In India, it is mandatory to own car insurance that offers coverage against accident, fire, theft and natural calamities. The insurance also keeps you covered when you are on the go. While buying insurance cover usually entails a lot of research and to and fro, renewals are often forgotten about. Driving around without an active insurance cover could attract fines and penalties from the authorities. Even worse, in case of an accident, you will have no financial cover and would have to bear the full brunt of the situation. So, if your car insurance has expired then you must do the following at the earliest:
- Do not drive the car
No matter how safe a driver you are, do not drive an uninsured car. An accident can happen at any time, and driving an uninsured vehicle increases the risk of losses and trouble in case of a mishap.
- Contact the insurance company
Once you notice that the car insurance policy has expired, do not waste time and contact the insurance company right away. Get in touch with them and ask for a renewal. You need to take all the steps to get the insurance reinstated immediately. Read the insurance documents and check for the grace period. Some insurance companies offer a grace period for renewals. If the policy has expired due to non-payment of premium, you will have to buy a new policy.
- Look out for online renewals
Renewing car insurance online is a convenient and quick process. You can enjoy low premium and online assistance at the time of insurance renewal. It will make the process seamless and quick. If you are buying a new policy, compare the quotes offered by different insurance companies and then choose one.
- Get the documents ready
You need to keep the documents ready in case of an expired insurance policy. It must include details such as the car model, the purchase date, the name of the manufacturer, registration date and address of the RTO.
- Renew online
To renew the policy online, you can just log in to the insurer’s website and fill in the details for a quick renewal. Just fill the online form and upload the necessary documents. You need to provide accurate information at the time of renewal. If you are buying a new policy or changing the insurance provider, check the insured declared value on the car. Review the information and the documents thoroughly before you make the payment and renew your policy.
You must not let the four-wheeler insurance expire in the first place. It is your responsibility to renew it on time and always drive the car with a valid insurance policy. Make it a point to renew two weeks before the due date. Some insurance companies send a reminder about the renewal and they also have a 15-day grace period. But you must not be dependent on them. Set a reminder and ensure timely renewal to avoid penalties or lapse of your policy. If the policy expires, you will have to buy a new policy and the vehicle will be inspected before the same.
Besides financial damages, there is a lot of risk in driving an insured vehicle in India. If anything happens to the car, you will have no relief. Even if the car gets stolen, you will not be able to recover anything. Hence, remember to renew the insurance policy on time.
