Things to Keep in Mind Before Installing a CNG Kit in Your Car
With rising pollution and petrol and diesel prices, opting for a CNG kitRead more
Why Choose CNG in Vehicles?
The ever-rising cost of fuel in India is no secret. The price of petrol and diesel are touching the sky making people rethink their travel choices. To top it all, the consumption of petrol and diesel is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases, which are destroying our planet's ozone layer. The only greener alternative available right now is electric cars and cars that run on CNG. But given the high cost of electric cars, using CNG cars is a cost-effective alternative.
CNG or Compressed Natural Gas produces fewer unwanted gases as compared to its counterparts. It is also much safer and quite affordable. To use CNG as an alternative fuel, you can install a CNG kit in your car. Moreover, motor insurers also provide coverage for CNG kits installed in the car. You must also try to choose an appropriate car insurance online that covers the damages even related to the CNG kit.
8 Things to Know Before Opting for a CNG Kit For your Car
Before installing a CNG kit in your car, it is important to understand the technical, legal, and insurance-related factors involved in converting your vehicle to run on compressed natural gas. While CNG is considered a cleaner and more economical fuel option, not every car is suitable to run on CNG. To avoid any costly mistakes, or claim rejections due to a CNG kit, here are 8 important things you must know before installing a CNG kit in your car:
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Check Vehicle Compatibility
Before you decide to install a CNG kit in your car, you must check whether your car is compatible or not. he best way to check your car's compatibility with the installation of a CNG kit is by contacting the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in your area. The RTO issues a list of cars that can be installed with a CNG kit. If your car model is present in the prescribed list of CNG-approved cars, you can install a CNG kit in your car without any second thoughts. Remember that the list of car models permitted for conversion to CNG varies from one place to another and hence, you must make sure to check the list from the RTO of your area only.
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Choose a Genuine and Authentic CNG Kit
Not all CNG kits are authentic. Using a random CNG kit could be the primary reason of claim rejections. Always choose your RTO and ARAI-approved CNG kits that is covered with your car insurance policy. You must get your kit from an authorised dealer or certified installer.
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Using a Retro-Fitted CNG Kit in your Car Requires a License
You cannot use your retro-fitted CNG car legally unless you get approval from your RTO. You must take permission for its usage from the RTO that has jurisdiction in your area. You must update the fuel type in your Registration Certificate (RC) from petrol to CNG. Once verified, the RTO will place a “fuel change” endorsement on your RC. Your vehicle will only be classified as a CNG vehicle after this endorsement is approved.
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High Installation Cost
CNG is a more economical fuel type than petrol or diesel. However, buying a CNG kit from an authorized dealer can be expensive, depending on the make and model of your car. Even though installing a CNG kit it is a one-time investment, the maintenance can be a recurring expense.
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Limited CNG Stations as Compared to Petrol/Diesel
Before you install a CNG kit in your car, always check whether CNG fuel stations are easily accessible in your area. Unlike petrol pumps, there are fewer CNG fueling stations in India. Thus, you need to refuel a CNG car frequently. If you plan to go on a long drive in your car, you must know beforehand about the CNG fueling stations on your route and should also keep a backup container full of petrol/ diesel in case you run out of CNG.
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Compromised Vehicle Performance
After you start using your retro-fitted CNG car, you will notice that the performance of your car is falling with time. This usually happens because a change in fuel type can affect the car's engine. In the case of CNG cars, the lubricant in the form of fuel goes missing, making it more susceptible to corrosion. Thus, your car's performance gets compromised.
As a consequence, you will have to take your car for servicing frequently and your car maintenance cost will go up. Therefore, you must have a motor insurance that offers best coverage for the CNG kit installed in your car.
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CNG Kit Increases Your Car Insurance Premium
As you decide to install a CNG kit in your petrol car, be prepared to pay a higher car insurance premium. The cost of car insurance increases if the fuel type of the car is changed to CNG.
Therefore, if you change the fuel type, it impacts the insurance premiums. Since the cost of maintaining a CNG car is higher than a petrol/ diesel car, the car insurance premiums also increase depending on the make and model.
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Claim Rejection due to Misinformation
You must also inform your insurer about the change of your car's fuel type to CNG as soon as the kit is installed. Do not wait for your policy renewal to inform your insurer about the modification. This is necessary because your insurer can reject a claim in case they are unaware of the change in fuel type at the time of claim settlement.
Summing It Up!
CNG is a greener and more economical fuel alternative to environment-corrosive and expensive petrol/ diesel. But before you install a CNG kit in your car, you must know several crucial things to understand its pros and cons in detail. When you install a CNG kit in your car, you must inform your insurer about the modification as your insurance premium will be impacted except in the case of third-party car insurance. Make sure to compare four-wheeler insurance plans on Policybazaar.com to get coverage for your CNG kit and related costs.
