Relief for road accident victims: Irdai raises minimum driver insurance cover to Rs 15 lakh

Insurance regulator Irdai has raised the minimum insurance cover for owner-driver to Rs 15 lakh for a premium of Rs 750 per annum, a move to provide some succour to road accident victims.

Currently, the capital sum insured (CSI) under this section for motorised two-wheelers and private cars/commercial vehicles is Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively.

However, a few general insurers have been offering add-on covers under package policies with higher CSI over and above the stipulated on payment of additional premium.

The regulator directed all general insurers to provide a minimum CSl of Rs 15 lakh under Compulsory Personal Accident (CPA) cover for owner-driver under Liability Only to all classes of vehicles at the premium rate of Rs 750 per annum for annual policy.

This rate will be valid until further notice, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) said in a circular.

"A higher CSI may be provided over and above Rs 15,00,000 through Optional Covers under Liability Only and under Section lll of Package Policies/ Bundled Covers on payment of additional premium at the option of the insured," it said.

This move by the regulator of enhancing the capital sum insured ofc Compulsory Personal Accident Cover for owner ? driver to Rs 15 lakh is a step in the right direction, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance MD and CEO Tapan Singhel said.

"I believe it's important to have an appropriate personal accident cover, for an effective financial support to the policyholders and their family members if she/he is disabled or succumbs to injury due to an accident. This will address the issue of underinsurance to some extent. We as a company support and welcome this move," he added.

Insurers may start issuing such covers effective from the date of receipt of this circular even while ensuring that the filing for these is done under File and Use Guidelines on or before October 25, 2018, the circular added.
All other extant provisions applicable for Motor Third Party Insurance will continue to apply.