Going for a vehicle insurance is not optional, it is mandatory under the law. Users can choose between two broad types of car insurance covers available – i.e. Third Party car Insurance and Comprehensive car Insurance. Each of these insurance types cover different needs. Therefore, it is important to know what each type of insurance offers before arriving at a conclusion on which insurance type you want to go with. In this post, we’ll discuss in further detail about what each of these insurance types offer, advantages of each as well as exclusions.
Third Party Insurance is a stripped down version or a basic insurance that will cover damages caused to another vehicle due to your fault. It does not cover damages to your vehicle. A Third Party liability cover is made mandatory in India under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
On the other hand, a Comprehensive car Insurance, as the name suggests, is a Comprehensive cover not just for damages caused to Third Party vehicles but to damages caused to the insured’s vehicle as well. A Comprehensive car Insurance covers for damages that are unrelated to an accident such as damages caused from natural disasters, fire, vandalism, etc. The policy cover can be further fortified by opting for add-ons like engine protection, accessories cover, medical expenses, etc. If you intend to take end-to-end coverage for your vehicle this policy type suits you best.
Now that we have discussed the basics of the two broad car insurance types, let us look at the details of the inclusions and exclusions within each of these insurance policies.
Comprehensive Car Insurance Inclusions*:
Secures the insured against loss arising to the vehicle and/or its accessories from:
a. Fire,
b. Explosion
c. Self-ignition
d. Lightning
e. Burglary
f. Riot
g. Vandalism
h. Natural disasters such as cyclone, earthquake, flood, etc.
i. Terrorism
j. Damages caused during transit by road, rail, inland waterways, elevator or air
k. Damage caused by animals
*This is not intended to be a Comprehensive list and should not be treated as one. Inclusions vary from insurer to insurer. Therefore, it is important to verify the inclusions provided for before going for policy purchase.
Comprehensive Car Insurance Exclusions:
a. Natural wear and tear
b. Depreciation
c. Damages caused due to technical snag
d. Damage to tyres and tubes
e. Drunken driving
f. Mechanical breakdown
g. Damage caused by a person driving without a valid license
h. Damage caused due to driving under the influence of drugs
i. Damage caused by war
Third Party Car Insurance Inclusions**:
Secures the insured against the following:
a. Third Party vehicle damage cover
b. Third Party property damage cover
**This is not intended to be a Comprehensive list and should not be treated as one. Inclusions vary from insurer to insurer. Therefore, it is important to verify the inclusions provided for before going for policy purchase.
Third Party Car Insurance Exclusions:
The following are not covered under Third Party Motor Insurance:
a. Damages to self
b. Damages caused to own vehicle
c. Damages to accessories
d. Natural wear and tear
e. Theft
f. Vandalism
g. Damages from natural calamities
h. Damages arising from terrorism
i. Damages resulting from drunken driving
A Comprehensive Motor Insurance policy is more broad-based and secures you against a variety of risks that could result out of an accident or otherwise factors that are out of your control – natural disasters, theft, etc. A Third Party Motor Insurance, on the other hand, only covers liabilities resulting from an accident and restricts coverage to the party affected other than self. Your decision to choose one of these two types of cover could be based on the extent of cover you require. The cost of your vehicle could be a determining factor too. If your vehicle is expensive, then the resultant risk is higher too. Therefore, it would be advisable to go for a comprehensive cover in that case. If on the other hand, your vehicle is not too expensive, it may not be worth paying a high premium to get a comprehensive cover. You should weigh your options based on your priorities and go for one of these two covers – of course, you can avail add-ons based on your specific needs.
Now that we know the difference between third party & comprehensive car insurance, compare and buy car insurance online