Coverage

The third-party car insurance cover gives a limited coverage option, while the comprehensive car insurance gives an extensive cover which can further be extended with the inclusion of add-on covers. By paying a little more premium you can get as many add-ons as suits you.

Is Comprehensive Car Coverage Full Coverage?

A comprehensive car insurance policy can provide maximum coverage to your car. Especially when you customise the policy by adding a suitable add-on to the policy. Comprehensive policy covers damage to the car due to accidents, car theft, losses to a third party, damage to the car due to natural damages, personal injuries or death caused in an accident, damages caused in a fire. Comprehensive car coverage is full coverage.

Is it Worth Getting Fully Comprehensive Car insurance?

A comprehensive car insurance policy can be a blessing for all car owners as it provides monetary help on repair or replacement expenses of your car in case of accidents or damage to your own car. A comprehensive car insurance policy saves your money, provides coverage to your car and covers you legally as it already provides cover for third-party damages. It is safe to say that it is worth it to have a fully comprehensive car insurance policy.

What All Is Covered in Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy?

Below mentioned are some things which are covered under a comprehensive car insurance policy:

• Theft of the insured vehicle
• Own damages incurred by the insured vehicle in any road accident, natural/man-made calamity, theft, fire or any other mishap.
• Third party liabilities such as bodily injuries, demise of the third party or property damage of the third party.
• Personal Accident cover for the policyholder/driver.

What Is Not Covered Under Comprehensive Car Insurance?

Even if you hold a comprehensive car insurance policy, here are some coverage which will not be covered under the plan:

• Damages caused to the insured vehicle while driving without a valid license.
• Damages to the insured vehicle outside the geographical area.
• Depreciation and ordinary wear and tear of the vehicle.
• Mechanical or electrical breakdown of the insured vehicle.
• The accident occurred when the driver was under the influence of intoxicants.
• Any loss or damage due to mutiny, war, or nuclear attacks and other events that are beyond compensation.

Comprehensive Insurance Vs Third Party Car Insurance (Comparison)

Below given are the differences between the Comprehensive Insurance Coverage and Third Party Insurance Coverage:

Comprehensive Insurance Vs Zero Depreciation Car Insurance (Comparison)

Below mentioned are differences between a zero depreciation and comprehensive car insurance:

What are the Benefits of Purchasing Comprehensive Car Insurance?

Here are the benefits of purchasing a comprehensive car insurance plan:

1. Highest Level of Protection: Car insurance adds a layer of protection for both the policyholder and his/her vehicle. It does this by compensating for any losses due to a mishap and thus giving financial stability and peace of mind in such times of crisis.

2. Covers Liabilities: In case of a mishap where the policyholder is at fault, he/she will require third-party insurance to cover the costs. This type of cover is compulsory. With a comprehensive cover, third party liabilities are taken care of.

3. Own-Damage: In the event of a mishap the insurance will also cover the cost of the vehicle’s damage. This includes damage caused due to natural or manmade calamities, vandalism, accidents and theft.

4. Single-Premium: The biggest advantage of a comprehensive plan is the coverage it provides for both third party liabilities and own-damage under a single premium making it the most hassle-free way to remain insured.

5. Add-ons and NCB: With a comprehensive cover you can purchase add-on covers to further strengthen the policy. Additionally, you can also receive an NCB for claim-free years on the own-damage cover within the plan.

What Add-ons Can You Purchase with Comprehensive Car Insurance?

One major advantage of purchasing a comprehensive car insurance policy is that, under this type of car insurance policy you can choose to opt for add-on cover to enhance the coverage of the car insurance. Following is the list of add-on covers available a comprehensive car insurance policy:

1. Zero Depreciation Cover
2. Engine Protection Cover
3. No Claim Bonus Protection Cover
4. Roadside Assistance Cover
5. Return To Invoice Cover
6. Daily Allowance Cover
7. Passenger Cover
8. Consumables Cover
9. Tyre Protect Cover
10. Key Replacement Cover
11. Loss Of Personal Belongings Cover

The add-on covers provided by the comprehensive policy will help you enhance the coverage of your policy. You can choose an add-on cover according to your requirements and budget.

For example, if you opt for a roadside assistance add-on cover with your comprehensive car insurance policy, you will be provided with 24x7 assistance in a situation where your car breaks down in the middle of the way. If you own this add-on cover, the car insurance company will provide you assistance in different ways such as towing the car, arranging a mechanic, arrangement of alternative vehicles, delivering fuel, managing a hotel stay, and so on.

What is NCB in a Comprehensive Car Insurance?

Comprehensive plans have higher premiums than third-party insurance. This is because the comprehensive plan includes an own-damage cover and thus provides much wider coverage. Additionally, the No Claim Bonus or NCB is offered on the own-damage cover within the plan. The NCB is a reward given by the insurance provider to the policyholder for a claim-free year. It is accumulative in nature and goes up to 50% in the 5th consecutive claim-free year. The following chart explains how the NCB is calculated:

How Comprehensive Car Insurance Premium Calculated?

When it comes to finding the best way to compute the premium of a comprehensive car insurance policy, the premium calculator is considered the best option. A premium calculator is an online tool designed to help you know the correct premium for your car. By entering correct and accurate car details such as car’s make, model and variant, manufacturing year, registration date, RTO location, etc., along with the status of your No Claim Bonus (NCB), you can easily find customised results from this calculator. If you know the right amount of premium for your car, it can assist you to opt for the most suitable premium quote as per your needs and budget.

However, you can also follow a simple formula to calculate the premium amount of your car insurance policy which is given below:

Own Damage Premium – (No Claim Bonus + Discounts) + Cost of Add-ons + Third Party Premium as Fixed by the IRDAI = Comprehensive Car Insurance Premium

Factors That Determine Car Insurance Premium

The premium of a comprehensive car insurance policy is highly affected by the following factors:

• Age of the Car Owner – People below the age of 25 years are considered risky drivers. Therefore, insurance companies offer car insurance at a higher premium to individuals in the age group of 18 years to 25 years.
• Make, Model and Variant of the Car – Insurance companies offer insurance to high-end cars such as BMW, Audi, etc., at a higher premium when compared to budget cars such as Alto, Santro, and so on, due to the higher value of their parts.
• Registration Location – The registration location also affects the premium cost as the cars are insured at a higher premium in urban areas where traffic density is higher in comparison to the suburban areas as the urban locations are more prone to accidents.
• Type of Fuel – In comparison to petrol or diesel cars, a CNG fitted car is charged a higher premium by the insurance companies.
• Manufacturing Year – With age the depreciation reduces the value of the car in the market which ultimately decreases its Insured Declared Value (IDV). The insurers charge a lesser premium amount for cars with lesser IDV.
• Discounts – Different types of discounts tend to decrease the premium of car insurance. For example, you can get a 2.5% discount on the premium, if your car acquires an ARAI approved anti-theft device. You are also entitled to get a discount for being a member of the Automobile Association of India (AAI).
• No Claim Bonus (NCB) – The No Claim Bonus is provided by insurance companies to the insured person for making no claim in a policy year. This benefit is given in terms of discount which ranges from 20% to 50% as it accumulates with every claim-free year.

How to Reduce Car Insurance Premium?

When you know the components that affect the premium of your car insurance policy, it becomes easier to cut Comprehensive Car Insurance Costs. Here are the ways to reduce your premium:

• To drive sensibly and earn a No Claim Bonus is the best possible way to get your premium reduced without any hassle.
• Opt for a reasonable IDV of your car. Selecting a higher IDV can get you a higher claim but for that, you also have to pay a higher premium. So, choose the IDV accordingly.
• You can reduce your premium by gaining discounts by becoming a member of the AAI and by installing ARAI approved anti-theft devices in your car.
• Drop all the unnecessary car insurance add-on covers that increase the amount of your premium and come less in use.
• Renew your policy before its expiry date. Delaying the renewal process can make you go through a paid inspection, get you penalised to renew your policy and could make you lose your NCB.
• Try to raise no claim for minor expenses arising out of an accident, as it will terminate your No Claim Bonus (NCB) benefit and the premium for your next year will increase again. Hence, try to bear small accidental expenses or of any other sort from your own pocket without raising any claim.

How to Purchase a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy?

The following steps will help you to buy a comprehensive insurance policy from InsuranceDekho

Step 1: Visit our website InsuranceDekho

Step 2: In the ‘Get Your Quote’ section provide your car registration number or other details such as its make model and year of registration. Then select ‘proceed’.

Step 3: Enter your personal details, i.e., your name and mobile number and all the quotes for comprehensive car insurance plans will be visible on your screen.

Step 4: Compare the quotes and select the policy that suits your needs and price point.

Step 5: Make the payment for the policy of your choice and the policy document will be sent to your registered Email ID.