Section 146 of the Motor Vehicles Act sets out the requirement for insurance against third-party risk when a motor vehicle is used in a public place, subject to the Act’s exceptions. Third-party cover deals with covered liability to others. Own-damage cover is the part to check for eligible loss or damage to your own vehicle, such as covered accidental damage or theft. Read the policy wording to see which events and exclusions apply.
Check both dates before renewal
Look at the start and end dates of each cover. If liability and own-damage policies are separate, one may expire before the other. Confirm the registration details, vehicle use and ownership. Compare quotes using the same cover and add-ons. Check the Insured Declared Value, deductibles and any conditions attached to a no-claim bonus. Ask how the insurer will handle an inspection if there has been a gap in own-damage cover.
Read the repair and add-on terms
Find out whether your preferred garage is in the insurer’s current cashless network and what happens if you use another workshop. Read the wording for depreciation, parts and consumables, and the events covered by each optional add-on. For a simple illustration, if an insurer accepts ₹30,000 of repair charges and a ₹2,000 deductible applies, ₹28,000 remains payable before any other applicable adjustments.
Record the incident and notify the insurer
Put safety first and seek emergency help where needed. Notify the insurer promptly and ask about inspection or repair authorisation before work begins. Keep the claim reference, relevant photos if safe to take, and copies of the estimate and invoice. Ask which documents and police reporting requirements apply to the incident, especially for theft, injury or third-party involvement. Keep written confirmation of what was approved and why any amount was deducted.
Official reference and further reading: Motor Vehicles Act, India Code and the TaxNexus Insurance hub. This guide is educational. Last updated 4 November 2026.
