Easy online procedures and customer support from Tata AIG allow you to renew your expired car insurance policy hassle-free within minutes

Car insurance is one of the mandatory documents you must possess to drive a car in India. As important as it is to buy a car insurance policy, it is equally essential to renew the same. 

Typically, a four-wheeler insurance policy is valid for a year, and the owner-driver must renew the policy before expiry to avoid any consequences. Many may consider car insurance renewal as an added cost. 

However, there are several benefits of purchasing this  insurance and renewing the same. Primarily, it helps extend the protection shield and abide by the rules for a longer duration.

With Tata AIG’s online features, the two prime aspects – price and ease in process are taken care of. It is now convenient to buy online car insurance and renew it. 

In the article below, we shall discuss what expired car insurance means, why you should renew it and the procedure for renewing car insurance online from Tata AIG.

What is an Expired Car Insurance?

Every four-wheeler policy is valid for a certain period and has an expiry date. If a policy is not renewed before this expiry date, it is termed as expired, lapsed or ‘break-in’ policy. You cannot raise a raise after your policy has expired; hence, you must renew it to make it functional.

Grace Period for Car Insurance Renewal After Expiry

Typically, insurance providers offer a certain period starting from the expiry date, wherein the policyholder can renew the policy without losing over the NCB and other discounts. This period is called the Grace Period. While it is always recommended to renew the policy before the expiry date, in some cases, you still have a grace period if you fail to renew it.

Tata AIG offers a 90 days Grace Period from the date of  insurance expiry. If you renew your comprehensive car insurance policy within this Grace Period, you will retain your accumulated NCB discounts and other benefits. You must renew it within this period to ensure you get all the benefits and pay a higher premium.

How to Renew Expired Car Insurance Offline with Tata AIG

Your Tata AIG car insurance renewal can be done in two ways – offline and online.

You can visit your nearest Tata AIG branch office for offline procedures with your policy and other relevant KYC and policy-related documents. Ensure you proceed with the process within the grace period for smooth functioning. At the branch, fill in the application form, and pay the fee via cheque, cash or online. On submission of the form and other documents, your car renewal procedure shall begin.

How to Renew Expired Car Insurance Online with Tata AIG

Many often forget to renew their insurance policy for their car before it expires. Renewing an expired car insurance is no longer a challenging task. Insurance providers like Tata AIG offer hassle-free and quick procedures to renew your car insurance online.

Below are the steps to renew your expired car insurance policy online with Tata AIG:

Step 1: Visit the official website of Tata AIG.

Step 2: Under the All Products tab, select Car Insurance.

Step 3: You will be directed to their Car Insurance Page. A small form appears on the top of the page. Fill in your car registration number and click on ‘Renew’.

Step 4: Fill in your personal details.

Step 5: Select add-ons as per requirement. Tata AIG offers 12 unique add-ons to enhance your comprehensive plan coverage.

Step 6: Enter your car-related details like the car’s name and model, RTO office number, etc. You will also be prompted to add details of the claim raised in the previous year as well as the policy expiration date.

Step 7: Your car insurance premium is displayed on the screen.

Step 8: Make a secure payment online, and your policy is renewed.

Step 9: You will receive your policy documents and other details on your registered WhatsApp number or email address.

Things to Keep in Mind When Your Car Insurance is Expired

Ideally, you must always renew your four-wheeler insurance before the expiry date. However, in some cases, if your insurance is inactive, here are a few things you must remember.

• Tata AIG offers a 90 days grace period to renew your existing four-wheeler insurance policy; the sooner you renew, the better.

• Avoid driving without a valid (inactive) insurance policy for a car, as there may be a chance of getting caught by the cops, and you may have to pay a hefty penalty.

• Evaluate the options carefully before renewing.

• Consider buying online car insurance, which helps you compare and calculate premiums and offers easy and paperless procedures.

• You can also opt for long-term policies while renewing; this will eliminate the concern of renewing the policy yearly.

Why Should You Renew Car Insurance Before Expiry?

The Motor Vehicles Act 1988 mandates every four-wheeler driver to have a valid insurance policy to be eligible to drive on Indian roads. If you fail to renew your policy, it may have both legal and financial consequences. 

Some of the reasons to renew your expired car insurance include:

• You will receive no compensation for losses: An essential reason for buying car insurance is to protect yourself, your car or the third party from any possible injury or losses. If you opt for third-party insurance, you will get coverage for the damage done to the other party and in comprehensive insurance, you get covered under various other scenarios. However, if your policy lapses, you will not get any coverage, and any loss or damage must be borne by you entirely.

• You may face legal consequences: Having at least third-party insurance is mandatory. If found driving without valid insurance may attract legal penalties. In Maharashtra, the penalty for driving without insurance is ₹2,000 (first offence) or imprisonment of up to three months. Repeated offences may attract a fine of ₹4,000 or imprisonment of three months.

• To keep your No Claim Bonus (NCB) intact: A no-claim bonus is a discount an insurance company gives on your premium for every claim-free year. Tata AIG offers NCB that can be accumulated for a maximum of five consecutive years up to a maximum of 50% discount. If you have accumulated a good discount and not renewed the policy before expiry, you will lose out on these bonuses. This means you will have to pay a higher premium.

• You may have to go through the inspection procedure again: If your existing insurance policy for the car has expired, renewal of the same can be done. However, you may have to go through inspection procedures all over again.

To Sum Up

Valid car insurance is legally required to drive your car on public roads in India. Moreover, it is for your and third-party safety. Car insurance renewal after expiry can have serious consequences. Hence, it would be best to always aim to renew it before expiration. Easy online procedures and customer support from Tata AIG allow you to renew your expired car insurance policy hassle-free within minutes.