General Insurance · verified 5 September 2026

Motor Insurance

Protect your legal liability—and, when selected, damage to your own vehicle.

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What is motor insurance?

Motor insurance is a contract that responds to covered liabilities and vehicle losses. Third-party (TP) cover protects against legal liability for injury/death of other people and damage to third-party property. Own Damage (OD) covers insured accidental damage or theft of your vehicle. A comprehensive/package policy combines TP and OD; standalone OD can be paired with a valid TP policy.

The legal starting point

TP is compulsory; OD protects your own vehicle

Third Party (TP)

The Motor Vehicles Act requires a vehicle used in a public place to have insurance against third-party risk. TP responds to covered legal liability for death or bodily injury to other people and to third-party property damage. It does not pay to repair your own vehicle.

Own Damage (OD)

OD responds to insured loss or damage to your vehicle from events listed in the wording, such as accident, theft, fire or specified natural perils. Buy it inside a package policy or as standalone OD when a valid TP policy already exists.

Remember: A “comprehensive” policy is not unlimited. It remains subject to IDV, deductibles, depreciation, exclusions, add-on conditions and the schedule.

Statutory base premium

Annual TP base premium by vehicle class

Base rates below are from the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance Base Premium and Liability) Rules, 2022; passenger three-wheeler C1b rates reflect the 2024 amendment. GST and permitted additions may apply. Always re-check the latest notification before purchase.

Vehicle	Band	Annual base TP premium	How to identify
Private car	Up to 1,000 cc	₹2,094	Engine cubic capacity on RC
	Over 1,000 cc–1,500 cc	₹3,416	Engine cubic capacity on RC
	Over 1,500 cc	₹7,897	Engine cubic capacity on RC
Two-wheeler	Up to 75 cc	₹538	Engine cubic capacity
	Over 75 cc–150 cc	₹714	Engine cubic capacity
	Over 150 cc–350 cc	₹1,366	Engine cubic capacity
	Over 350 cc	₹2,804	Engine cubic capacity
Goods vehicle (other than 3-wheelers)	Up to 7,500 kg GVW	₹16,049	Gross vehicle weight
	Over 7,500–12,000 kg	₹27,186	GVW
	Over 12,000–20,000 kg	₹35,313	GVW
	Over 20,000–40,000 kg	₹43,950	GVW
	Over 40,000 kg	₹44,242	GVW
Public goods 3-wheeler	Other than e-cart	₹4,492	Vehicle class/use on RC
Passenger 3-wheeler C1b	Up to 6 passengers for hire/reward	₹2,371	2024 amended base rate
Electric passenger 3-wheeler C1b	Up to 6 passengers for hire/reward	₹1,539	2024 amended electric base rate

Commercial passenger vehicles, school buses, tractors and special vehicles: premium depends on the exact statutory sub-class, seating or other rating basis. Use the RC and latest official table—do not select the nearest-looking private-car rate.

MoRTH — Third Party Base Premium and Liability Rules, 2022Open official notification ↗

MoRTH — Third Party Base Premium Amendment Rules, 2024Open official amendment ↗

Optional protection

Motor add-ons in plain language

Zero depreciation

Reduces depreciation deduction on eligible replaced parts.

Benefit: A larger part of an admissible parts bill may be paid; limits and excluded parts still apply.

Engine protect

Covers specified internal engine/gearbox damage from events such as water ingression or lubricant leakage when wording conditions are met.

Benefit: Useful in flood-prone areas; consequential loss is otherwise commonly excluded.

Return to invoice

Pays the defined gap between total-loss/theft settlement and invoice-related value.

Benefit: Useful for a relatively new vehicle, subject to age and invoice definitions.

Consumables

Pays listed items such as nuts, bolts, oils and coolants during an admissible repair.

Benefit: Reduces small out-of-pocket items that add up.

Roadside assistance

Arranges towing, battery jump-start, tyre help, fuel delivery or similar services.

Benefit: Helps after a breakdown; service limits and distance caps apply.

NCB protection

Allows a specified number/type of claims without losing the whole eligible no-claim bonus.

Benefit: Read allowed claim count and renewal conditions.

Key and lock replacement

Covers defined replacement or recoding costs after covered loss/theft of keys.

Benefit: May include lockset subject to police report and sub-limit.

Tyre/rim protect

Covers specified accidental tyre or rim damage that standard OD may not pay alone.

Benefit: Wear, puncture and manufacturing defects remain outside cover.

Loss of personal belongings

Pays for declared personal items lost from the vehicle after a covered event.

Benefit: Cash, documents and unattended-property rules often apply.

Daily allowance / conveyance

Pays a fixed daily amount while the insured vehicle is under admissible repair.

Benefit: Helps with taxi or rental costs, within day limits.

Passenger cover

Personal accident benefit for named/unnamed occupants under defined terms.

Benefit: Separate from TP liability and owner-driver cover.

Paid-driver legal liability

Extends statutory/legal liability for an employed driver when selected.

Benefit: Important when a driver is employed; check schedule endorsement.

EV battery protect

Addresses specified accidental or consequential battery/charging equipment risks under an EV wording.

Benefit: Check water ingression, short circuit, depreciation and charger scope.

Invoice protection for accessories

Extends declared electrical/non-electrical accessories or bi-fuel kit.

Benefit: Accessories must be disclosed and separately valued.

Plain-language guide

Important terminology with examples

Definitions are educational summaries. The issued policy wording and schedule control every claim.

IDV

Insured Declared Value is the policy value used for total-loss or theft settlement of the insured vehicle, subject to terms.

Example: A lower IDV may reduce premium but also reduces the maximum basis for a total-loss settlement.

No Claim Bonus (NCB)

A renewal discount on the own-damage premium earned under claim-free rules.

Example: NCB belongs to the insured, can usually transfer to a replacement vehicle, and is lost/reduced after claims as stated.

Compulsory deductible

The fixed part of an admissible OD claim that you must bear.

Example: If the assessed admissible repair is ₹40,000 and deductible is ₹2,000, the deductible is removed before payment.

Voluntary deductible

An extra amount you agree to bear in exchange for premium discount.

Example: Choose it only if you can comfortably fund that amount for every claim.

Depreciation

Reduction applied to eligible replaced parts under the tariff/policy basis.

Example: Plastic, fibre, rubber and metal parts can attract different deductions unless an add-on changes this.

Cashless garage

A network repairer where insurer-authorised eligible repair cost is settled directly.

Example: You still pay deductibles, depreciation, excluded work and upgrades.

Break-in inspection

Inspection required when cover has lapsed or OD risk is added/reinstated.

Example: Existing damage recorded at inspection will not become a new insured loss.

Owner-driver PA

A compulsory personal accident component where applicable, subject to eligibility and valid licence rules.

Example: It is separate from vehicle damage and broad family accident cover.

Constructive total loss

Damage where retrieval/repair cost crosses the threshold defined against IDV.

Example: Settlement follows the wording after assessment, salvage and documents.

Endorsement

A written change to the policy, such as address, engine, fuel kit or financier.

Example: Ask for an endorsement instead of relying on a verbal confirmation.

Clickable insurer directory

Companies offering relevant covers

Open a company page to review current plan families, eligibility guidance, coverage, exclusions and official documents.

National Insurance

Motor Liability, Private Car and Two Wheeler covers

Motor Insurance

What is motor insurance?

TP is compulsory; OD protects your own vehicle

Third Party (TP)

Own Damage (OD)

Annual TP base premium by vehicle class

Motor add-ons in plain language

Zero depreciation

Engine protect

Return to invoice

Consumables

Roadside assistance

NCB protection

Key and lock replacement

Tyre/rim protect

Loss of personal belongings

Daily allowance / conveyance

Passenger cover

Paid-driver legal liability

EV battery protect

Invoice protection for accessories

Important terminology with examples

IDV

No Claim Bonus (NCB)

Compulsory deductible

Voluntary deductible

Depreciation

Cashless garage

Break-in inspection

Owner-driver PA

Constructive total loss

Endorsement

Companies offering relevant covers

National Insurance

The New India Assurance

The Oriental Insurance

United India Insurance

ACKO General Insurance

Bajaj General Insurance

Cholamandalam MS General Insurance

Generali Central Insurance

Go Digit General Insurance

HDFC ERGO General Insurance

ICICI Lombard General Insurance

IFFCO Tokio General Insurance

IndusInd General Insurance

Liberty General Insurance

Magma General Insurance

Navi General Insurance

Raheja QBE General Insurance

Royal Sundaram General Insurance

SBI General Insurance

Shriram General Insurance

Tata AIG General Insurance

Universal Sompo General Insurance

Zuno General Insurance

Zurich Kotak General Insurance

Six checks that prevent avoidable surprises

Correct insured

Full disclosure

Coverage limits

Exclusions

Claims process

Official wording

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