Picture this – you’re driving during the monsoon season, and suddenly, your car gets flooded, leaving you stranded with costly repairs. You find out that your regular insurance policy doesn’t cover such unforeseen events, which can cause significant financial losses.

But fear not! That’s where add-on covers come to the rescue. These add-ons, also called riders or extensions, fill the gaps left by a standard car insurance policy. They offer you extra protection and peace of mind in situations like the one described above.

In this blog, we will delve into the growing importance of add-on covers in car insurance policies in India, exploring key options that can enhance your coverage, ensuring you’re well-protected on the road.

7 Must-Have Add-ons in India

Aside from the numerous add-ons available on the market, here are the top 7 must-have riders with your basic car insurance.

1. Zero Depreciation

   Zero Depreciation cover ensures that you receive the full claim amount without accounting for depreciation during repairs or replacements of car parts. With this add-on, you can avoid hefty out-of-pocket expenses and enjoy comprehensive coverage for repairs or replacements, maximizing the benefit of your car insurance policy.

2. Roadside Assistance

   Roadside Assistance is a valuable add-on that offers support in unexpected situations such as breakdowns, flat tires, or accidents. The best part is that it provides round-the-clock assistance without affecting your No Claim Bonus. Whether you need a tow truck, fuel refill, or emergency locksmith, this cover provides round-the-clock assistance, ensuring you are not stranded on the road and helping you resume your journey without any hassle.

3. Engine Protector

   The Engine Protector add-on cover safeguards your vehicle’s engine against damage caused by water ingression or hydrostatic lock. With the increasing instances of flooding during monsoons in many parts of India, this cover becomes particularly crucial, as it protects you from costly repairs or replacements of your car’s engine components.

4. NCB Protection

   No Claim Bonus (NCB) Protection add-on allows you to preserve your hard-earned NCB discount even after filing a claim. Usually, a single claim can lead to the reduction of your NCB, resulting in higher premiums. With this cover, you can maintain your NCB benefits, ensuring future savings on your car insurance premiums.

5. Key Replacement

   Losing or damaging your car keys can be a stressful experience. The Key Replacement add-on cover provides financial assistance for the replacement or repair of lost or damaged keys, including locksmith charges. It saves you from the inconvenience and expenses associated with replacing modern car keys that are often expensive to replace.

6. Loss of Personal Belongings

   The Loss of Personal Belongings add-on cover compensates you for the loss or damage of personal items within your insured car due to theft or an accident. This cover offers reimbursement for items such as laptops, smartphones, or other valuable possessions, providing additional financial protection beyond the scope of a standard policy.

7. Return to Invoice (RTI)

   The RTI (Return to Invoice) add-on cover is highly recommended and incredibly beneficial. It ensures that you receive compensation equal to the original value of your car when you first purchased it. This claim applies in situations where your car is stolen or constructive total loss, wherein, the surveyor declares that the repair cost of the vehicle exceeds 75% of the IDV (Insured’s Declared Value) of your vehicle.

   Imagine the unfortunate scenario where your car is stolen, and despite police efforts, it cannot be recovered. This situation can be incredibly challenging for you. However, with the RTI Cover, you can find solace. It guarantees that you will receive the full invoice amount as compensation, providing you with valuable financial support during such difficult times.

Conclusion

In today’s world, the dangers on Indian roads are always changing, and unexpected events like floods can occur. That’s why it’s crucial not to overlook the significance of additional insurance coverage. By adding these extra coverages, you can strengthen your insurance policy and have greater protection and peace of mind.

At Elephant.in, you can explore a wide range of additional covers that are available. We offer many other add-ons and comprehensive solutions to meet your specific insurance requirements.

Feel free to visit Elephant.in, today!

Right insurance, best price, every time. It’s a promise!

Elephant.in is India’s first Insurtech consulting platform offering a one-stop solution for all the personal insurance needs of corporate employees.

Employees often seek various insurance plans to strengthen their financial capability and secure their future. By empowering them with Corporate Superpower, we offer various coverages to keep their present and future financially secured.

Powered by Alliance Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading insurance brokers, nothing but only the best insurance plans at the best price are provided.

A Sneak Peek of Benefits Offered by Elephant.in

When employees use their Work Email ID, they get access to following benefits at Elephant.in:

#1. Corporate Superpower

Corporate employees deserve the right to feel taken care of and that’s exactly what is done. They are guarded with superpowers that allow them to get the best insurance policy at economical prices and top-notch service.

#2. Handpicked Insurers

Packed with carefully chosen insurance companies, employees can rest assured about being helped with the best plans in line with – their requirements and paying capability, along with the best customer service.

#3. Instant Policy

Get over those traditional physical policies that were time-consuming, lengthy and extremely annoying. As soon as the payment is made, employees can either download or print the chosen policy.

#4. Digital Relationship Manager

After purchasing a policy, having questions or expecting some help is natural and that’s not neglected. Each employee is backed by a dedicated digital relationship manager to help with such matters and offer peace of mind.

#5. Lifetime Personalized Account

Looking for one thing and hunting from place to place is annoying and takes ample time. This is why employees these days expect everything together in one place. Making it a reality, employees are given a lifetime personalized account to manage their policy effortlessly.

#6. AI-based Recommendation

The artificial intelligence, Laxmi, works like a friendly advisor for every employee and guides them throughout the process. Laxmi also suggests solutions or recommendations it believes might prove helpful for an employee.

#7. Right Insurance at the Best Price

There are a couple of benefits corporate employees can reap. They are told about various insurance plans with each one of them having their own benefits. This way, employees are helped in picking the best insurance that covers their needs at the best possible negotiated price.

#8. Assistance from Experts

Gone are the days when stepping into the insurance space was a troublesome, complicated and severe headache. Professional insurance experts simplify everything and make the whole experience a lot easier than they thought.

#9. Best-in-Class Claim Service

Nothing is certain and insurance plan claims are no exception. However, skilled and determined experts are always at the beck and call of the employees to help them get what they deserve. In other words, claims are managed easily.

#10. Renewal Management

Timely automatic renewal notifications are shared to remind the employees before the policy is about to expire. This ensures that they renew the policy on time and that too in a quick and easy way. Simply said, attention is given so that payments are not delayed.

A Zero Cost Insurance Consulting Platform for Corporate Employees

Elephant.in has a vast clientele and a number of trusted insurers, two factors that speak for the company being a genuine and reliable choice for corporate employees. More than 10 lakh employees have benefited from their association with these talented professionals and are continuing to do so. Combining these reasons together make Elephant.in a great pick for everyone who belongs to the corporate world.

Mainly, there are two kinds of car insurance policies – Third Party Liability Coverage and Comprehensive Coverage.

Before talking about Comprehensive coverage, first, let’s quickly go through the Third Party Liability Coverage.

As per the Indian Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, every individual who owns an automobile, or any other type of vehicle for that matter, is required to have third-party liability coverage.  This coverage offers financial security against losses or damages brought on by the insured’s car to a third party. It pays the third party back for any property loss, physical harm, or unintentional death.

What is a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy?

A comprehensive car insurance policy protects the insured against both third-party liabilities and their own damages.  Since it protects you financially from any damages that may occur unrelated to a collision, it is sometimes known as “other than collision” or “own-damage” car insurance. Any unanticipated events, including accidents, fires, thefts, and natural disasters, are covered by a comprehensive car insurance policy. Thus, both the insured and the third party are covered.

The Advantages Of Purchasing Comprehensive Car Insurance

Any unanticipated occurrence, except collision, is covered by a comprehensive auto insurance policy. It also provides coverage for losses sustained in an accident. Here are some of the many additional advantages of this “other than collision” cover:

• It offers your vehicle the finest degree of protection possible
• With comprehensive automobile insurance, you may claim damages suffered in such circumstances even if you were at fault in an accident
• It covers claims made against you in court, including legal costs, as a consequence of an accident
• Financial security and peace of mind
• Financial aid if your car is written off
• In contrast to third-party insurance, it protects against damage to your own vehicle during an accident

What Is Covered by Comprehensive Insurance?

Comprehensive car insurance covers the 3 following things:

1. Third-Party Liability

• Damages caused to the property of the third party.
• Death or injuries caused to the third party.
• Death of the insured vehicle’s owner.
• At an additional premium, the demise of the insured vehicle’s driver is also covered.
• At an additional premium, the demise of the passengers travelling in the insured vehicle is also covered.
• At an additional premium, the permanent total disability of the insured vehicle’s owner, passengers, and the driver is also covered.

2. Own Damage

• Natural disasters like storms, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes,  etc.
• Damage suffered in an accident involving the insured vehicle.
• Terrorism
• Explosions, fire, and civil commotions
• Falling objects
• Stealing and damage

3. Personal Accident Cover

• Death of the life insured
• Loss of two limbs, loss of vision in both eyes, loss of one limb, or loss of one eye.
• Permanent disability due to injuries other than those already mentioned.

What are the Exclusions of Comprehensive Insurance?

If an accident causes damage to your automobile, you cannot file a compensation claim without having comprehensive coverage at the time of the accident. Similarly, several items are not covered by comprehensive auto insurance:

• Depreciation
• Natural deterioration of the vehicle (wear and tear)
• Mechanical or electrical failure
• Damages to the car resulting from a driver driving without a legal license
• Damage brought on by drunk driving
• Damage incurred from intoxicated driving (under the influence of drugs)
• Independent tire and tube damage (not due to a covered collision)
• Vehicle loss or damage caused by mutiny, war, or nuclear risk

Conclusion

There is no doubt that a comprehensive car insurance policy typically offers broader coverage. However, Please note that each policy is unique, and you must read it thoroughly to understand the inclusions and exclusions.

In case of queries, feel free to write us at support@elephant.in or call at 1800 266 9693.

Every year at this time, people start talking about taxes and investments that can reduce their taxable income. And it’s crucial that you only use legal ways while trying to lessen your tax burden. Elephant.in can help with that.

In this article, we have outlined a legal strategy you may use to not only reduce your tax burden but also create a sizeable fund for you and your family’s health emergencies.

One of the legal tax-saving avenues is Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, which allow you to get tax benefits on health insurance premium(s) paid from your income up to a limit of ₹ 1,00,000. Let us understand this Section in detail.

Health Insurance Tax Benefit in India

Under Section 80D, you can avail income tax deductions against healthcare-related expenses and payment of health insurance premium. The amount of tax deductions that you can claim under Section 80D depends on the number of people included under the health insurance coverage as follows:

• A policy that covers individual, spouse, and children (no member is a senior citizen) – a maximum of ₹ 25,000
• A policy that covers individual, spouse, and children + parents who are not senior citizens – a maximum of ₹ 50,000
• A policy that covers individual, spouse, and children + parents who are senior citizens – a maximum of ₹ 75,000
• A policy that covers individual, spouse, and children where you or your spouse is a senior citizen + parents who are senior citizens – a maximum of ₹ 1,00,000
• Section 80D also covers payment made for preventive health check-ups, critical illness life insurance plan and other health-related riders provided under a life insurance policy.

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It’s almost the end of the third quarter of the current financial year and is the right time to start planning your investments for the year and save some of your hard-earned tax money.

You can visit Elephant.in to choose your preferred insurance company, compare various plans and buy the one that best fits your requirements.

Tax Disclaimer: Tax benefits are defined by the Income Tax Act of 1961 and are subject to any future changes. It is suggested that you consult with a tax consultant.

Source: https://incometaxindia.gov.in/

People begin discussing taxes and investments that can lower their taxable income around this time of the year. It’s vital that you only reduce your tax bill using legal means. That is where Elephant.in can help.

In this post, we’ve covered a one of the most-opted legal ways you can employ to – not only lower your tax bill but also build up a sizable emergency fund – that can protect you and your loved ones in uncertain situations.

One of these legal tax-saving options is Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, which enables you to receive tax benefits on expenses from your income up to a maximum of ₹1,50,000. Let’s take a closer look at this Section.

Life Insurance Tax Benefits in India

One of the most well-known and preferred tax-saving options is Section 80C – because it enables taxpayers to make tax-saving investments like life insurance products to lower their taxable income.

It allows a maximum annual deduction of ₹ 1,50,000 from the total yearly income.

For example, You are a 26-year-old individual, that falls under the highest tax slab rate of 30% having an annual income of less than Rs 50 lakhs. You have opted for the old tax regime.

You have purchased a term life insurance plan from Elephant.in. for an annualized Premium of ₹19,500 for a Premium Payment Term and a Policy Term of 36 years. You get a life cover of ₹ 2 crores. In the case of your unfortunate demise, your nominee will get a lump sum payout of ₹ 2 crores.

As per 30%, the tax on ₹ 19,500 is ₹5,850
+
Education Cess of ₹ 234 at 4% of ₹45,000
=
You save ₹5,616 in a year

In this way, you can save ₹5,616 X 34 years (premium paying term) = ₹ 2,02,176

Additionally, you get the following benefits from a term life insurance plan:

• Life cover  of over ₹ 2 Crore
• You save ₹ 2.02 lakhs in tax benefits under Section 80C
• Get tax-free pay-out under Section 10(10D)

Suggested Read: How much term insurance cover do I need?

It’s almost the end of third quarter of the current financial year and is the right time to start planning your investments for the year and save some of your hard-earned tax money.

You can visit Elephant.in to choose your preferred insurance company, compare various plans and buy the one that best fits your requirements.

Tax Disclaimer: Tax benefits are defined by the Income Tax Act of 1961 and are subject to any future changes. It is suggested that you consult with a tax consultant.

Source: https://incometaxindia.gov.in/

People looking for term life insurance coverage frequently ask us, “How much term life cover do I need? ” The amount of life insurance that each person needs will vary depending on a variety of circumstances. In this post, we will discuss the factors that will influence how much life insurance you need.

3 Important Factors to Consider

Before choosing any life insurance plan, consider the following three most crucial factors to take into account while deciding how much term life cover is required:

• Does it cover your financial liabilities and loans?

Even if something unfortunate were to happen to you, unpaid debts like your home loan or car loan would still need to be repaid. In addition, you can have further unpaid debts. Make a list of all these liabilities and do the math to determine your total amount owed that must be paid regardless of what.

• Does it include both primary and secondary education for your kids?

If you are the sole breadwinner for the family, you are responsible for your child’s financial stability. Your child shouldn’t be denied the education s/he needs in the event of your unfortunate demise. Hence, determine a likely cost based on the program and institution you want to register your child in.

For example, A 4-year engineering program, which costs around 5 to 8 lakhs today, by 2025, it would likely cost at least 15–16 lakhs. Further, it is likely to reach 20 lakhs by 2030 and 35 lakhs by 2040. Hence, keep the inflation rate in mind while calculating the cost.

• Does it cover replace your current income?

Your family’s monthly expenses, such as those for groceries, transportation, medical care, and housekeeping, are also covered by your current salary.

These expenses could change if an unexpected incident occurs or if you retire. Say the monthly expenses for your household are ₹ 45,000 at the moment. Due to rising prices and an improvement in the level of living, this may rise in the future. Hence, decide how much you might need to spend annually to cover the family’s essential costs.

Calculate the Coverage You Require

After you’ve finished, add up all these numbers to get an idea of the total life cover you require. Your term plan’s sum assured must cover the expenses. If it is, you can relax knowing you have enough protection. It is that simple!

The Final Step

Now analyze and compare every term life insurance plan offered on Elephant.in and buy the one that seems most reasonable. Do not forget the premium cost that you will have to pay each month or annually while making this decision.

Life is unpredictable. Unexpected events may be beyond our control, but we can plan our family’s financial protection against them efficiently. In this aspect, one of the best tools for ensuring that your family never runs out of money is term life insurance.

A term insurance policy is a straightforward and cost-effective approach.

Having complete knowledge will enable you to make an informed choice, which will ultimately result in a stress-free future. Hence, before you decide to search online for the best term insurance policy, let’s understand how it works.

How a Term Life Insurance Work?

Here is how a term life insurance policy works:

• Step 1: You choose to buy a particular term insurance plan that fits best with your requirements.
• Step 2: You choose the sum assured or coverage amount that your nominee will receive in the unfortunate incident of your (life insured’s) demise.
• Pro Tip: To decide the coverage amount – try the DIME formula. Add your debt, income, mortgage, and education costs along with the salary needed for the number of years your loved ones require protection. You’ll get an idea of the needed coverage.
• Step 3: You choose the tenure of the policy i.e., the policy term and the duration of premiums to be paid i.e., the premium paying term – based on your earning years.
• Step 4: The life insurance company determines the premium amount to be paid based on a number of factors like your age, your overall health, sum assured, policy term, preferred term for paying premiums, and so on.
• Step 5: Decide the nominee(s). The death benefits do not need to go to just one person. You can split it between your adult children and spouse. In case you don’t have a family, leave the benefits to a friend, a charitable organization or a trust.
• Step 6: You buy the term insurance plan and in return you pay premiums.

Life Cover/ Death Benefit:

In the tragic circumstance, if the life insured passes away, the death benefit is given to the life assured’s nominee, and the life insurance policy is terminated.

Maturity Benefit:

Because a term plan is a “pure-risk” cover, if the life insured lives to the end of the policy term, there is no maturity benefit. Nevertheless, only in the case of “term insurance with return of premium plans” – if the life insured lives, s/he is given the agreed maturity benefit, which is the total premiums paid minus taxes, additional premiums, and so on.

With so many options available in the market, selecting the best term life insurance plan for you can be a task. However, Elephant.in can help you.

Contact us and we will arrange a meeting for you with our financial experts who will help you take a right decision without charging anything for their service. Dial 1800 266 9693 or email us at support@elephant.in.

Between 2021 and 2022, Indian ownership of term insurance plans increased from 39% to 43% ¹.

Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize the importance of having a term life insurance plan!

It’s a type of plan that provides pay-out to your nominee(s) in the case of your unfortunate demise.  This pay-out will not only protect your loved ones from a sudden loss of income but also help paying back the unpaid loans such as home loans, student loans, etc.

Even though it’s smart to buy term insurance early, you still have time! So, yes! It is worth buying term insurance in your 50s. Here’s why:

5 Benefits of Buying Term Insurance in Your 50s

Here are the five most important benefits of buying term insurance in your 50s:

1. Replace Lost Income and Pay Living Expenses

Irrespective of your age when you die, a term plan can help your dependents make up for the lost source of income, especially if you were the sole breadwinner. The pay-out received can help them pay their living expenses.

2. Meet Your Family’s Lifestyle Needs

Over time, our lifestyle requirements change. Alongside, inflation keeps rising and that brings down our purchasing power. The pay-out that your nominees get from term insurance can financially aid them to maintain their lifestyle.

3. Protection against Liabilities

You may have taken out loans to buy a house, a car, and other assets. You can rest assured that even if you pass away, the burden from these loans won’t put your family in financial danger. If something tragic happens, the payment from the term plan might be able to pay off the loan(s). Moreover, his gives them peace of mind to focus on their own needs.

4. Financial Security for Children

Your kids are growing and so are their costs to have a stable livelihood. The maturity benefit of term insurance can also help financially secure the future of your children, at least until they start earning themselves.

5. Tax Benefits

Taxpayers may claim specific tax benefits in accordance with the guidelines set in the Income Tax Act. The most often claimed tax benefits fall under Section 80C and Section 10(10D). Please note that the tax norms are subject to change.

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To conclude, you can enjoy the above benefits irrespective of the age at which you opt for term insurance. So, compare and buy the best term life insurance plan most suited for your and your family’s future financial security.

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Tax Disclaimer: Tax benefits are defined by the Income Tax Act of 1961 and are subject to any future changes. It is suggested that you consult with a tax consultant.
Sources: https://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/term-insurance-ownership-has-risen-to-43-from-36-in-two-years-ipq-survey-122022300838_1.html

Every two-wheeler owner is required to have at least a third-party insurance plan to ride a bike or a scooter in India. As per Indian Motor Traffic laws, it is illegal to drive without a 3^rd party insurance in the country. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a bike insurance plan without fail. Not renewing the bike insurance on time could result in the lapse of the policy. This is in effect, an expiry of the policy.

Bike insurance policy renewal can be easily done online rather than visiting the insurance company’s branch office. The policy can still be revived, even if you missed the deadline. It’s better to renew a policy than take a new one, as you do not need to be on-boarded once again. The insurer already has all your details.

Many insurance companies remind their policyholder through emails, calls, WhatsApp or texts as their insurance premium payment date approaches. Sometimes we tend to miss these when we don’t see the appropriate communication or we forget to make payments in time. However, if you have missed the renewal date of your insurance policy, immediately get in touch with your insurance company.

The first step you can take is to call your insurance company and ask for assistance related to policy renewal. In case you have lost track of your two-wheeler insurance renewal date or have missed renewing it before the due date, try to check your details online first. In situations where you are only paying after the due date, insurance providers avoid vehicle inspections.

There are two ways to renew your lapsed two-wheeler insurance plan i.e. online and offline. Follow these steps to complete the two-wheeler insurance renewal online after expiry:

1. Check if you have all the policy requirements ready with you. You can make changes to your policy at the time of renewal.
2. Login to your insurer’s website.
3. Enter the details related to your bike.
4. Select the type of bike insurance policy.
5. Select add-ons if required.
6. Make a payment through available payment methods.

Your two-wheeler insurance will be renewed and your renewed bike insurance policy will be sent to your registered email.

Consider the following points before purchasing/renewing a two-wheeler insurance policy.

1. Be aware of fraudulent offers
2. Never click on unknown links, asking you to renew on other platforms
3. Ensure that the insurer’s authorized signature is there on all policy documents.
4. Always ask for a payment receipt.

When purchasing two-wheeler insurance, the best way to do it is online, on a reputed website like Elephant.in. This way you can compare different bike insurance quotes and get insured with the best policy.

International travel can be scary and fun! Did you know that some tourists are known to travel with chefs who can cook food for them – while they travel? This can be a wise decision for most vegetarians who may or may not find the food they need in smaller countries! To what extent should this be done? Should you travel with a Doctor too? The point is you can be careful, but you cannot prepare for everything – it’s practically impossible.

Life is erratic, and the risks only multiply when you are in a foreign land among people you don’t know. There is no guarantee that your trip will go as per plan. You are highly vulnerable from being robbed to meeting an accident or missing your flight. Your trip can take the most unexpected turns in the most inconvenient of times. This is where having travel insurance can come to your aid.

A travel insurance policy can help you maximize the benefits of travelling and ensure that you are prepared for any circumstance in your journey. Here are a few reasons to consider buying a travel insurance policy:

1. Support in case of medical emergencies

Being in a medical emergency while in a different country or on a flight is completely different from just being ill. Getting medical treatment abroad can be very expensive. Furthermore, instances of medical evacuation from the country will add to your expenses.

Having a travel insurance policy with an adequate cover that protects medical hospitalization/expenses, will save you from hefty medical bills. Your insurance provider can also connect you to the right doctors and hospitals for getting prompt medical care.

2. Retrieve flight scheduling and cancellation fees

Cancelling or rescheduling flights due to bad weather, strikes, or medical emergencies, can disturb your travel plans. Without travel insurance, you might end up paying the flight cancellation charges. With travel insurance, such charges can be taken care of, and you can enjoy your vacation as planned.

3. Replacement of stolen or lost luggage

Misplaced or theft of your luggage is not uncommon when travelling. Be it the loss of your debit/credit card/passport or a broken phone due to the carelessness of an airline baggage handler, the right travel insurance will cover you.

4. Protection against personal liability

A travel insurance policy can come to your aid if you are responsible for property damage or any injury suffered by a third party. Instead of being a victim, you could be at fault in a certain situation and have to compensate for damages. A travel insurance policy can cover you in such scenarios too.

5. Safeguard your home when you travel

Certain travel insurers provide security to your house while you travel abroad. Protection against expenses incurred due to burglary or fire falls under this plan.

6. Stress-free travel and stays

With an appropriate travel insurance policy, you can enjoy a stress-free journey while reclaiming losses against uncertain events. It helps to compensate for longer stays due to poor health. It will cover you till you are healthy to travel again.

A travel insurance policy is a must for those who want to make the most of their travel/ vacation. With several insurance plans available on Elephant, you can compare and get the best one for yourself.