Irdai makes long-term 3rd-party insurance must; car, bike purchase to cost more from Sep 1

Buying a car or two-wheeler is set to become expensive from Saturday as long-term third party insurance policy has been made mandatory by the Irdai following a Supreme Court order.

The three-year third-party insurance will cost Rs 5,286 crore for cars with engine capacity of less than 1,000 cc, Rs 9,534 cr (1,000 - 1,500 cc) and Rs 24,305 for cars with engine capacity of 1,500 cc and more.

In case of two-wheelers, the five year-third party insurance will cost Rs 1,045 for vehicles with engine capacity below 75 cc, Rs 3,285 (75-150 cc), Rs 5,453 (150-350 cc) and Rs 13,034 (exceeding 350 cc).

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, third-party insurance is mandatory.

As regards the comprehensive insurance, which covers theft and damage among others, the vehicle buyer would have the option to buy it for one year or three years in case of cars and five years in case two-wheelers.

As per the court order, it is mandatory for all general insurance companies to issue a three-year third party insurance cover for new cars and five-year third party (TP) insurance cover for new two-wheelers as a separate product or as part of a comprehensive insurance product.

Irdai was directed to implement the decision on policies sold from September 1, 2018.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has issued a circular in this regard.

The circular said general insurers should "offer only three-year Motor Third Party Insurance covers for new cars and five-year motor third party insurance policies for new two-wheelers".

Currently, in the motor segment, there are two types of policies -- stand-alone Motor Third Party policy and Motor Package Insurance policy for 2-wheelers and private cars.

Irdai further said that after the introduction of long-term Motor TP arty Insurance, an insured should be given two options -- Long-term package cover offering both Motor TP insurance and own Damage insurance for three years or five years as the case may be or a bundled cover with a 3/5 year term for the TP component and a one-year term for the own damage.