Can you Get Car Insurance if you don't have a Driving License?

In order to drive on public roads of India, it is mandatory to buy car insurance and fulfil your legal obligation. You should purchase a comprehensive insurance policy in order to safeguard yourself from the financial risks related to road accidents.

Read more

At the time of buying car insurance policy, you need to submit the required documents such as vehicle registration copy, identity proof and address proof etc. If you do not have a valid Driving License and you will drive the vehicle, then you must obtain it without any delay.

Importance of Driving License

Driving License is a document that makes you eligible to drive on the Indian roads. If you drive on Indian roads without a Driving License, you could be penalized. When a car is driven by a licensed driver, it ensures that the driver is capable of exercising complete control of the vehicle and the driver will follow the road signs and traffic rules and regulations.

If the vehicle is driven by an unlicensed driver, there will be a risk to the driver, the car and third party. Though it is not guaranteed that there won't be any road accident when the vehicle is driven by a licensed driver, it reduces the risk to a certain extent. Additionally, it makes the claim request valid.

Invalid Insurance Claim

If you have a comprehensive insurance plan and your vehicle is involved in an accident, you will have to file the car insurance claim with the insurance company.

The following documents should be submitted to the insurance company:

• Copy of insurance policy
• Copy of the car registration certificate
• Copy of FIR
• Copy of Driving License (of the person who was driving at the time of the accident)
• Duly filled claim form
• Original estimation of repairs

The insurance company will follow the guidelines of the IRDA (Insurance Regulatory Authority of India). As per the guidelines, it is mandatory for the car driver to have a valid Driving License. Hence, if the person who was driving the car at the time of the accident didn’t have the licence, the claim will be rejected by the insurance company.

Note -You should be fully aware of the terms and conditions of the insurance policy. If you are the owner of the vehicle, you should possess a valid driving license when you drive the car. If your car is driven by your family member, he/she should possess a valid driving license when they drive the car.

What is the Learner's Driving License?

Before issuing the Driving License, the concerned authority issues the Learner’s Driving License.

There can be instances where your vehicle could be driven by a person who holds a Learner’s Driving License. In those cases, the learner should be accompanied by a person who holds the valid driving license.

Features of the Learner’s Driving License

Here are the features of the Learner’s Driving License:

• Issued by a Competent Authority - The Learner’s Driving License is issued by a competent authority.
• Valid throughout the Country - The learner’s license issued by any State or Union Territory is valid in all other States and Union Territories throughout the country.
• Validity - The learner’s license is valid for up to 6 months from the date of issue.
• Key to Permanent License - The Learner’s Driving License holder is eligible to apply for a permanent driving license. That being said, he/she must pass the driving test in order to obtain the permanent driving license.

Eligibility Criteria for Learner’s Driving License

The eligibility criteria for obtaining Learner’s Driving License is:

• Vehicle with Gear - If the applicant has to drive a vehicle with gear, he/she must be18 years old or above.
• Vehicle without Gear - If the applicant has to drive a vehicle without gear, he/she must be16 years old or above.
• Awareness of Traffic Rules - The applicant should be aware of the traffic rules in order to apply for the Learner’s Driving License.

Documents Required for Learner’s Driving License

The following documents are required to apply for a learner’s license:

• 3 copies of latest passport photographs of the applicant.
• Proof of Age - Any one of the following documents can be submitted as a proof of age.
• Birth certificate issued by the Registrar of births.
• SSC (Secondary School Certificate) issued by the State Board of Secondary Education or equivalent.
• PAN (Permanent Account Number) Card issued by Income Tax Department, Government of India.
• Passport issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
• Proof of Residence - Any of the following documents can be submitted as proof of residence:
• Voter Identity Card
• Passport
• Ration Card
• Aadhaar Card
• Income Tax Returns
• Utility bill (Electricity or Water or Telephone)

Learner’s Test

Here is the learner’s test information that you must know:

• Written Test - The first step is a written The test comprises of 10 questions and the duration of the test is 10 minutes. The test paper is about traffic rules and regulations and road signs. In order to pass the test, the applicant must get a minimum of 6 marks.
• If the applicant fails the test, he/she can re-attempt the test again after 7 days.
• When the applicant passes the test, he/she will be eligible to obtain the Learner’s Driving License. It will be mailed to his/her residential address.
• After obtaining the Learner’s Driving License, the applicant can apply for the permanent driving license.

Driving the Vehicle

After obtaining the Learner’s Driving License, the applicant is eligible to drive the vehicle. The learner must paste  ‘L’ alphabet in the front side and back side of the vehicle to notify the commuters.

The next step is to obtain the permanent driving license.

Permanent Driving License Requirements

The applicant should possess the Learner’s Driving License for at least 30 days before applying for a permanent Driving License.

• Learner’s Driving License - The Learner’s License Number should be filled in the application form.
• Fee Payment - It should be paid at the RTO Office. The fees include the license fee and the smart card fee.
• Driving Skill Test - The applicant should pass the driving skill test at the RTO premises.
• Biometrics and Photo - If the applicant passes the driving skill test, his/her biometrics and photo will be captured at the RTO.
• Smart Card - The driving license card will be dispatched to the residential address of the applicant.

Now that you know everything about the Driving License, let's move to car insurance.

Car Insurance Policy

There are two types of car insurance plans offered by car insurance companies in India.

• Third-party insurance
• Comprehensive insurance

Third-party Motor Insurance

The third-party car insurance plan is the basic car insurance plan that you can buy from any insurance company. It will fulfil your legal obligation and it makes you eligible to drive your car on public roads without any issues.

The insurance plan fulfils your liability arising from the third-party damages as per the terms and conditions of the policy.

If the driver or passenger of the third-party car is injured or passed away in the accident, the insurance company will pay for the damages.

Exclusions of Third-Party Insurance

Here are the exclusions of third-party insurance:

• Protection of Driver/Passengers - No coverage is provided for driver/ passengers in the car.
• Protection of Car - No coverage is provided for own damages caused to the car.

Comprehensive Motor Insurance

As the name suggests, a comprehensive insurance policy provides coverage to the insured vehicle, driver and passengers. Additionally, it fulfils the third-party liability.

Here are the features of comprehensive motor insurance:

• Coverage for Driver - The insurance plan will cover the risk associated with the death or injury of the driver. The insurance coverage will be provided to the owner of the vehicle (if he drives the car with a valid license) or any other driver (who possesses a valid driving license).
• Coverage for passenger - The insurance policy offers coverage for the passengers as per the capacity of the vehicle. If you are insuring a large vehicle whose capacity is 7 passengers or more (including the driver), you will have to pay an enhanced premium to cover all the passengers.
• Coverage for Own Damage - If your car is damaged in an accident, the repair expenses will be covered. The coverage will be provided as per the IDV i.e. Insured Declared Value of the vehicle as stated in the insurance policy.
• Coverage for Third-Party - The insurance policy will cover the third-party damages/ injuries.

If you need the complete protection of your car, you should buy a comprehensive insurance plan.

However, if you have an old car whose market value is negligible, you can go for a third-party car insurance policy. If you are not happy with the basic vehicle insurance coverage, you can avail add-on covers.

In a Nutshell

Now you know that having a valid driving license is mandatory to file a claim for your insurance policy. However, it is not mandatory in order to buy a car insurance plan. You can go through various kinds of car insurance plans and select the best plan to cover various risk factors in terms of vehicle, driver, passengers and third-party damages.

You should be aware of the terms and conditions of the claims process so that you can make the most of your car insurance plan.