GENERAL INSURANCE BLOG

To be a vehicle owner entails a variety of duties. To get the most out of your automobile, you must frequently care for and repair it. If sufficient care is not performed, not only will your vehicle's quality suffer, but it may also cause an accident. Having your vehicle's tyres aligned regularly is one of the most important things you need to ensure tyres last longer.

Many individuals believe that alignment should be left to specialists. While this is true in many ways, some alignment specifications are simple enough to check on your own, and wheel alignment is one of them. This may be useful after upgrading steering or suspension parts so that the car isn't out of alignment during the journey to the shop, or it can at the very least offer a better knowledge of the process.

Following are a few ways you can check your car's wheel alignment by yourself.

1. Caster:
Most vehicles are constructed with a mild downward caster. Your caster angle contributes to the equilibrium of driving, balance, and turning. A high caster causes the steering axis to lean toward the driver. On the other hand, a low caster indicates that your vehicle's steering axis is tilted away from the driver.
To measure the caster angle yourself, you need to park the vehicle on a flat surface and place both wheels on the turntables. Next, install the bubble gauge on the hub. Then turn the tyre 20 degrees inwards and level the gauge. Using the adjustment knob, set the caster reading as zero. Now, move the tyre 20 degrees outwards to get the caster reading.

2. Camber:
Camber is the degree of tyre lean of a car measured in degrees. Negative camber takes place when the top of the tyre tilts inwards. Whereas positive camber occurs when the top of the tyre tilts outwards.
Most contemporary automobiles feature a somewhat negative camber to increase stability and control. Camber misalignment may be caused by worn bearing, ball joints, and other wheel suspension systems. Excessive inward or outward skew indicates poor alignment and must be corrected.

3. Toe-in:
Toe alignment, as opposed to camber alignment, is the degree to which your tyres spin inward or outward as seen from up top. Depending on the vehicle, typical toe-in standards range from one-thirty-second to one-eighth-inch. Toe-in alignment occurs when your automobile's tyres are inclined in the same direction. Toe alignments are done at the last after caster and camber are done.

As a vehicle owner, you must recognise the signs of misaligned wheels. Take a moment to check your vehicle's wheel alignment regularly. It can add to the life of your car's tyres and improve the handling. Even if you decide to get the vehicle aligned in a garage, you will better understand the issue and information.

As needed, trained and experienced vehicle experts will be able to align your wheels. However, to sustain the absolute protection of your vehicle, yourself, and anyone around you, it is advisable to opt for insurance. If you have just purchased a new car, always remember to buy new car insurance to safeguard your vehicle.

Click HERE 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.

Crowded places are a feast for pickpockets. They can easily pick our pockets while we move in cramped surroundings such as a busy market amidst the constant crowd nagging of people around us. Pickpockets do this so skillfully and swiftly that we are left unnoticed and outwitted. Losing our wallet can be frustrating, especially when it is loaded with important documents such as the driving licence, Aadhar card, voter id card, and even credit or debit cards. Moreover, the loss of money can be very harsh and painful for most of us.

So how can we deal with such situations? Here are some tips for outwitting pickpockets and staying safe in crowded places.

1. Move your wallet to your front pocket:
Never keep your wallet in the back pocket in crowded surroundings. Pickpockets can easily pick your back pocket, and you will hardly know it amidst the crowd. Therefore, use the front pocket of your trousers to keep your wallet. Outwit the pickpocket by keeping only those articles in the back pocket that are not very valuable.

2. Multiple wallets and pockets:
You can keep two wallets/handbags rather than just one. Keep your valuables and documents in a wallet in your front pocket or a handbag that you can keep close to you. Keep the lesser valuable products in the 2nd wallet in your back pocket. The pickpocket will be outwitted when he finds that he has taken away some useless items from your back pocket while your valuables are safe. Also, you can use multiple pockets in your bag to hide your valuables and divide your risk.

3. Do not show off:
Do not flash your expensive laptop, phone, jewellery, cash, camera, etc., in a crowded public place. Take them out only when it is necessary.

4. Lock your bags:
Carry small locks with you and lock your bag while moving in a crowded place. The pickpocket will not be able to open it in the middle of the crowd, and you will be safe.

5. Hidden pockets:
Nothing better than a hidden pocket in the front of your trousers or jeans. Pickpockets cannot reach there, no matter how much they try. Also, buy goodquality backpacks and purses with multiple hidden pockets and good build quality. The pickpocket will not be able to determine which pocket carries your valuables.

6. Disguise and hide:
Use smart hacks and disguises to outwit the pickpocket. If you need to carry valuable jewellery while going through a crowded place, hide them in your bag inside a small cardboard box. A ring can go inside a matchstick box. You can take a used burger box if you need a bigger box! Moreover, you can use a file folder to hide your laptop.

7. Carry your backpack facing the front:
While going through a crowded area or using local transport, pull the front portion of the backpack with the chain facing the front. This way, the pickpocket cannot open it from behind you.

These were some hacks you can use to outwit a pickpocket in a crowded place. Apart from these, simply go the digital way! Carry minimum possible documents with you in hard copy. Rather, carry them in soft copy format on your phone or laptop.

In case a pickpocket picks up your wallet, you lose all the important documents along with it. Do not let this happen to your bike insurance policy. Ditch those lengthy insurance papers. Buy the best bike insurance online and save yourself a fortune. You will save money on agent commissions and have a soft copy of the policy on your mobile phone. Overall, it’s a win-win situation for you and us as the insurance provider. The only loser, in this case, will be the pickpocket!

Click HERE to buy bike 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.

Preferred amongst different economic strata, scooters and bikes help manoeuvre through tight-packed traffic and poorly maintained roads with precision. However, the lack of an effective safety system makes them a risky option, so buying the best two wheeler insurance in India is necessary to protect your two-wheeler against damages and allied losses.

While damages from accidents and maintenance costs of the 2-wheeler are covered by insurance, does the same apply to its additional fittings of glass, fibre, silicon, etc.? Read on to find out if such depreciable parts are covered by your two wheeler insurance policy.

What are depreciable parts?

With consistent use, the value of any vehicle is bound to depreciate. In two-wheelers, the primary function is served by the engine and mechanical parts. However, there are smaller parts made using relatively weaker materials, like silicon, rubber, etc., that inevitably depreciate sooner

Are depreciable parts covered under comprehensive insurance?

A third-party insurance policy is often lacking to provide coverage for depreciable parts. You may have to purchase an add-on cover for several of its excluded items, and depreciable fibre parts are one of the many partial exclusions. Generally, two wheeler insurance only partially covers the repair and replacement costs of the depreciable parts alone. Instead, they cover a marginal percentage of the expense, leaving you to shoulder the burden of the rest of the amount.

The general depreciation cost percentage.
Most two wheeler insurance applies the following depreciated cost percentages on fittings based on their material:

● Fibre: 30%

● Glass: 0%

● Nylon, Plastic, Rubber: 50%

● Battery, Tube, and Tyres: 50%

This implies that the insurer assumes the above-stated depreciation rates to affect the part and only pays the depreciated cost percentage of the repair or maintenance cost. The remaining amount is borne by the insured, which is often a significant portion of the expense.

Additionally, the vehicle’s age also determines the following approximate rate of depreciation:

● Up to 6 months: 0%

● Up to 1 year: 5%

● Up to 2 years: 10%

● Up to 3 years: 15%

● Up to 4 years: 25%

● Up to 5 years: 35%

● Up to 10 years: 40%

● Above ten years: 50%

However, an alternative is available to ensure that your insurance provider bears the expense.

Zero Depreciation Add-on Cover.

In case you have a standalone own-damage insurance or comprehensive insurance, you are eligible to purchase an add-on zero depreciation cover for your two-wheeler. By purchasing this add-on, you can claim the entire cost of repairing or replacing depreciable parts from your insurer.

Check the inclusions of policies when comparing alternatives to find the best two wheeler insurance in India that covers fibre, glass, rubber parts, etc.

Exclusions under zero depreciation add-on. Even after purchasing the add-on to the best two wheeler insurance in India, there remain some exclusions that you will have to bear, including:

● Vehicles older than five years

● Costs of over two claims during the policy period

● Machine-driven breakdown damages

● Damages due to uninsured risks

● Depreciation due to general wear and tear

When to buy zero depreciation add-on. While it is a beneficial facility, consider purchasing a zero depreciation cover if:

● You own a limited edition or premium 2-wheeler

● You live in an accident-prone area with heavy traffic

● Your vehicle is not older than five years

● The cost of individual repairs of depreciable parts is estimated to be greater than the cost of the add-on

Depreciation is an inevitable loss of asset value. Although most insurance covers do not provide for expenses relating to depreciable parts, an add-on zero depreciation cover can convert your preferred insurance into the best two wheeler insurance in India.

Click HERE to buy the best two wheeler insurance in 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.

Research states that over one third of vehicles on the road are motorcycles. Found to be cost-effective, easy to ride, and convenient, motorcycles are used extensively in rural and urban areas. They can tackle rough roads and get you to your destination while skillfully getting you out of traffic.

While motorcycles have a significant user base in India, they also have their fair share of problems. The lack of safety is a primary concern with these vehicles. Riding at high speeds on under-maintained roads in a country where traffic rules are not strictly followed has resulted in hundreds of road accidents daily.

This alarming information should be enough to prompt you to purchase online motor insurance if you do not have one already. It is necessary to have insurance to cover any possible losses from damages to you, your vehicle, and third-party property.

While online motor insurance can protect your post-accident damages, here's a quick guide to prevent and tackle motorcycle wobbling when riding at high speeds.

What causes motor cycling wobbling?
Your motorcycle can wobble due to many reasons, even when not at high speed.
1. Defective tyres – Ensure you evaluate the tyres' pressure and build before taking your motorcycle for a ride.
2. Worn equipment – Motorcycles used at the wrong tyre pressures or overused bearings that are worn out are potential causes for wobbling. You must check the parts of your motorcycle and ensure that they are in perfect condition to facilitate long-running and prevent mishaps.
3. Irregular road surface – A sudden change in the road surface in the form of an irregularity such as a pothole while in acceleration is likely to cause your handlebar to shake.
4. Rapid acceleration – If you consecutively accelerate the bike, it cannot keep up with the rapidly changing speed and may wobble violently.
5. Instant slowing – You may also experience shimmying while decelerating from a high speed. This is caused due to the instantaneous changes in speed.

What you shouldn't do when your handlebar wobbles?
If you feel a slight shimmy and are sure it is not due to any motorcycle defect, do not grip harder onto the bar to stabilise it. Continue holding on in the same way and allow it to adjust to the surface. Do not let your eyes stay on the road beneath. Instead, look straight and assess the road ahead and the vehicles around to keep yourself at a safe distance from others.

Tips to ease out the wobble safely:
Assessing the situation is key in such a situation. If it is a well-maintained motorcycle on an irregular patch of road, do not worry. Do not tighten your grip on the handle and allow your bike to balance itself on the surface. The wobble, in this case, would be slight and can be easily overcome by the motorcycle in a few seconds.

If it is a motorcycle issue, the wobble will be much stronger. In such a case, here are some tips for riding out the wobble:
1. Slowly engage the rear brakes – At no cost should you use the front brakes, which will cause an accident. With applying rear brakes, your bike may wobble more at first, but it will slow down.
2. Lean forward – While it may not solve the problem alone, it increases resistance and may help slow down your bike.

These are the only ways to slow down your vehicle. Assess your possible options based on the road ahead. If there is a greater obstacle that your motorcycle is bound to crash into, it is best to abandon the vehicle. Your online motor insurance can cover any damages to your bike. However, if the road ahead is straight, keep your calm and engage the rear brakes slowly. You will eventually be able to decelerate and get out of the wobble and regain control.

While bikes are convenient vehicles, we strongly recommend riding motorcycles at acceptable speeds where you can easily control them to prevent mishaps. Online motor insurance is a must that can prevent any potential financial burden and have your back during emergencies.

Click HERE to buy an online motor insurance policy for your motorcycle.

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.