United India Car Insurance

United India Insurance Co. Ltd., was established in 1938 and nationalized in 1972. It is one of the oldest insurance companies in India. It has a vast network,  with more than 1350 offices catering to clients in urban, semi-urban and rural areas. United India Insurance also offers one of the most diversified product portfolios, providing coverage for assets ranging from satellites to livestock. The company offers protection to customers in the domains of Health, Motor, Marine, Liability, Credit, Industrial and Micro Insurance.

It is a known fact that car insurance is required by all those who intend to drive in India. It is mandated by law. Therefore, all vehicles plying on Indian roads must compulsorily have at least third-party insurance cover. Own-damage policies are optional, but it ensures wholesome protection. A private car insurance policy is a part of personal insurance. It usually comes under the category of general insurance that aims to safeguard the financial interests of vehicle owners. Apart from the driver/owner of the vehicle, passengers and paid employees are also often included in the scope of such insurance policies. Cars are undoubtedly very expensive assets and must thus be protected. United India offers comprehensive packages as well as ‘third-party liability only’ insurance covers for vehicles.

The Third-party Liability Plan

The third-party liability policy from United India Insurance offers these following covers:

• It protects the insured policyholder from the legal liabilities to third parties for injuries, death or property damage.

• The policy compensates for the death or the injuries sustained by the owner/driver of the insured vehicle in case of an accident.

The Comprehensive Car Insurance Plan

The comprehensive car insurance policy offered by United India Insurance looks after the financial needs of the policyholder and also takes care of the third-party liabilities in the event of an accident where the insured vehicle was involved. It offers the following coverage:

For Own Damage

• United India extends its protection to a broad spectrum of situations that can cause impairment to the owner/driver’s life or property. Policyholders can make claims for losses incurred due to:

• Environmental disasters

• External causes, deliberate or unintentional

• Larceny - including loss or damages to vehicle accessories

• In-transit damages     

• Terrorism or public disturbances.

• Transportation costs of the vehicle to the nearest repair center and repair costs in case of accidents

For Third Party Damage

• The following legal expenses are compensated under third-party liability:

• Death.

• Physical injury or disability.

• Property destruction.

Personal Accident Cover For Owner

• The comprehensive car insurance policy by United India offers compensation for the following:

• 100% compensation in the event of the insured vehicle owner's death, complete loss of limbs and vision and Permanent Total Dismemberment.

• 50% compensation in the event of the loss of one limb or vision loss in one eye.

Additional Covers

The following additional covers are available on the payment of an extra premium.

• Usage of the vehicle outside regular boundaries, in the following geographic locations - Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives

• Personal accident covers for employees as well as unnamed occupants of the car during the accident.

• Protection for electrical and electronic accessories that are imported or fitted outside the manufacturing factory

• Protection for Bi-fuel kits

• Protection for fuel tanks made of fiberglass

Exclusions

The United India Car insurance plan doesn't cover for the following:

• Contractual liability

• Consequential loss

• Nuclear threats and war perils

• Normal wear and tear due to age

• Depreciation

• Electrical or mechanical breakdowns

• Events arising due to driving under intoxication or driving

• A vehicle used beyond authorized usage limits in terms of geographical boundary

• A vehicle used without a valid driver’s license or an unauthorized driver driving the car

Sum Assured

Upon successfully processing a claim, the policyholder is paid a certain amount of compensation. This amount largely depends upon the vehicle’s "Insured’s Declared Value" or IDV, which is calculated as the value arrived at after deducting depreciation from the vehicle’s selling price as declared by the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s price is inclusive taxes but excludes registration and insurance charges.

Depreciation: It is the amount deducted to arrive at the IDV. The vehicle's age plays an important role here:

• If the vehicle’s age is less than 6 months, then the rate of depreciation is 5%.

• If the vehicle’s age exceeds 6 months, but within 1 year, then the rate of depreciation is 15%.

• If the vehicle’s age is over 1 year, but with 2 years, then the rate of depreciation is 20%.

• If the vehicle’s age is in between 2 to 3 years, then the rate of depreciation is 30%.

• If the vehicle’s age is in between 3 to 4 years, then the rate of depreciation is 40%.

• If the vehicle’s age is in between 4 to 5 years, then the rate of depreciation is 50%.

• For vehicles aged above 5 years and if the model has become obsolete, then the IDV for the concerned vehicle is the price mutually decided between the customer and the insurer.

Discounts Offered

United India Car Insurance offers the following discounts:

• A discount of 2.5% of the own-damage premium amount or Rs.200 (whichever is less) for the installation of ARAI-approved anti-theft devices

• A discount of 5% of the own-damage premium amount or Rs.200 (whichever is less) for membership with recognized automobile associations

• 50% discount for special vehicles, specifically designed for use by the differently-abled.

• Classic or Vintage cars that were manufactured before 21-12-1940 and are recognized by the Vintage and Classic Cars Club of India get 25% discount.

• 33% discount on tariff rates is applicable if the vehicle is used within the insured's premises

• No-Claim Bonus is a special discount. This discount is applicable when policyholders renew their policy without filing for any claim in the policy terms. The bonus becomes a discount on the premium charged towards own-damage protection. The percentage of bonus is determined by the number of claim-free years achieved by the policyholder according to the following norms:

• 20% for no claim in 1 year.

• 25% for no claim in 2 consecutive years.

• 35% for no claim in 3 consecutive years.

• 45% for no claim in 4 consecutive years.

• 50% for no claim in 5 consecutive years.

This discount is applicable only when the policy is renewed within 90 days of the policy expiry.

Renewal

United India car insurance can be renewed by visiting a branch office of the insurer. Alternatively, it can also be done online at the insurer’s website. It is a simple and convenient facility that enables customers to renew their policies in a hassle-free manner without going through extensive paperwork. Follow these steps to renew the policy online:

• Visit the insurer’s website

• Click on the menu option that says ‘Quick Renewal’

• Fill out the online form by providing your existing car insurance policy number

• Click on ‘Fetch Data’

• The details of your existing policy will be displayed.

• Verify and confirmation of the information,

• Provide the details required by the mandatory fields for the renewal quote. (e.g., personal details like age, profession, driving history, etc.; vehicle details like make and model, engine capacity, the year of registration, the location of usage, etc.)

• Submit this information

• A quote for your auto insurance will be displayed.

• The insurer will most likely not require a car survey if there isn't any gap in the insurance coverage of the vehicle.

• Proceed with the payment process.

• Make payment using credit/debit cards or through net banking.

• Get the renewed policy document instantly through email.

Claim Procedure

If the insured vehicle meets with an accident or suffers a loss as indicated in the policy terms, the policyholder must take the following steps to file a claim:

For Accidental Losses

• Get in touch with the company’s branch office where your policy was initially issued. In case the mishap has occurred at a different location, then contact the nearest office of the insurance company.

• United India Insurance will arrange for a survey of the damaged vehicle.

• In case of significant loss incurred in a riot or a fire, it is advisable to keep the car at the accident site until an authorized surveyor from the insurer inspects it.

• If the accident involved injuries or deaths of third parties, the nearest police station should be immediately notified of the incident.

• If an injured person has sought medical attention in a hospital, the insurer must be intimated of the hospital’s name along with the name of the attending doctor.

• Once these formalities are completed, get the car towed to any of the authorized garages to get a quote for the repairs.

• Submit the quote to United India car insurance company along with a duly filled claim form.

• The insurer will conduct a final survey and collect the required documents, like the FIR copy of the complaint lodged at the local, insurance policy document, the owner's identity and address proof, the car's registration document, etc.

• The repair work on the vehicle can commence only after the insurer gives a go-ahead post final survey.

• Once the repairs are done, the insurer will directly settle the amount with the authorized garage. Any repair expense that doesn't come under the terms of the coverage will have to be borne by the owner.

• If the repair was done in a non-network garage, then the policyholder must submit the bills and payment proofs to the insurance company. The amount will be settled after further verification and approval.

Salvage: Salvage refers to damaged property that an insurance company takes over after paying the claim value, to minimize the loss incurred. Insurance companies receive 'salvage rights' over the properties that they have honored claims for. The costs associated with repairing or recovering the salvage are known as salvage charges. If your vehicle has been tagged as a salvage, you need to carefully preserve it in its current form until the entire claim settlement procedure is complete, irrespective of the mode of claim settlement. In case you do not preserve the salvage, you may inadvertently jeopardize the claim settlement. United India has the right to inspect a salvage whenever required.

For Theft Losses

• If your vehicle was stolen, you must immediately notify the nearest police station as well as the policy issuing branch of the insurance company. This step is crucial and might result in claim rejection if not done meticulously. Moreover, filing an FIR is not only mandated by the insurer but is also a legal requirement.

• Submit the updated claim form to United India car insurance to start the claim settlement process.

• Do not to engage any unauthorized individuals in the workflow during the claim settlement process. Contact United India Insurance company directly or through its authorized representatives.

Grievance Redressal Process

In case you have a grievance or a complaint related to any of the services provided by United India insurance company, you can approach one of its branches and report the grievance. Alternatively, you may write an email to the policy issuing office or the regional branch office or the head office of the insurer. If are dissatisfied with the response, you may escalate the issue to the Honourable Ombudsman. The details of the procedure are available on the company website as well as at the policy issuing office of the insurance company.

Customer Care

• Customers can reach the United India Insurance customer care department from 10 AM to 5:45 PM by calling the toll-free number: 1800 425 33333

• Their head office number is: 91-044-28520161

• They can also send an email to [email protected]

• They can also visit the website and fill up an online form to request a callback.

• The website offers several locators to find the locations of the company's branch offices as well as the authorized garages for cashless servicing

FAQS

What are the different policies that the United India Car Insurance offer to customers?

United India provides comprehensive car insurance package policies as well as a third-party liability only policies.

Does the United India Car Insurance plan coverage for the damage or loss of accessories by burglary or theft?

Yes. The United India Car Insurance plan provides coverage for the damage or loss of vehicle accessories by burglary or theft.

What are the discounts offered on insurance premium under United India car Insurance?

The various discounts offered by United India Car Insurance are:

• 25% discount on vintage cars

• 20% to 50% no claim bonus, subject to the number of claim-free years.

• 5% discount on own damage premium for members of a recognized automobile association.

• Vehicles with anti-theft devices receive a discount of 2.5%

• Vehicles that are designed specifically for blind or handicapped or mentally challenged people can get a 50% discount on their own damage premium.

Can one substitute the present vehicle under an existing policy?

One vehicle can be substituted by another during the balance period of the car insurance policy. However, the premium amount will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis from the date of substitution.

Are existing car insurance policies of United India transferrable?

Yes, a change of ownership can transfer the car Insurance policy from one person to another, but it has to be done within two weeks from the date of transfer of ownership.