Saving Car Insurance Cost

The car insurance buying process is not transparent in India.Lack of awareness adds to agony. The different sourcing channels offer different premium rates for the same plan.Car Insurance premium is considerable cost over a period of life of car.It is very much possible to save on auto insurance premium by speaking to various insurance companies. Individuals should speak directly to insurers than through brokers as it is likely that broker may not get excited with individual car deals.Each insurance company is allowed to offer discounts up to 50percent. One should not hesitate to ask or grab the same by switching to new insurer.

Need of the hour is portability. No claim bonus can be transferred or migrated to a new insurer. This makes auto insurance price sensitive. One should opt for it without fail and should not hesitate to claim. 

Insurance brokers may handy in this affair. There is no cost towards brokers as they earn not from buyer but from insurance company. Unfortunate part is broker channel is still in its infancy. Normally new insurance companies offer good discount as they are in acquisition mode. Old insurance companies may not offer discounts as focus is directed towards balancing top as well as bottom line.Our study reflects premiums offered by car dealers are not optimum in many cases.The car manufacturer seldom allow variations in pricing from one dealer to the other.The dealer is not in position to give additional discount as it also has to do with quality assurance and service guarantee by the dealer. New car buyer are gullible targets as they do not shop for insurance. The dealers do not budge as insurance companies offer 50 percent discount o car dealers for selling new cars. It is observed that if ruckus is treated by the new buyer, good discount is offered as there is enough leeway to reduce insurance premium.Lack of transparency about premiums makes it difficult to offer comparisons and purchase from web aggregator's unlike life and health insurance products. Many insurance companies are reluctant to share details to licensed web aggregator's.

Insurance practice has undergone sea change. Prior to 2007, vehicle type, vehicle age, engine capacity, price and zone of registration were  used for premium calculations. After insurance pricing was de-tariffed, additional features or parameters were added like car model. More expensive cars tend to carry high discounts as they are driven by chauffeurs, while cheaper cars are driven by the less experienced drivers. Cars used for rentals like Indica, Sumo, and Toyota are charged higher premiums. Luxury cars and cars using imported spare parts attract higher insurance premiums.

Presently IRDA motor tariff has defined two zones- metro and non metros. Non metros have less premium.  Fuel option also determines premiums. Petrol cars are charged less premium compared to CNG, LPG and Diesel as it is presumed mileage undertaken is more than petrol. Security and safety systems in a car attract reduced premiums. This a valid reason to opt for comprehensive insurance than third party insurance.

The Indian auto insurance industry is facing two main hurdles in profit based pricing namely existing law and availability of data. Vehicle is covered and not the driver in the present insurance contract. In USA , drivers are covered and not vehicles. In USA, premiums are charged based on driver type. For instance age, marital status,occupation, credit history and distanced travelled. India has long way to go.  There is no database available. RTO records are not yet computerized thereby adding to difficulty for the insurance companies. Even IRDA is far from gathering required data.Motor Vehicle Act needs amendment as to drivers clause and may happen in recent future.

The claim process is also complex. The important aspects to bear in mind are as under:

• Go for comprehensive plan to cover passengers and not only third party and damage to vehicles by paying  additional premiums.
• Disclose your claim history to your new insurance company.
• No claim bonus can be transferred to new insurance company and do it without fail. 
• Avoid making claims in knock to knock situation where damage to your car due to fault of other person if claimed will lead to losing no claim bonus.
• Arrange to get all papers, certificate, policy within 15 days of processing which act as proof of insurance and are handy in claiming insurance. 
• While selling cars do put the date and time of sale on memorandum of understanding as accidents may happen on same.

We will be observing sea changes in car insurance policy in India in recent future as insurance companies are keen to adopt changes.Let's wait and watch!