How to Check If Your Car Insurance Policy is Genuine?

A genuine car insurance policy contains the right details about the policyholder, car, coverage, and policy period. It serves as legal proof that your car is insured with a legit insurance company or aggregator that is approved by IRDAI. This guide breaks down how to verify the authenticity of your car insurance policy, identify signs of a fake policy, and keep yourself safe from insurance frauds.Read more

Simple Ways to Quickly Verify the Authenticity of Your Car Insurance

Follow these simple steps to verify the authenticity of your car insurance policy and ensure it has been issued by a genuine insurer:

1. Review Your Policy Document

   Start by checking your car insurance policy carefully. Ensure that all the details are accurate and the document appears authentic. Look for the following:

   • The policy number, policyholder's name, and insurer's name are correct.
   • The vehicle registration number, engine number, and chassis number match your vehicle.
   • The policy start & expiration dates, type of coverage, add-ons (if selected), and premium amount paid are accurate.

   If there is any incorrect information or discrepancy, contact the insurer to make corrections in your policy.

2. Verify the Policy on the Insurer's Official Website

   Most car insurers in India allow policyholders to verify or access their policy details online. Once you receive your policy, visit the insurer's official website and verify it using:

   • Policy number
   • Vehicle registration number
   • Engine/chassis number

   If no information is fetched or the details do not match, chances are that you might have a fake policy.

   Tip: If you purchased the policy through an agent or broker, verify it directly with the insurance company instead of relying only on the policy document. This helps ensure the policy is genuine and has been issued in your name.

3. Check Whether the Insurer is IRDAI-Authorised

   Next, verify that your car insurance policy is issued by an insurance company registered with IRDAI. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is the official body that regulates and licenses insurance companies in India. Any insurer not listed on IRDAI's official website is not authorised to sell insurance products in the country. To check the IRDAI registration of an insurer:

   • Visit the official IRDAI website.
   • Navigate to 'List of Registered Insurers.'
   • Check if your insurer is mentioned under 'General Insurance.'

   If your insurer isn't listed, you may have purchased fake car insurance from an unauthorised source.

4. Verify the Premium Payment

   Another way to verify the genuineness of your car insurance policy is to ensure that the premium payment has been processed correctly. Check whether:

   • You have received a payment receipt, confirmation email, or SMS from the insurer.
   • The premium was paid through the insurer's official website, mobile app, authorised payment gateway, or a trusted insurance platform.
   • The payment was not made to a personal bank account/UPI ID.
   • The amount mentioned in the payment receipt matches the premium shown in your policy.

   If you do not receive any payment confirmation or notice any discrepancy in the payment details, contact the insurance company immediately to verify your policy and resolve the issue.

5. Select the Right Platform to Buy Policy

   Choosing the right medium to buy car insurance is essential for a genuine policy. You can either go with the offline mode (agents and insurance providers directly) or buy your policy online. If you choose the offline mode, make sure to buy a policy from a reputed insurance provider/agent. However, purchasing it online lets you compare car insurance plans from multiple insurers and review policy coverage and benefits all in one place.

6. Verify the QR Code

   According to the regulations of IRDAI, it is compulsory for every insurance policy sold by the insurer to have a QR code. This code enables you to check the genuineness of the insurance policy. You can quickly scan this QR code through the QR code scanner app of your smartphone. Upon scanning this code, you can see the information and status of your car insurance policy.

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Common Signs That May Indicate a Fake Car Insurance Policy

A fake car insurance policy may look genuine, but these warning signs can help you identify potential fraud:

• The premium is significantly lower than similar policies.
• You are asked to make a payment to a personal bank account or UPI ID.
• The seller insists on making an immediate payment.
• You receive renewal calls or messages from unverified sources.
• The policy document contains incorrect details, spelling errors, or inconsistent branding.
• The policy document appears edited, incomplete, or of poor quality.
• You do not receive an official payment receipt or confirmation from the insurer.

What to Do If You Think Your Car Insurance Policy is Fake?

If you suspect that your car insurance policy is fake, take these steps to avoid financial loss and ensure your car is legally insured:

• Contact the insurer and verify whether the policy has been issued in your name.
• Preserve the policy document, payment receipts, emails, and SMS confirmations as evidence.
• Report the incident to the agent, broker, or platform through which you purchased the policy.
• If the policy is confirmed to be fraudulent, file a complaint with the appropriate authorities.
• Purchase a genuine car insurance policy from an IRDAI-authorised insurer if your vehicle is not covered.