Vehicle Inspection During Commercial Vehicle Insurance Renewal

What is Commercial Vehicle Inspection?

Commercial vehicle insurance companies often conduct a vehicle inspection before issuing a policy. It is a process to check the condition of the commercial vehicle, spot pre-existing damages, and verify if the vehicle will be a legal identity for the insurer.

Is Vehicle Inspection Mandatory for Commercial Vehicle Insurance Renewal?

No, vehicle inspection is not mandatory while renewing commercial vehicle insurance every time. The inspection usually depends on the type of the policy you wish to buy and the expiry date of your previous policy.

The inspection is only done in case of comprehensive commercial vehicle insurance. If the commercial vehicle insurance policy is renewed before its expiry date, the insurer may renew the policy without physically inspecting the vehicle. However, if the policy has lapsed, the insurer may require an inspection before issuing a fresh policy.

Generally, if you wish to renew a third-party commercial vehicle insurance, an inspection may not be required.

When is a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Required?

Commercial vehicle inspection may be required in the following situations:

When is a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Not Required?

Inspection is generally not required in the following scenarios:

• The commercial vehicle insurance policy is renewed before the existing policy expires.
• There is no break in insurance coverage.
• The renewal is with the same insurer, and the policy details remain unchanged.
• You are only buying a liability-only policy for your commercial vehicles.

However, the exact requirement can differ between insurers and policies.

What Happens During a Commercial Vehicle Inspection?

Commercial vehicle insurance companies check several things during a vehicle inspection before issuing a fresh policy. Here are some of the common things that are verified:

Documents Required for Commercial Vehicle Insurance Renewal

The documents required may vary depending on the insurer, vehicle and policy. Commonly required documents include:

• Registration Certificate (RC)
• Existing commercial vehicle insurance policy
• Valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
• Driving licence of the vehicle driver, where required
• Fitness Certificate for applicable transport vehicles
• Valid permit, where applicable
• Vehicle loan or hypothecation details, if applicable
• Previous claim details, where required

Does Vehicle Inspection Affect Commercial Vehicle Insurance Premium?

Commercial vehicle inspection can help the insurer assess the condition and risk associated with the vehicle being insured. The inspection may not result in increasing the premium, but it incurs some additional charges. Since commercial vehicle insurance premium depends on several factors, such as vehicle make, model, IDV, etc., inspection will generally not increase the premium. It may identify pre-existing damage that is excluded from coverage, rather than directly affecting the premium in every case.

What Happens if the Commercial Vehicle Fails Pre-Policy Inspection?

Here is what can happen if your commercial vehicle fails the pre-policy inspection:

• Your insurer has the option to deny and not issue the policy if your vehicle fails the pre-policy inspection.
• Additionally, the insurer can exclude the damages and then issue the commercial vehicle insurance.
• You can get the damages repaired all by yourself and request for an inspection again to get the policy issued.
• You can issue a third-party commercial vehicle insurance.

How to Renew Commercial Vehicle Insurance When an Inspection is Required?

Check out the process to renew your expired commercial vehicle insurance via Policybazaar Insurance below:

• Visit Policybazaar.com
• Click on 'Commercial Vehicle Insurance' from the homepage
• Enter your registration number and click on 'View Prices'
• All the available plans will be displayed with its specific requirements.
• Some plans will be issued without inspection (such as third party policy). On the other hand, some plans will require either a self video inspection or an offline assessment.
• You must also keep your permits and contract ready and click on 'Buy Now'
• Verify all the details and select 'Summary and Payment'
• Pay the premium and the inspection process will be mentioned.
• Your policy will be issued once the self inspection or the offline inspection is completed within the specified time frame.

Tips to Avoid Inspection-Related Delays During Renewal

Commercial vehicle owners can take a few steps to make the renewal process smoother and skip the pre-policy inspection:

• Renew the commercial vehicle insurance policy before its expiry date.
• Keep the RC and other vehicle documents updated.
• Have a valid PUC certificate.
• Repair visible damage before an inspection where appropriate to avoid rejections.
• Keep the previous insurance policy handy.
• Complete the self inspection video on time