Third-party insurance is a type of insurance that offers extensive insurance coverage to the policyholder (first-party) from the insurance company (second party) in case of a third party liability. It offers comprehensive coverage against liability in case of death, damage or death to a liability.
As per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Third Party Insurance is a statutory requirement. Under this policy, the prime beneficiary of the policy is neither the original insured nor the insurance company, but a pretentious third party. As per the rules, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) of India compute the damages.
Besides the legal clause, Third Party Insurance comes in handy when your vehicle hits another vehicle. You can’t measure the level of damage caused by an accident - it might lead to death as well. In such instances, the victim is allowed to register a case claiming for compensation. Here third party insurance comes into the picture. It covers the insured vehicle in case any liability claim arises out of bodily injury, property damage, or death of the third party. As per the guidelines of IRDA, while there is no limit in case of death, the property damage cover is limited up to Rs. 7.5 lakh in case of car insurance and Rs.1 lakh in case of two wheeler insurance. It is better sticking to third party liability insurance if you own a vehicle that is more than 5 years old.
The legal liability of the insured person is covered under the third party insurance policy in the case of disability or demise of the third party, and any damage or loss to the property of the third party. The third-party liability policy takes care of the financial and legal burden on the insured. Despite the fact that the direct beneficiary is neither the insurance company nor the insurer, but a third party, this is the most crucial benefit that a third party insurance ensures for the owner or the driver of the insured vehicle.
The third party liability insurance can be bought and access easily. You can also renew this policy online by visiting the official website and by following the instructions online.
The coverage offered under third party liability insurance appears exceptionally cost-effective and rewarding in terms of its cost and premium rate. Even if you have to use this as either an essential or an add-on part of the main policy, it benefits you fully. However, at the time of calculating the compensation amount, insured’s annual income is considered.
The following is taken care of by the standard third party car/two wheeler insurance in case of the accident caused by your vehicle results in:
The following salient features are a part and parcel of third party insurance plan:
Third party motor insurance can be categorized into two parts:
Third Party Car Insurance is a risk cover, under which the insurer compensates any legal liabilities claimed by the other party involved in an accident, where the insured vehicle is at fault. As per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, Section 146, plying an uninsured vehicle on Indian roads is an offence. This is why liability insurance is also known as ‘Act Only’ plan. However, the scope of cover doesn’t include damage or loss of the insured vehicle.
Third Party Motor Insurance in India is mandatory by law for all the registered vehicles that are plying on the roads. This rule applies for two-wheelers as well. Non-compliance may lead to the enforcement of legal punishment, which includes hefty fines, and trial under the laws of road safety under the Motor Vehicles Act. So, owing to the risk associated with this type of vehicles (bikes), insuring it with an adequate plan is an ideal decision to keep the stress at a bay.
Policy Coverage
Third Party Liability Insurance for Private Vehicle covers:
Policy Coverage
Third Party Liability Insurance for Commercial Vehicle covers:
Step 1- Application:
The victim or the legal envoy of the departed can make an application against the owner of the vehicle for a third-party liability compensation.
Step 2- Lodge an FIR
Once the application is completed, file an FIR with the police, furnishing the required details. You must have a copy of the FIR and the original records of the expenses incurred by the victim.
Step 3- Approach the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal.
After filling the First Information Report (FIR) successfully, the next step is to register the case with Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal
Step 4- Get the Cover Amount
There is no pre-decided limit for claiming third party insurance. The insurer compensates the full amount decided by the court in its final verdict. However, IRDA limits the cover for property damage up to 7.5 lakh.
NOTE: The police complaint must have the following information:
When you meet with a road accident, whom do you blame?
Do you blame yourself, the careless driver or the roads filled with potholes, or hard luck? Nobody takes the charge or no one wants to pay out-of-the-pocket. That's where a comprehensive & third party car insurance policy comes to your rescue and acts as a Savior!
When you already accept the importance of owning car insurance, the next question that immediately comes to your mind is, "What kind of car insurance should I choose?"
Let us help you!
Car insurance can be classified into two types: Third-party Car Insurance and Comprehensive Car Insurance.
As you already know, Third-party car insurance protects you from any liability claimed by a third party due to injury or property damage in an accident. Without this cover, you are not allowed to ply your vehicle on roads. Comprehensive car insurance is quite extensive in nature. It safeguards your vehicle from natural and man-made calamities. Any damage to your car due to vandalism, earthquake, flood, storm, strike, riot, terrorist attack, or theft etc. will be taken care of by this plan. While third party insurance only covers third party liability, Comprehensive insurance covers the insured for own damage as well as third party liability. That’s the reason, mostly the experts recommend this insurance plan to ensure optimum protection. Here are the benefits for which, the comprehensive plan appears more appealing:
| Third Party Liability Insurance | Comprehensive Car Insurance |
| The insurance premium is less | Offers a wide range of coverage but comes with considerably high premium |
| Covers bodily injury and accidental death caused to the third party | Covers accidental damages to the insured/insured vehicle and third-party liability as well |
| Covers property damage caused to the third party | Covers damages owing to man-made and natural calamities |
| In case the value of your vehicle is low, it's worth taking third party car insurance | This cover is beneficial for luxury or expensive cars that offers protection against all damages |
| Only liability coverage is offered | Compensates the insured for more than vehicular collision |
As per the recent guidelines from IRDA, all general insurers are instructed to offer long-term third party insurance for new vehicles. As per this, all insurers to offer three-year third party insurance for cars and five-year third party insurance for two wheelers. However, this will slightly impact on the premiums to be paid in the near future.
| S. No. | Category | Description of Vehicle Class | Premiums w.e.f. June 16, 2019 (in Rs.) | |
| 1 | Third-Party Insurance Premium For Private Cars* | |||
| Less than 1000 CC | 2,072.00 | |||
| More than 1000CC but less than 1500CC | 3,221.00 | |||
| More than 1500CC | 7,890.00 | |||
| 2 | Third-Party Insurance Premium For Two Wheelers | |||
| Less than 75CC | 482.00 | |||
| More than 75CC but less than 150CC | 752.00 | |||
| More than 150CC but less than 350CC | 1,193.00 | |||
| More than 350CC | 2,323.00 | |||
| 3 | A1 | Public Carrier Vehicles that Carry Goods (other than 3-wheelers) | ||
| GVW less than 7500 Kgs | 15,746.00 | |||
| More than 7500 Kgs but less than 12000 Kgs | 26,935.00 | |||
| More than 12000 Kgs but less than 20000 Kgs | 33,418.00 | |||
| More than 20000 Kgs but less than 40000 Kgs | 43,037.00 | |||
| More than 40000 Kgs | 41,561.00 | |||
| 4 | A2 | Private Carrier Vehicles that Carry Goods (other than 3-wheelers) | ||
| GVW less than 7500 Kgs | 8,438.00 | |||
| More than 7500 Kgs but less than 12000Kgs | 17,204.00 | |||
| More than 12000 Kgs but less than 20000 Kgs | 10,876.00 | |||
| More than 20000 Kgs but less than 40000 Kgs | 17,476.00 | |||
| More than 40000 Kgs | 24,825.00 | |||
| 5 | A3 | Public Carriers Vehicles Carrying Motorised 3-wheelers and Motorised Pedal Cycles | ||
| Other than E-carts | 4,092.00 | |||
| E-Carts | 2,859.00 | |||
| 6 | A4 | Private Carriers Vehicles Carrying Motorised 3-wheelers and Motorised Pedal Cycles | ||
| Other than E-carts | 3,914.00 | |||
| E-carts | 3,204.00 | |||
| 7 | B | Trailers | ||
| Agricultural Tractors up to 6 HP | 857.00 | |||
| Vehicles that include Special and Miscellaneous Type of Vehicles (Class-C) | 2,341.00 | |||
| 8 | D | Special Types of Vehicles | ||
| (i) Agricultural Tractors controlled by Pedestrian with 6 HP, Plane Loaders and Hearses | 1,550.00 | |||
| (ii) Other Special and miscellaneous types of vehicles | 6,847.00 | |||
| 9 | E | Motor Trade (Road Transit Risks) | ||
| (i) Distance not more that 2400 kms | 1,055.00 | |||
| (ii) Distance more than 2400 kms | 1,268.00 | |||
| 10 | F | Motor Trade (Road Risks) (Excludes Motorised 2-wheelers) (Trade Certificate or Named Driver) | ||
| 1st Name certificate or driver | 1,345.00 | |||
| For additional certificates/drivers up to 5 (per certificate/driver) | 651.00 | |||
| For additional certificates/drivers more than 5 but less than 10 (per certificate/driver) | 419.00 | |||
| For additional certificates/drivers more than 10 but less than 15 (per certificate/driver) | 363.00 | |||
| 11 | F | Motor Trade (Road Risks) (Motorised 2-wheelers) (Trade Certificate or Named Driver) | ||
| 1st Name certificate or driver | 515.00 | |||
| For each additional certificate/driver | 257.00 | |||
| 12 | C1a | 4-wheelers used to carry passengers for reward or hire with a capacity of maximum 6 passengers | Basic TP Premium (A) | Premium (per licensed passenger) (B)# |
| Less than 1000CC | 5,769.00 | 1,110.00 | ||
| More than 1000CC but less than 1500CC | 7,584.00 | 934.00 | ||
| More than 1500CC | 10,051.00 | 1,067.00 | ||
| 13 | C1b | 3-wheeler used to carry passengers for reward or hire with a capacity of maximum 6 passengers | ||
| E-rickshaw | 2,595.00 | 1,241.00 | ||
| Vehicles other than E-rickshaw | 1,685.00 | 806.00 | ||
| 14 | C2 | Vehicles with 4 or more wheels used to carry passengers with a capacity of maximum 6 passengers for hire or reward | ||
| School Buses | 13,874 | 848 | ||
| Other Buses | 14,494 | 886 | ||
| 15 | C3 | Motorised 3-wheeler passenger vehicles used to carry passengers for reward or hire with a capacity of more than 6 passengers but less than 17 passengers | 6,913.00 | 1,379.00 |
| 16 | C2 | 3-wheeler passenger vehicle used to carry passengers for reward or hire with a capacity of more than 17 passengers | 15,845.00 | 969.00 |
| 17 | C4 | Motorised 2-wheelers used to carry passengers for reward and hire | ||
| Not more than 75CC | 861.00 | 580.00 | ||
| More than 75CC but less than 150CC | 861.00 | 580.00 | ||
| More than 150CC but less than 350CC | 861.00 | 580.00 | ||
| More than 350CC | 2,254.00 | 580.00 | ||
| *Vintage Cars: A discount of 25% shall be permitted for private cars under the Vintage Cars segment that is certified as Vintage Cars by Vintage and Classic Car Club of India as the erstwhile IMT. | ||||
| # TP Premium is the total of the Basic TP Premium (A) along with an amount derived by the multiplication of the Licensed carrying capacity by the amount in (B) | ||||
Like, in the basic motor insurance plan, the standard third party insurance is not applicable to certain situations. The following is a list of a few such situations:
The details in the list above are the most common exceptions; you must check your documents of the policy for a comprehensive list of exclusions.
Once you’ve decided on the plan, the next step is to compare third party motor insurance online. Online comparison helps you get the best deals that meet your requirements. You can compare the plans on the parameters like benefits, features, coverage, claim settlement process, premium etc. We, at Policybazaar.com, help you compare these plans in the blink of an eye. You just need to visit our official website, fill in the relevant information and compare third party car insurance plans or two wheeler insurance from a relatively large number of insurers. Once you find a plan that suits your budget and requirements, then you can proceed to purchase it directly from our website. This way, with an adequate Third Party Insurance, ride your passion into the sunset with gusto!
What is third-party insurance?
In simple words, when any accident results in death/injury/damage to a third party by your vehicle, then the offended party has the right to raise a claim for damages. This claim will be satisfied by your third-party liability policy. In exchange for this, you will not receive any monetary benefits.
As a part of this policy, what is the highest compensation offered?
In the case of death or bodily injuries, there is no particular ceiling with reference to the amount of compensation. However, in the case of damage to the property of the third party, the insurance company will compensate only a maximum of Rs. 7.5 lakhs.
Can I skip buying third-party car insurance? I drive my vehicle really well.
No. Third-Party Car Insurance is obligatory for all motor vehicles. Third party risk insurance is compulsory under the statute of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. You may be a good driver, but it does not negate the fact, that the vehicle you drive can become the victim of a disaster that was caused by another vehicle. In such a situation, you will be grateful that the driver involved has a third-party car insurance cover that you can raise a claim on.
What documents do I need to submit while raising a third-party motor insurance claim?
The documents you need to submit include:
How much time do I get to raise a claim on the third-party liability car insurance policy after an accident?
As it is said that the early bird catches the worm, you must begin the process by reporting a case with the Motor Accidents Case Tribunal within a time span of 60 days from the occurrence of the accident.
Who can purchase a 3rd party insurance?
Owner of any vehicle, who has registered it with the RTA, i.e. The Regional Transport Authority in India can buy the third-party insurance.
Can I buy third party insurance online?
Yes. Several insurers offer you the benefit of buying this insurance plan online. You can pay via secure payment gateways and get the policy, hassle free.
What is the duration of the policy?
The validity of a third-party insurance plan is usually of one year and has to be renewed before the due date. Please note that you will not be provided with the grace period for making payment of the premium.
If I want to sell my car, can I transfer the third party liability auto insurance to the new owner?
If you sell your vehicle to another individual, you can transfer the insurance in the name of the new buyer. The news buyer (transferee) has to submit an application for the transfer of insurance with the insurer, within the tenure of 14 days from the date of transfer of the vehicle in his name and after the endorsement premium is paid for the remaining duration of the policy.
Is the Service Tax applied and what is the amount?
Yes. You are required to pay Service Tax. The amount would depend on the aforementioned rules of law.