Private Car Insurance VS Commercial Car Insurance

Let us begin with understanding what private car insurance is. As the name suggests, a private car insurance policy is designed to cover a vehicle used as a private vehicle. So, a private four-wheeler insurance policy cannot be used for a four-wheeler used for commercial purposes, like transporting goods from one place to another.

You can choose between a third-party car and a comprehensive car insurance policy. While the former protects you financially against the damages caused to a third party, the latter provides coverage against damages to a third party as well as to your vehicle and yourself.

A commercial vehicle insurance policy covers vehicles used for commercial activities. These commercial vehicles include trucks, buses, taxis, etc. Commercial vehicle insurance premiums are usually higher than private vehicle insurance premiums. It is because commercial vehicles are more exposed to accidents and damages than private vehicles.

In addition to the coverage available for third-party and own damages, a commercial vehicle insurance plan also provides financial protection to paid drivers and employees against death or accidental disability.

Before understanding if you can use commercial insurance on a personal vehicle, you must first know the difference between the two types. The following table will help you with it:

It may happen that you buy a car for personal use but end up renting it out as a taxi or using it for business purposes. The car registration and insurance type depend on the purpose for which the car is being used.

First, you must get the private registration number of your car converted to a commercial one. You can start this process digitally but may have to visit the RTO to complete the formalities.

Once the registration process is complete, you can move to convert private insurance to commercial. Note that you cannot change your existing private car insurance policy to a commercial one. Instead, you will have to buy a new commercial insurance policy.

Moreover, until you get a new commercial car insurance plan, it is not advisable to use the vehicle except for the registration process.

Commercial vehicle insurance protects your business and you against damages to the vehicle and provides liability coverage if the vehicle meets with an accident and causes injuries to a third party, vehicle driver, or its passengers. The policy also protects your vehicle against theft, natural disasters, fire, riots, etc. Such situations will result in a huge financial stress on your business.

• Both private and public carriers, including vehicles used for the transportation of goods, are covered under a commercial vehicle policy.

• The policy also offers you financial protection if an accident or injury occurs.

• You can choose between a third-party or comprehensive commercial insurance plan. The comprehensive policy offers wider coverage than a third-party policy, which only covers damages caused to a third party.

- Adequate coverage: Since commercial vehicles are more prone to accidents and mishaps, it is essential to get a commercial vehicle insurance plan with sufficient coverage. The coverage should be enough to protect your business from the financial strain of an accident, theft, etc.

- Add-ons: Several add-ons are available with a commercial insurance policy. You can choose add-on coverage options, like loss of income, EMI protector, depreciation reimbursement, repair of glass, fiber, rubber, and plastic parts, etc.

- Insured Declared Value: The Insured Declared Value (IDV) of your vehicle is of crucial importance when you buy commercial vehicle insurance. It is because the IDV decides the coverage amount for your vehicle. The compensation you will receive for theft or total damage will be equal to the vehicle’s IDV.

- Network garages: Insurance providers have tie-ups with garages. These network garages do cashless repairs for your insured vehicle. You need not shell out any money from your pocket to get the repair done, and the insurance company pays the network garage directly. It takes off the financial burden from you. Therefore, always check the list of network garages in your area from the insurer of your choice.

• The commercial vehicle’s Insured Declared Value.

• The vehicle’s brand and model.

• The vehicle’s age.

• The vehicle’s registration zone.

• The vehicle’s fuel type.

Commercial vehicles that carry goods and passengers must essentially have car insurance. To use a private vehicle for commercial purposes, you need to get the private registration converted to a commercial registration from the RTO.

However, you cannot change a private motor insurance policy into a commercial one. To get a new commercial insurance policy, compare car insurance from Tata AIG and choose the right policy from our third-party and comprehensive commercial insurance plans.