GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

Plastic bags have become a necessary evil in today's day and age. Everything from the packaging of everyday items to utensils, we have seen a massive increase in plastic usage across households. However, plastic has dire effects on the environment. Polluted rivers, channel blockage, pollution, and animal choking are some of plastic's environmental hazards.
Looking at the various damaging implications of plastic usage, activists and other environmentalists have raised their voices against the excess and single use of plastics.

In response, many governments have banned the manufacturing and usage of plastic. Even after the ban on single-use plastic, the complete absence of plastic is impractical. The ease and efficiency of plastic packaging are seldom matched by anything else. This makes plastic an almost irreplaceable part of our lives.

But if you are a responsible human being and want to make a small contribution to the environment, this article will help you reduce plastic waste in your home.

1. Use jute or cotton bags:
Plastic is one of the most convenient options when it comes to shopping. Opting for a plastic bag at the counter is more convenient than carrying cloth bags. By carrying your bags, you are not only saving the environment, but you are also avoiding the excess charge levied on plastic bags. Cloth bags or jute bags are better alternatives to plastic bags. They are reusable, washable, and durable. Consider carrying your carry bags for your next grocery run.

2. Avoid plastic utensils:
Want to carry a tiffin to your office or college? Are you reaching out for the fancy plastic containers? Then you need to reconsider your choice. Plastic utensils such as lunchboxes and water bottles release toxic chemicals into the food, and when consumed, these can cause serious health issues like cancer and heart problems. Storing food in plastic containers can have dire health effects on your body and affect the food's composition.
It is best to opt for steel tiffin to keep your food fresh for longer. People also use microwavable plastic dishes to reheat their food. This can be highly toxic. Switch out the plastic vessels for glass containers. Instead of storing the spices and pulses in plastic boxes, reuse the glass containers you already have. Various pickles, jams, and oils come stored in glass packaging. Remove the sticker and reuse it. This helps you save money and keep yourself and your family healthy.

3. Replace your bathroom essentials:
There are many options available in the market that are more eco-friendly. Opt for locally sourced soap and shampoo bars instead of purchasing a new bottle. Buy refill packs for handwashes and invest in ceramic soap dispensers instead of plastic bottles. Choose wooden toothbrushes and combs as these are eco-friendly and healthier options for your teeth and hair.

4. Change your grocery habits:
People find it more convenient to buy packaged food, be it fruits and vegetables or meat and other farm products. Most of these packaged foods are frozen and lose their nutritional value after some time. Instead, explore your nearest local markets and buy fruits and vegetables from local vendors. By doing this, you are helping the locals while reducing plastic use.

These are some ways in which you can ensure that your home reduces the use of plastic. Being mindful is a small step towards making the planet a better place for your children and the future generations to come.

The above measures can help your home get rid of plastic, but have you considered its safety? Safety is paramount, and when it comes to assets like home, then it is a necessity. To add more value to your homes, invest in home insurance India. Home insurance is a safety net against any expenses incurred due to damage, theft, and other accidents. In case of any mishap, you can be assured that your insurer can make up for your expenses and loss.

Click HERE to know more about home insurance India.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

As someone who owns a motorcycle, you will know the thrill of long road trips with friends or the calm of solitary rides at night. A bike can give you many new adventures, all of which you must experience in your lifetime. Owning a motorcycle is a matter of pride and honour. Still, it also brings many responsibilities like regular maintenance, proper servicing, and owning the best 2 wheeler insurance. However, this article will discuss another safety feature, i.e., headlights.

If you are looking to upgrade your headlights, or want to know the nitty-gritty of the kinds of headlights, then look no further. This article is here to help you understand all your motorcycle headlight-related needs.

Before looking at the types of headlights, let's understand why it is essential to have a fully functioning and a good-quality headlight on our motor vehicles.

1. Safety:

We have heard of accidents on the roads and highways at night. In most cases, the driver is incapable of navigating dark streets due to a lack of visibility. It is imperative to have a good headlight, to keep yourself and others safe on the road. Not only does it help you in seeing others, but it also allows others to notice you.

2. Driving through fog or rain:

Your vision is significantly compromised when you drive through dense fogs or heavy rains. A good quality headlight can pierce through rains and fog and help you with better visibility.

Now, let's understand the different types of headlights that are available in the market for you.

1. Halogen:

The most commonly available lighting in headlights is the halogen reflectors or filaments. These lights share the same characteristics as the yellow-hued filament bulb used in houses. These bulbs are cheaper and easily accessible by consumers; however, these lights are not as bright as the others available in the market.

2. Xenon bulbs:

These are produced majorly for projectors and other directional purposes of light. They give out a very sharp, bright light stream that can easily cut through the darkness and give better visibility of the road ahead. However, one con of these bulbs is that since they are intense beams of light, they tend to reflect from surfaces. So, while driving, you might not be able to see the directions and street signs, as these lights can reflect strongly into your eyes.

3. LEDs:

The light-emitting diode or the LED emits bright white light and is primarily found in newer models. They consume less energy and have high efficiency. They are also safe and durable and emit a bright stream of light that can easily cut through dense fogs and rains.

These are some of the significant kinds of bulbs used in your headlights. It is crucial to keep your bike and its parts working to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Besides the headlights, it is a good practice to take note of your vehicle's tail lights, turn signals, brake lights, and fog lights to ensure maximum safety.

Before upgrading to a newer headlight, it would be wise to check if the bike's battery can handle the extra load from a new headlight. If the batteries fail to handle the change, your bike can stop working. To bypass this issue, it is best to talk to a mechanic who will be able to guide you with the battery requirements for your headlights. An upgraded battery and a headlight system would keep your bike and the new headlight safe.

An efficient headlight is paramount to driving safely on the roads, specifically at night. Always ride with proper safety gear, carry the essential documents, and keep your 2 wheeler insurance up-to-date. Ride with responsibility and stay safe on the road!

Click HERE to buy 2 wheeler insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Driving is a task that entrusts the driver with the responsibility of passengers, pedestrians, and vehicles in their hands. This overwhelms most drivers, especially beginners learning how to drive.

In the beginning, when you take your grown-up child for driving lessons, you may find them nervous and frightened. This fear makes them attempt fundamental mistakes, like applying brakes while keeping their feet on the accelerator. You may get frustrated and scold your child for such silly mistakes. However, your actions can result in a loss of confidence and develop a greater fear of driving. Thus, it would be best if you become supportive of your child.

Making your child follow the traffic rules and scolding them to drive slowly will not make them great drivers. It would help if you built some qualities within yourself for your child to learn to drive. In addition to it, ensure that you buy new car insurance as a preventive measure.

Follow these tips to be a supportive instructor and a cheerleader by their side!

1. Make them drive
Your child wants freedom, primarily because they ask for a licence. You can make your child drive the vehicle during an outing at safer locations, especially in the daytime. Or you can make them your co-driver, so they get some experience. Moreover, encourage them to look at the mirrors and the incoming traffic and read the signs on the boards. It will enhance your child's understanding of driving.

2. Stay patient and calm
To teach your child to drive, you need to develop patience. Your child may get nervous while learning to drive, and shouting could worsen their practice. So, staying at ease and unstressed will make their learning experience enjoyable. Further, try to avoid conflict situations and take them to learn to drive when you are in a good mood. While you may get irritated with their learning practices, keep calm, and avoid disagreements.

3. Take the learner driver's insurance
Though you may have been driving for many years, ensure you abide by traffic rules before giving vehicles to your child. You are responsible for ensuring you have insurance covering your teenager's learning. Mistakes can happen at any time while your child is learning to drive. So, it is better to have insurance covering all mishappenings costs.

4. Become their mentor driver
Children often copy the driving habits of their parents. These include talking on the phone or drinking coffee while driving. Your children see you and will hold you accountable for such habits later in life. It will help if you become a role model for them in driving. They stay focused and try to avoid doing other things while driving. Therefore, developing such practices within you will be helpful for your kids.

5. Check that your child is prepared to learn
Even if your child has crossed the legal driving age, it doesn't mean they are ready to drive. Acknowledge your child's maturity and help them to handle pressure situations gradually. Also, assess the thinking and acting capacity to react to rough possibilities. Further, ensure your child is emotionally ready to take control of a vehicle at a certain speed. It will enhance your child's learning experience and show their willingness to learn.

Your child needs your maximum support when they learn anything. Driving is one of the most important activities your child should do calmly. Also, while teaching your child traffic rules and signs, ensure that you follow them correctly. Always buy new car insurance before your child starts learning to drive. It will ensure stress-free learning and make your child a great driver.

Click HERE to buy new car insurance policy.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

There are various covers that the insurance companies provide depending upon factors such as the location, the type of car, the engine model, the engine capacity, etc. These car insurance covers are provided for various situations such as natural calamities, theft, accident, etc. One such protection that always seems ambiguous is the insurance against vandalism. If you are contemplating whether to take a vandalism cover or not, this article might help you by giving you a better insight into destruction, the claim, the benefits, and the demerits of the same.

The first thing to understand is that vandalism covers can be costly. As the severity of vandalism cannot be estimated beforehand, and the likeliness cannot be predicted, the covers can charge extra.

You can claim vandalism only if you have a comprehensive cover. Now, what is a comprehensive cover? Let’s understand the two main kinds of covers provided by insurance companies.

1. A third-party plan:

This policy is a safety net for the policyholder against any liabilities that may arise due to an accident or collision resulting in an accident of a third person or damage to their property.
If in case of death of the third person, the insurance company covers the compensation for the same. The premium on these is lower compared to a comprehensive car insurance plan.

2. A comprehensive plan:

Not only does it include third-party coverage, but it also takes care of personal damage. Comprehensive car insurance protects against any legal obligations arising from third-party interference and covers any damage caused to your car.
This cover also has the added covers on natural and human disasters such as riots and vandalism. With these things in mind, you can rest assured that your car will be fully taken care of by the insurance company.

Let’s first understand what vandalism is:
Vandalism is an act of destruction performed intentionally and with the intent of malice. In this case, we are talking about vandalism against vehicles, which can have different forms.

1. Damage to the car body:

Spray paint, scratches, and graffiti are a few ways to damage the car’s body that can be considered vandalism. More noticeable scratches and damage will require a new paint job and other repairs.

2. Broken parts:

Broken windows, glass panels, or lights must be changed entirely, costing tens of thousands in damage.

3. Slashed tyres and stolen parts:

Parts of your car, such as the side-view mirror, company logo, tyres, wiper blades, etc., can cost significant money. People steal these and sell them for the original prices, which are relatively more expensive than the knock-off goods.

Vandalism claims can be time-consuming and challenging to process as there is rarely a proof. So, it is best to inform your insurers as soon as possible and start the process. But remember that vandalism claims are only valid if there were relevant covers in your policy.

As discussed above, car insurances pay for vandalism only if you have comprehensive coverage added to collision coverage. Comprehensive coverage does not include any stolen goods or personal items from within the car, but it can cover the expenses for the damages incurred.

Sometimes, a police intervention might be needed as vandalism is considered a crime. Filing a complaint with your insurer increases the chances of damage recovery through the claim. If a police officer does not visit the crime scene, then the chances are that they will call you to give a detailed report of the crime. Do not forget to miss out on any points, as the better the details of the crime; the better are your chances of claiming your insurance.

Now you know why investing in a comprehensive car insurance policy is best. You can get the best protection against calamities, human-induced hazards or otherwise.

Click HERE to find out more about comprehensive car insurance plans.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

When your headlights give you a difficult time by going off, the instant reaction is to contact a mechanic. And why would you not? A broken headlight makes it feel like you are driving with one eye closed, causing night drives riskier. Also, what if a vigilant police officer stops you on the road? That generally means heavy fines, especially if a few things are wonky in your car. Additionally, the car now looks way less sleek than before. However, going to the mechanic proves to be costly and time-taking, which makes you delay the job unless there is a looming fine.

A one-stop solution to all these problems is just fixing the headlight yourself. This surprisingly easy task takes a few minutes to accomplish. It could be a fun DIY project which you undertake this season! This blog gives you the basics of replacing your car headlights at home!

Tool list: You might need the following tools to fix the headlights, so keep them handy: Screwdriver set, socket set, pliers.

Safety first!
There's nothing more important than your safety. Wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself, as you might have to reach some tight spots. Additionally, you'll hold sensitive bulbs throughout the process, which warrants protection.

Caution!
As a precautionary method to ward off DIY enthusiasts, most car insurance companies do not allow significant self-modifications to the vehicle's interiors or exteriors. While checking new car insurance rates, read the policy fine print to check if it permits such changes.

Step-by-step process on how to replace your car's headlights:

1. Check your owner's manual
This is to get specific instructions on replacing your vehicle's headlights and what kind of bulbs you should get (HID or LED). The general instructions are similar, but you may need specific tweaks to suit your car.

2. Power the car down
Turn off your car, let it cool, and park it in a clean area on your driveway.

3. Access the bulbs
This may be a tricky step. Sometimes, you may need to remove the battery to access the bulbs better. Or, you can pop the hood and locate the headlight holder near the front of the car.

4. Detach the headlight connector and disconnect the bulb
The base of the lightbulb is connected by three wires. Disconnect the plug that supplies power to it. Once you open the headlight, changing the bulb is child's play. However, be careful while unlocking the locked bulb out of its place. Try not to break the clips used in locking the bulb, as those are not easily fixable.

5. Screw the new light bulb in
Wearing gloves, carefully screw the new bulb without touching the glass of the bulb, as it may burst. Close the hood of your car, and the job is done! If one headlight is off, it's almost certain the other will go off in a few weeks. So, when replacing one, take some time and replace the other one too.

Headlights going off is a common problem. While it is usually from old age, there can be other reasons, such as extreme heat or cold, which affects the bulb's filament, causing it to go off. It can also be due to oxidation, common in modern-day halogen bulbs. Unfortunately, you might have to replace the whole headlight, not just the bulbs. In this case, taking the vehicle to a mechanic is best, as meddling with it too much might do more harm than good. To make this more pocket friendly, research new car insurance rates that also undertake your car's repair and maintenance costs.

Click HERE to know more about new car insurance rates.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

The covid-19 pandemic put the whole world to a stop. Various global operations halted; people were panicking and clueless about the situation. And amidst all this, business suffered a huge loss until everything found a place, and there was some clarity which helped put a lot of functionalities back on track and slowly sped them up. To combat the widespread of the infection, organisations started offering their customers an option of "no contact deliveries" or "contactless services," which was a revolutionary step for the safety of their consumers.

Are you looking for information about any procedure that can be contactless and help you with your car insurance, for example, renewing it? It is essential to ensure that you update your car insurance policies on time to avoid extra penalties and avail of the full benefits without any hindrance.

In delayed renewals, it will be a tedious process to be able to claim and get the appropriate help and compensation from your designated insurance companies. So, it is vital to be mindful of your policies, your rights, the documents you might need, your premiums, and most importantly, the renewal dates of your insurance.

This blog will discuss the zero-contact process of buying and renewing car insurance.

1. What does the zero-contact process mean?

In the case of contactless insurance, you have a scope of purchasing the insurance without meeting any officials from the insurance company. The whole procedure involves digital methods for verification, details, and documentation through mobile apps, the website of the designated insurance organisation, video chat applications, etc.

2. What do you need to do as a consumer/potential customer?

You can compare and measure the benefits of various insurance policies from different companies, research the plans, the premiums, the coverage insurances provide, grace periods, renewals, add-on benefits, etc., before arriving at an informed decision and choosing the plan you want to purchase. And surprisingly, you can do all this from the comfort of your home, one of the significant advantages of contactless services. Thanks to technology!

3. How can you buy motor insurance online through the zero-contact process?

The online option will allow you to avail yourself of the zero-contact aspect of purchasing car insurance to protect your car against damages. You, as a customer, connect with the insurance personnel through virtual platforms. You may download the designated mobile application or go to the insurance company's website, choose the appropriate options, select the plan, upload the documents as per the instructions, and get them verified. For identity authorisation and verification, you might have to video chat with the official or to the developed chatbot, which will further provide instructions on how to proceed. You will have multiple options like UPI, net banking, cash, debit and credit cards, etc., to accomplish the payment process.

4. What are some benefits of contactless insurance?

You can avoid risks of covid-19 infections, online availability (24X7) in case of any queries and help, video calling options for a personalised touch, and zero commission services to avoid fraud or involvement of an untrustworthy third party. You also need to ensure the add-on benefits, get a customised insurance policy, set the desired Insured Declared Value (IDV), the zero-depreciation value, etc.

This was all about the zero-contact process to buy motor insurance online or renew an existing policy. We hope this information will help you understand the details of the zero contact procedure and why it is beneficial. You must keep the above-discussed pointers in mind and carefully consider them before choosing the policy. Also, avail the benefits and buy motor insurance online. This way, you not only ensure the safety of your car but also reduce the risk of infection by eliminating the physical visit to the insurance company or agent.

Click HERE to know more about how you can buy motor insurance online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Ever wondered why you don't feel jolted every time you apply the brakes on your car or take a sharp turn to the side? It's all thanks to the car bushes.

Car Bushings are cushions made up of rubber, polyurethane, neoprene, or other materials. They're mainly mounted on car suspensions and steering joints. Their primary responsibility is to ensure no abrasions in the metal suspension framework due to the contact between them. They also give the driver maximum comfort by mitigating road bumps and controlling the degree of movement in the joints.

The car bushings are mostly made of rubber. Typically, rubber bushes are structured in the form of a cylinder between the two parts of metal. This rubber is usually vulcanised rubber.

Car bushes are essential for the smooth functioning of your car. This blog sheds some light on car bushes and their need in a vehicle.

Applications of bushes:

• Improves safety and comfort: Car bushings support the mechanism to make the ride comfortable for the passengers in the car. They are crucial in positioning and aligning various suspension and steering components.

• Reduces damage caused by vibration: Repeated vibrations can cause abrasions to your vehicle's suspension system, which contributes to its weakening. Car bushing minimises this wear and tear, thus increasing the car's life

• Making the ride less noisy: The rubber used in bushes can reduce vibrations and thus reduce the need for lubrication. This makes maintenance easier and simultaneously makes the vehicle less noisy.

• Bushing provides a stress-free and long life to the vehicle: Like cartilage in a human body, bushings protect the joints and connected parts of the car from shocks to the car. This increases the longevity of the car and the lesser probability of your car facing damages.

Advantages of using Rubber bushes:

● Rubber is the most widely used material in car bushes. As rubber is a readily available substance, it is inexpensive and readily absorbs most noises and vibrations transmitted by various objects.

● One of the main advantages of using rubber bushes as cushioning in vehicles is that it's never a bad fit for a vehicle. They are suitable for all types of vehicles and can be used as cushions for engines and gearboxes.

Disadvantages of using rubber bushes:

● Although very widely used, rubber bushes come with certain limitations. They tend to deteriorate when exposed to heat, air, and especially oils. Over long periods, this exposure can result in the rubber material cracking and wearing away.

An alternative to rubber bushings is ones made out of neoprene. It looks like rubber but is a synthetic substance derived from polymerising chloroprene. It is much more robust than rubber and is better suited to bushings. Neoprene can withstand high temperatures without physical damage.

While extremely simple in design, car bushings play a vital role in suspension systems where vibrations are problematic. They are significant and should be replaced timely to avoid abrasions in your car's system.

We discussed how car bushes can help you control your car's braking. Their applications can assist you in the smooth handling of your car and avoid the risks of accidents. However, the maintenance and upkeep of these integral parts can be daunting sometimes. The solution to this is to buy new car insurance. Ideal car insurance provides several benefits to avoid spending hefty amounts on car maintenance. The new way of budgeting while ensuring security can be possible by making the right investment.

Click HERE to know more about how to buy new car insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.

Unfortunate events are a constant risk that one must always be prepared for. While you may have an optimistic view of the future, the financial implications of a mishap are always too heavy to burden. Online general insurance is a financial product that comes in the clutch in such uncertainties to protect policyholders after paying a comparatively meagre premium. With the demand for insurance growing daily, the insurance sector constantly evolves to provide better services, more values, stringent regulations, and preventive mechanisms to tackle fraud.

Initially sold as a safety mechanism, online general insurance policies are now seen as more than they offer at face value. They are seen as investments, tax-saving opportunities, and more. However, some policyholders try to take advantage of loopholes in the policy wording to derive the most significant benefit by defrauding insurance companies by resorting to means like improper disclosure of facts, misrepresentation, etc.

With the recent wave of digitisation, the insurance regulatory authorities are setting their foot down and laying the framework for a transparent and non-conducive ecosystem for insurance fraud.

The issue.
Over the years, the insurance sector has seen an extreme change, from witnessing the risk-averse masses to offering facilitative services like online general insurance that are convenient for consumers with the benefits of additional features.

However, over time, the scope of the policies is being misinterpreted, leading policyholders to purchase multiple covers to increase their net insured sum payout. This has been noticed especially in the case of online general insurance, where various policies from multiple insurers are purchased to enhance the total payout.

The primary concern in such a situation is that each asset has a fixed value determined by careful expert assessment and evaluation. After risk evaluation, the premium, coverage extent, etc., are decided. Policyholders purchase multiple policies to override this constraint on the payout and often do not disclose the same to the existing insurer.

Another reason that caused the lack of complete data availability with insurers is the intense and duplicate paperwork. Customers used to skip several essential fields due to redundant questions and excessive effort.

The solution.
During times of heavy dependency on paperwork, it was difficult for insurers to identify such cases until the point of raising a claim. However, with technological advancements and the onset of the digital era, the insurance sector is not left behind in upgrading its ecosystem to tackle such concerns.

The account aggregator system, which is now applicable for all non-banking financial companies, data sharing concerning customers' investments and savings is set to transform the information availability for insurance providers.

The account aggregator system will make all relevant data available to authorised bodies electronically. The use of e-insurance accounts (e-IA) will only facilitate the process. While the e-IA, a digital portfolio of insurance policies held by an individual, is for the policyholder's benefit, the aggregator system makes all the necessary data accessible in a few simple clicks to prevent over-insurance, fact-check disclosures, and reduce paperwork.

The concerns.
Anywhere that data sharing takes place is seen as a significant concern due to the constant risk of data leaks, especially when dealing with such confidential information. However, the RBI has already announced and laid the foundation for an institution to take care of data collection and protection to assure policyholders and protect their interests.

As we progress technologically, we will be in a better position to respond to the dynamic demand across various sectors, of which insurance is one. Policyholders must take extra caution while evaluating and purchasing online general insurance policies to ensure their safety and comply with the relevant regulations.

Click HERE to buy online general insurance.

Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.