Vehicle Insurance Guide: Types, Claims and Validity Checks

Learn the difference between third-party and comprehensive vehicle insurance, how to check policy validity, file claims and protect your No Claim Bonus in India.

Last updated: 20 October 2026 · Verified against official Parivahan / Vahan portal flow

Important: This page is a step-by-step informational guide only. VehicleRegDetail.com does not operate a vehicle search or lookup database, and we do not collect, store or disclose owner names, phone numbers, addresses or any personal vehicle data. For real verification, RC download, challan payment or licence status checks, please visit the official Parivahan / VAHAN government portal directly.

Motor vehicle insurance is mandatory in India under the Motor Vehicles Act. At minimum, every vehicle must have third-party liability cover. Understanding the types of insurance and how to manage your policy can save money and legal trouble.

Types of Vehicle Insurance

Feature	Third-Party	Comprehensive
Legal requirement	Mandatory	Optional but recommended
Own damage cover	No	Yes
Theft cover	No	Yes
Third-party injury/property	Yes	Yes
Add-ons available	No	Yes (zero dep, engine, roadside)
Premium	Lower	Higher

How to Check Insurance Validity

Visit vahan.parivahan.gov.in and use Know Your Vehicle Details.
Check the insurance validity section in the vehicle record.
Alternatively, log in to your insurer's website or app and view your policy.
Use the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) portal for policy lookup.

Understanding No Claim Bonus (NCB)

NCB is a discount on your own-damage premium for every claim-free year. It can accumulate up to 50% over several years. NCB belongs to the policyholder, not the vehicle, so it can be transferred when you buy a new vehicle or switch insurers.

Do not file small claims if the repair cost is lower than the NCB discount you will lose.
When selling a car, you can retain NCB for up to 90 days (check insurer rules).

How to File an Insurance Claim

Inform the insurer immediately after an accident or theft.
File an FIR at the police station if required (theft, major accident, third-party injury).
Submit documents: RC, DL, policy copy, FIR, photos and repair estimate.
Get the vehicle inspected at an authorised garage.
Pay the deductible and collect the claim amount or cashless repair.

Common Insurance Mistakes to Avoid

Letting the policy expire even for one day.
Buying only third-party cover for an expensive or new vehicle.
Not transferring insurance during a used-car purchase.
Declaring wrong IDV (Insured Declared Value) to reduce premium.
Ignoring add-ons that matter for your driving conditions.

Legal Tip

Driving without at least third-party insurance is a punishable offence. Keep your policy active and carry a digital or physical copy while driving.

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About the Author

Editorial Team · Official Process Guides

Our editorial team compiles these guides from official MoRTH notifications, Parivahan and VAHAN portal workflows, and publicly available RTO procedures. We do not claim access to government databases and we do not provide vehicle lookups. Every guide links to the official source so you can verify the current process yourself.

Official Data Sources

Vehicle records in India are maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). For real-time verification, please use the official portals: parivahan.gov.in, vahan.parivahan.gov.in, sarathi.parivahan.gov.in and echallan.parivahan.gov.in.

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