Factors Which Determine Your Motor Insurance Premium
A question that is frequently asked is how vehicle insurance premium is calculated. Most people agree with the insurer on the premium amount set, but often fail to understand how the premium amount was calculated. Some of the factors that determine the premium to be paid by policyholders for motor vehicle insurance plans include:
Personal accident.
Own damage cover.
Third-party cover.
Riders.
Third-Party Cover
The reason why third-party liability vehicle insurance is mandatory in India is that it protects the insurer from any liability caused due to accidents. However, it must be noted that this cover does not include repair costs. Therefore, one should select a policy that covers damages caused to its own vehicle as well. Also, the premium to be paid by the policyholder is dependent on the motor vehicle’s capacity as defined by the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI).
Own Damage Cover
Own damage insurance cover is an option that is beneficial for policyholders. Earthquakes, storms, fires, and accidents may cause damages to the policyholder's vehicle which is not always covered by a motor insurance plan you buy. Ensure to buy an Own Damage cover to give comprehensive protection to your vehicle.
Personal Accident Cover
Personal accident cover is the component in the insurance policy premium that safeguards policyholders from accidents and mishaps that cause disability. Disability coverage is an essential component in insurance plans as it is a probable outcome of any road traffic accident. Therefore, purchasing a personal accident cover becomes all the more important to protect yourself. It must be noted that the premium paid for this cover goes up when the insured sum increases as well.
Other Riders
Policyholders should also invest in riders or add-on plans. The biggest advantage of opting for riders is that it helps protect the policyholder’s interests without spending a lot of money. Roadside assistance is a popular rider that policyholders opt for, and it comes in handy particularly in situations where the policyholder is traveling in an unfamiliar area. Another popular rider is the no claim bonus where policyholders receive a substantial discount on the premium if no claims have been made during a policy year.
Premium Calculator
A cause of concern that many insurance policyholders face is calculating the insurance premium to be paid. However, to make this task simpler, one can use an online motor insurance calculator.
In order to calculate the premium of the online motor insurance with a calculator, the following aspects need to be taken into consideration:
IDV.
Cubic capacity.
Age of the motor vehicle.
IDV
IDV or the insured declared value of the motor vehicle is nothing but an estimate made by the insurance company at the time you buy motor insurance in India. It is the maximum claim amount that the policyholder can raise a claim for in the event of theft or accident.
IDV rate changes over time considering depreciation. Also, note that IDV is exclusively used for comprehensive insurance policies.
Cubic Capacity
Cubic capacity or cc is the measurement of the size of the vehicle’s engine. Unlike IDV, the size of the engine remains constant and hence does not affect the calculation of the premium for vehicle insurance.
However, it must be noted that vehicles with higher engine capacity require a higher premium to be paid. The tariff rates are set and regulated by the Indian Motor Tariff Act.
Age of the motor vehicle
The age of the motor vehicle is an important determining factor when it comes to calculating motor insurance premiums online. The older the vehicle, the higher will be the depreciation on it.
Here is the detailed information on the motor insurance coverage
