How to Check Car Insurance Policy Status Online?

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May 6, 2024
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You do not need to wait in long queues or hold on to lengthy phone calls to get basic information about your motor insurance. Digital services offered by the government and insurance providers make it easy for you to have a secure financial cushion in addition to obliging with the legal requirement of owning a vehicle. Here you will learn how to check your car insurance status online through different means so that you can stay compliant and avoid missing the deadline for your policy renewal.

What Is the Importance of Checking Vehicle Insurance Online?

It is necessary to stay up-to-date on the insurance status of your four-wheeler, as it is illegal to drive a car without active insurance as per the Motor Vehicle Act. By performing a car insurance status check online, you can enjoy the following benefits:

  1. You will never miss your policy renewal deadline if you know how to check your car insurance policy status. This helps maintain your credibility and reduces the chances of your claim rejection due to delayed or missed payments.
  2. You can avoid potential legal and financial problems that may arise by driving a vehicle without active insurance.
  3. You can enjoy coverage for the loss of your vehicle or any other financial loss that may arise if you are involved in an accident.
How to Check Car Insurance Validity?

With most of the official processes being digitised, you can easily check your insurance details online. There are mainly two ways that you can use to check car insurance status online:

  1. Government portals and mobile applications:

    Official websites and mobile applications launched by the government of India make it easy to avail numerous services online from the comfort of your home. These include the Parivahan Sewa portal, the mParivahan app, and the IIB portal. You can use your vehicle’s registration number to retrieve your policy information.

  2. Website and mobile application of the insurance provider:

    Another alternative to check your insurance status online is to go to your insurance provider’s website to check for relevant details. Some insurance providers also provide a mobile app for their customers to access policy related information. You may require your policy number, vehicle registration number, mobile number, and other details to access your motor insurance policy information through the insurer’s website.

Process to Check Car Insurance Status Online on Parivahan Sewa?

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to check your four-wheeler insurance status online through the Parivahan Sewa portal:

  • Visit the Parivahan Sewa website.
  • Select ‘Know your Vehicle Details’ under the ‘Information Services’ tab from the navigation bar if you are using a computer or through the Menu option if you are using your mobile phone.
  • Enter your mobile number and verification code to login or create your account on the portal if you do not have one.
  • After logging in, you will be required to enter the one-time password (OTP) received on your mobile number to authenticate.
  • Click on ‘Vahan Search’ after entering your vehicle registration number and the verification code in the given form.

On the next page, you will be able to see your car insurance policy number, validity, and insurance provider, among other details about your car. Consider logging in after some time in case there is an error message on the page, or you are unable to login through the portal.

How to Check Car Insurance Status Online on the mParivahan Mobile App?

To check your vehicle insurance status online, you can use the mParivahan mobile app using the following steps:

  • Download the mParivahan mobile application developed by the National Informatics Centre on your device.
  • Sign in or create your account to log in.

Your vehicle insurance status can be checked online easily through virtual registration certificate (RC) document. You can view the virtual RC using the following options:

  • Through the ‘Alerts’ section:
    • You may be able to see your insurance details for all your registered vehicles under the ‘Alerts’ section with the vehicle number and validity date. The next page shows the details of your car, including the policy number and validity.
  • Through the ‘My Virtual RC’ button:
    • Enter your details to view your car’s policy details, among other things. Alternatively, you can view your virtual registration certificate from the options given here.
  • Through ‘My Documents’ option:
    • Click on ‘My Documents’ on the top navigation bar on home screen.
    • Select ‘View’ option from the drop-down menu by clicking on the three dots adjacent to the vehicle number for which you want to check the insurance status.
  • Through the search bar:
    • Select ‘Insurance’ from the drop-down list and enter your vehicle number in the given space. This is an easy way to check insurance status by vehicle number on the mParivahan mobile app.
    • Click on the search icon to view your insurance validity.

Please note that you may have some difficulties while accessing your insurance information through the mParivahan app in the following circumstances:

  1. Your vehicle information is not updated in the online RTO database by the RTO office.
  2. You have recently bought, transferred, or sold the vehicle.
  3. The vehicle number you entered is incorrect or not registered with RTO yet.
  4. There is a problem with the internet connection.
Steps to Check Car Insurance Status Online on VAHAN

VAHAN is the national vehicle registry of India that stores all the details related to each registered vehicle for regulators and citizens under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

Here are some simple steps that you can follow to check your car insurance status online through the VAHAN e-services portal:

  • Visit the official VAHAN portal.
  • Select ‘Know Your Vehicle Details’ from the menu.
  • Enter your mobile number and the verification code shown on the screen to log in to your account.
  • Enter the OTP received on your mobile number and click on ‘Vahan Search’ after putting in the required details.

The process is similar to how you check car insurance status through Parivahan Sewa portal, and you may be directed to this portal if you type in Vahan portal in the search bar on your browser.

What Is the Process to Check Car Insurance Status Online on the IIB Portal?

The Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) of India is a data repository under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). For car insurance status checks online, you can also use the IIB’s portal—V-Seva—in case you are involved in a vehicular accident. Here are some guidelines that you must adhere to in order to check your car’s insurance status online through IIB:

  • You must be aware of the registration details of the vehicle in order to check its details.
  • You can check a vehicle’s insurance information a maximum of three times using the same mobile number and email ID.
  • It can take up to 2 months for the IIB to receive your vehicle’s insurance information from the insurer.
  • You cannot check the insurance information of vehicles that were insured on or before 31st March 2010.
  • Insurance providers only submit the vehicle chassis and engine number in the case of a new vehicle.

You can use the simple steps mentioned below to check your car’s insurance status:

You can retrieve the details of your car on the next screen if it was registered in the IIB database. If this method does not work for your vehicle, consider using the Parivahan Sewa portal or VAHAN e-services.

Check the Car Insurance Status Online at the RTO

There may not be a dedicated Regional Transport Office (RTO) website for your state, but you can rely on the official Parivahan Sewa or VAHAN e-services portal or mParivahan mobile app. You can use the steps mentioned in the previous sections to check the status of your car insurance online.

To gather your insurance information through the RTO, you need to visit the RTO in your city and follow the standard process as guided by the officials there. You will be required to share your vehicle registration number, among a few other details, to obtain information about your vehicle insurance.

How to Check Car Insurance Status Online on SBI General?

If you have taken your car insurance from SBI General, you can easily check the insurance details of your car online by downloading your policy using the steps mentioned below:

  • Visit the SBI General website.
  • Go to the menu by clicking on the hamburger icon and select the ‘Download Policy’ option from the ‘Quick Links’ section.
  • Click on the ‘Motor Policy’ option from the list.
  • Enter the required details, such as your policy number and car registration number/last 5 digits of your engine number, in the given fields. Enter the correct captcha and click on ‘Next’ to proceed.
  • After confirming your registered email and mobile number, download the policy through the option given on this page.
To Sum it Up

Checking car insurance status online is not only a luxury that is accessible to all through the digitisation of the information but also a necessity to ensure compliance with guidelines and have a financial safety net.

If you are thinking about getting new car insurance online or changing your vehicle insurance, consider SBI General, which has a claim settlement ratio of up to 98%. Use a car insurance calculator to estimate your premium based on your car’s model and other details.

FAQs

Q. How can I check my car insurance status online?

A. You can use the mParivahan app, Parivahan Sewa portal, IIB portal (in case of accidents), and the insurance provider’s official website to check your car insurance status online.

Q. Are there any benefits to checking car insurance status online?

A. You can easily access the insurance policy details of the other vehicle in case you are involved in an unfortunate accident. This can help you make a legitimate claim for your damages without much hassle.

Q. Why can’t I access my car insurance details on the IIB portal?

A. Usually, there are two reasons that may prevent you from accessing your insurance status on the IIB portal online:

  • You have purchased a new car recently, and the insurer has not started the process of submitting the information to the IIB.
  • The information is in the process of being updated on the IIB database.

Q. Can I download my insurance policy documents?

A.Yes, you can go to your insurance provider’s official website and download the policy. You can check your insurance status online using your vehicle registration number only.

Q. Where can I find my car insurance policy number online?

A. You can use your car’s registration number and mobile number to check your insurance policy details on the mParivahan mobile app, Parivahan Sewa portal, etc. The steps to find your insurance details are explained above.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.

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Motor Insurance

Benefits of Car Insurance

Benefits of Car Insurance

Owning a car is a matter of pride. A four-wheeler is an asset that needs to be protected. Hence, the need for car insurance arises. A car insurance policy is essentially a contract signed between you and the insurance company. Under this contract, the insurer offers you cover against any financial loss arising due to damage or theft of your insured vehicle. In exchange, you have to pay a small amount of money as premium at fixed intervals of time (usually every year). If you are still not convinced about buying a motor insurance policy, then take a look at some of the key benefits of car insurance to understand its need better:

Legal compliance:

Buying a car insurance policy is necessary as third-party cover is mandatory for all vehicles in India. According to the terms of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, driving a car without third-party insurance is a punishable offence in the country and can lead to heavy penalties. Hence, buying car insurance ensures legal compliance, which is one of the biggest advantages of motor insurance.

Saves money:

A car insurance policy can cover most of the repair expenses on your vehicle and can reduce those big garage bills in the aftermath of a mishap, thereby helping you save a lot of money. This is the primary reason why insurance is bought and is, without question, the biggest benefit of a car insurance policy.

Third-party liabilities:

Third-party insurance protects you against any third-party liabilities in case of an accident involving your car. This means that if your car hits another vehicle on the road and damages it, your third-party liability cover will help you compensate the owner of the other vehicle to the extent of damages suffered by him/her.

Minimises liability arising due to loss of lives:

Not just property or car damage, third-party car insurance also pays for the other person's injury or death in case of an accident. It protects you from legal repercussions, which is one of the major advantages of car insurance.

Reimbursement in case of theft:

A stolen vehicle can burn a deep hole in your pocket as well in your heart. With Total Loss Car Insurance, if your car is termed as a total loss (after theft or an accident), then the insurance company pays you an amount equal to the current market value of your vehicle.

Cashless claims:

One of the key benefits of motor insurance is the cashless claims facility that offers you the benefit of getting your vehicles repaired without paying money at any of the network garages of the insurer. The reimbursement of expenses is directly handled between the insurance provider and its network garages. You just drop your vehicle there after the mishap, do the necessary paperwork and drive your car out when it is ready without paying any bills.

Roadside assistance:

A car insurance policy can come with add-on roadside assistance cover that can prove to be extremely useful while handling vehicle breakdowns in the middle of the road, especially at odd times. With a Roadside Assistance cover for your car, you can simply contact your insurer, inform it about the breakdown and your location. The rest will be handled by the insurer. It will send you timely help by coordinating with its network garages and mechanics. You just need to wait in your vehicle and not worry about managing the situation.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.

Motor Insurance

Types of Bike Insurance

A two–wheeler allows you to travel with a lot of freedom by facilitating easy traffic navigation and convenient parking. If you are a bike owner, you must opt for a correct bike insurance policy to protect your finances in case of any unforeseen circumstances. There are various types of bike insurance policies available in the market today. To help you choose, we’ll explain what each of these policy types can do for you. But first, let’s understand what bike insurance is.

What is Bike Insurance?

Navigating busy roads can expose your two–wheeler to risks and accidents. If an accident or collision occurs, it can cause severe injuries to people and damage your bike. A bike insurance plan covers you against the expenses you would otherwise face in paying for these damages and losses. As a policyholder, you are required to pay timely premiums in exchange for the insurance coverage offered.

What Are the Types of Bike Insurance?

The types of 2–wheeler insurance available are:

  • Third–party liability–only cover: According to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a bike should mandatorily be insured for any liability that could arise due to loss or damage suffered by third parties in an accident caused by the insured bike. Thus, this type of bike insurance plan is popularly known as third–party bike insurance. Under this policy, if an accident is caused by the insured bike, then damage done to a third–party vehicle, or injuries and loss of life caused to a third–party, shall be reimbursed by the insurer.

    Keep in mind that a third–party insurance policy does not cover own damages. In case of an accident, the damages to the insured vehicle would be borne by the owner under this policy. A personal accident cover is also a mandatory requirement for all motorists, and this has to be purchased with third–party insurance if the bike owner is already not covered under such a plan.

  • Standalone own damage cover: This is a type of two–wheeler insurance policy that covers damages caused to the insured bike. It covers the bike against natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes along with man–made calamities like theft. However, this policy does not cover third–party liabilities. You can buy a standalone own damage insurance policy along with the mandatory third–party insurance policy.

  • Comprehensive two–wheeler insurance: With a comprehensive two–wheeler insurance policy, you can avail a wider coverage. This type of policy is a combination of the own–damage cover for the insured bike and third–party insurance. You get covered against third–party claims and own damages in accidents, natural calamities, and manmade disasters. You can also opt to enhance your policy with add–on covers such as consumables cover, engine protection, and roadside assistance, among others.

For peace of mind on the road, buy bike insurance today. Before making the final decision, you must compare the coverage, policy options, and premium rates of bike insurance offered by different insurers. Also, check the credibility and reliability of the insurer beforehand. An insurance company with a proactive customer support team will help you avoid any inconvenience at a later stage.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.

Motor Insurance

What Is Bike Insurance Claim Process?

India has one the highest number of two-wheelers in the world. Most two-wheeler owners are familiar with the idea of bike insurance as it is mandatory by law. Yet, surprisingly, the thought of filing a claim under the motor insurance policy sends jitters to many.

That’s because the bike insurance claim process is seen as a lengthy and complex procedure. Whereas, in reality, it is extremely straightforward and simple if you have all the relevant documents in place.

So, let us give you a detailed explanation of the two-wheeler insurance claim process to help you prepare for any such adverse situation that may arise in the future.

What is a Bike Insurance Claim?

A bike insurance claim is a formal demand made to the motor insurance company to compensate you for any expenses incurred due to damages to your vehicle arising out of theft or accident.

In fact, not just your vehicle, under a two-wheeler insurance procedure a claim can also be raised to demand compensation for property damage or personal injury related to a third party in case your bike caused a road mishap.

When it comes to the motor claim process, there are two types – cashless and reimbursement. The motor insurance claim process can be different for both types of claims. Let’s understand their meaning:

Cashless claim: In case your bike gets damaged after an accident and is taken for repair to an authorised garage, which is a part of the network of your insurance company, then you are eligible for cashless settlement of the claim. In a cashless settlement, your repair bill would be paid to the garage directly by your insurer without your involvement. It means you can just drive out of the garage without paying any penny if your claim is accepted and settled. ■ Reimbursement claim: If your bike is repaired at a garage that is not a part of the network of your insurance company, then you would have to settle all the bills yourself from your pocket. Later, you can ask your insurer for reimbursement of expenses by submitting the bills.

Documents required to file a claim

You can make the vehicle insurance claim process completely hassle-free and smooth if you collate all the required documents and bills carefully and submit them along with your claim form. Here’s a list of the key documents required for a bike insurance claim procedure:

■ Duly filled and signed claim form

■ Copy of the registration certificate (RC) of the insured bike.

■ Copy of the driving license of the owner/driver of the bike.

■ Copy of the insurance policy document.

■ Copy of FIR, where needed (in case of theft or third-party bike damage).

■ Repair bills and receipts.

■ Other documents as demanded by the insurer (based on specific situations).

Steps for two-wheeler insurance claim process

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand the auto insurance claim process:

1. In case of a road accident, first, take note of the registration numbers of the other vehicles involved in the mishap.

2. Immediately intimate the insurance provider about the incident (theft or accident) and the upcoming claim. You can do this by calling on the customer care numbers of your insurance provider or by email or even at your insurer’s official website.

3. The insurance provider will ask for some basic details and provide you with a claim reference number for future correspondences. It will also guide you on the motor insurance claim procedure, document requirements and network garages.

4. You also need to visit the police station and file an FIR in case of theft or third-party claims.

5. Your insurer will then assign you an official inspector/surveyor who will examine the damage sustained by your bike. The surveyor may visit the location of the incident or your chosen garage.

6. Fill up and submit the claim form to your surveyor along with the required documents like driving license, RC book, police FIR, etc.

7. Based on the inspection of damages, the surveyor prepares a claim estimate and sends it to the insurer.

8. In the case of cashless settlements, the repair work starts at the network garage as soon as the insurer approves the claim estimate. After the repair is done, the insurer settles the final bill with the garage directly.

9. In case of reimbursements, you need to pay the garage yourself and then submit all the bills and receipts to the insurer later.

10. After due verification, the insurance company settles the claim usually within 30 days of receiving the last necessary document.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.

Motor Insurance

Bike insurance transfer to other person

One of the most common mistakes people make when they sell their bikes or two-wheelers is that they remember transferring ownership but forget to transfer the motor insurance policy to the buyer of the vehicle. Even those who remember are not aware of the process of how to transfer bike insurance from one person to another.

As a result, people sometimes just let the insurance policy be, thinking there will be no consequences. But that’s a myth. Not transferring the insurance policy to the new owner can lead to legal hassles for both the seller and the buyer and may also leave the bike without any insurance cover. Let’s see how.

What is bike insurance transfer?

Two-wheeler insurance transfer essentially refers to the process of transferring the insurance policy in the name of the new owner of the bike.

Once the two-wheeler insurance transfer is done, the bike insurance policy document should carry the name and details of the buyer of the vehicle and not that of the seller.

Under Section 157 of the Motor Vehicles Act, it is the responsibility of the buyer to apply to the insurance company requesting transfer of the bike insurance policy to his name. This application must be made within 14 days of buying the vehicle.

Remember that the two-wheeler insurance name transfer process can be initiated only after the bike ownership title has been transferred and the new RC book of the bike shows the name of the new owner.

If the new RC book is not yet available, the buyer can also submit the proof of transfer of ownership as a stop-gap arrangement. But he would have to compulsorily submit the new RC book to the insurer as soon as it is available.

Why should you transfer your bike insurance policy?

Transferring the bike insurance policy is very important both for the seller and buyer of the bike.

Suppose if the policy is not transferred, and the insured vehicle gets involved in a road accident, the insurance company would not clear even a single claim. That’s because the name on the policy document would not match the name of the new owner of the vehicle.

So, the buyer of the vehicle would have to bear all the expenses from his own pocket, whether it’s related to own damage or any third-party liability.

Not just the buyer, the seller can also land in trouble. In case of an accident, the court might get involved if both the insurer and/or the new owner of the bike refuses to pay any financial liabilities to the third party. Then, the court may also send notice to the seller to compensate for some of the losses incurred by the third party as the insurance policy still has his name on it.

Moreover, the seller also loses out on the no-claim bonus (NCB) earned on the bike insurance policy in case it is not transferred. NCB is a bonus you earn for not making any claim in the previous policy years.

For the seller, this bonus can translate into premium discounts on the insurance policy for his new bike. If the old policy is not transferred, the seller cannot avail the NCB certificate at all. Thus, the chances of getting discounts on any new insurance policy are lost.

Here’s how to transfer bike insurance from one person to another:

Now coming to the key part -- how to transfer two-wheeler insurance? Below is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

1. As soon as the transfer of ownership is done, the buyer needs to inform the insurance company about the same within the next 14 days and apply for bike insurance transfer.

2. As the new owner, you can also change to some other two-wheeler insurance plan by the insurer that suits your requirements better.

3. After you have chosen the new plan, fill up the proposal form giving details about the transfer of ownership of the bike.

4. The key documents that need to be submitted along with the proposal form include the new RC book of the bike or proof of transfer of ownership, original policy document, no-objection certificate from the previous policyholder, and address/identity proofs of the buyer along with some passport-sized photographs.

5. You should also submit Form 29/30/Sale deed along with the above-mentioned documents. Form 29 is the notice of transfer of ownership of a bike. This form notifies the Regional Transport Office (RTO) about the sale of the motorcycle. Whereas Form 30 is the report of transfer of ownership of the bike. It functions as the confirmation of Form 29.

6. After all the documents are submitted, the insurer will initiate the transfer process. In some cases, the insurance company might send an investigator to create an inspection report of the bike before the transfer is completed.

7. The buyer would need to pay a nominal transfer fee to transfer the policy in his name.

8. Once the fee is paid and everything is verified by the insurer, the policy would be transferred to the new owner of the bike.

Disclaimer: The above information is indicative in nature. For more details on the risk factor, terms and conditions, please refer to the Sales Brochure and Policy Wordings carefully before concluding a sale.