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.