Transit Insurance

A transit insurance policy is typically purchased by businesses that ship goods, but it can also be purchased by individuals who are shipping valuable items. Transit insurance costs vary depending on the type of goods being shipped, the value of the goods, and the distance they are being shipped.

Here is an example of how transit insurance might function:

• A business that ships furniture purchases a transit insurance policy to cover its goods while in transit.

• One day, a truck carrying the business's furniture is involved in an accident. The furniture is damaged, but the driver and passengers are not injured.

• The business files a transit insurance claim with its insurance company. The insurance company investigates the claim and determines that the policy covers it.

• The insurance company pays the business for the damaged furniture.

To file a transit insurance claim with us, the policyholder must typically provide documentation of the loss or damage, such as a police report or a bill of lading. Our team will investigate the claim and determine whether the policy covers it. We will pay the policyholder for the loss or damage if the claim is approved.

The policy can cover a wide range of risks, including:

• Physical damage to goods caused by accidents, fire, theft, or other events.
• Loss of goods due to theft, hijacking, or non-delivery.
• Liability for damage to property or people caused by the goods in transit.

Transit insurance can be valuable for businesses and individuals who ship goods. It can provide financial protection in the event of loss or damage and help reduce the risk of financial ruin.

Imagine you are a business owner who ships products to customers worldwide. You have invested a lot of time and money into your business and rely on your shipments to generate revenue. But what happens if one of your shipments gets lost, damaged, or stolen?

That is where marine transit insurance comes in. Transit insurance is a type of insurance that protects your goods while they're being transported from one place to another.

Transit insurance is important for a number of reasons.

• First, it can protect you from financial losses in the event of a loss or damage. Replacing a lost or damaged shipment can be expensive, and transit insurance can help to offset these costs.
• Second, transit insurance can give you peace of mind. Knowing that your goods are insured can help you focus on running your business without worrying about the risks associated with shipping.
• Finally, transit insurance can be a requirement for some contracts. For example, if you're shipping goods to a foreign country, the importer may require you to have transit insurance.

Here's a fun analogy to help you understand the importance of transit insurance:

Imagine you are going on a road trip with your family. You have packed all your belongings and are ready to hit the open road. But before you leave, you decide to get roadside assistance insurance. You know there is a small chance that you will break down or get a flat tire, but you would rather be safe than sorry.

Transit insurance is like roadside assistance insurance for your goods. It protects you in the event of an unexpected event. Accidents can happen even if you are careful and take all the necessary precautions. Transit insurance gives you peace of mind, knowing that your goods are protected, no matter what.

Many different types of transit insurance are available, each designed to meet the specific needs of different businesses and individuals.

Some of the most common transit insurance types include:

• Single transit insurance: This type of insurance covers a single shipment of goods from one point to another. It is a good option for businesses that ship goods occasionally or for individuals shipping a valuable item.
• Open transit insurance: Annual open insurance covers all shipments made by a business during a certain period of time. It is a good option for businesses that ship goods regularly.
• Goods in transit through third-party carrier cover: This type of insurance covers goods being transported by a third-party carrier, such as a shipping or trucking company. It is important for businesses that rely on third-party carriers to ship their goods.
• Goods in transit through carrier cover: This type of insurance covers goods being transported by the business's vehicles. It is important for businesses that have their own fleet of vehicles.
• Cover for multiple vehicles: This type of insurance policy covers multiple vehicles owned or operated by a business. It is a good option for businesses with large fleets of vehicles.
• Customised transit insurance: This type of insurance plan is tailored to the specific needs of a business or individual. It can cover a wide range of risks, including the type of goods being shipped, the value of the goods, and the distance they are being shipped.
• Overnight vehicles' insurance plan: This type of insurance covers goods transported in overnight vehicles, such as trucks or vans. It is important for businesses that rely on overnight shipping to get their products to customers on time.

Transit insurance offers several benefits to businesses and individuals who ship goods. These benefits include:

• Financial protection: Transit insurance can protect businesses and individuals from financial losses in the event of a loss or damage to goods. This can be especially important for businesses that ship high-value goods or rely on their shipments to generate revenue.
• Peace of mind: Knowing that goods are insured can give businesses and individuals peace of mind. This can help them focus on their business or personal life without worrying about the risks associated with shipping.
• Contractual requirements: Transit insurance may be a requirement for some contracts. For example, if a business is shipping goods to a foreign country, the importer may require it to have transit insurance.
• Coverage for a wide range of risks: Transit insurance can cover many risks, including physical damage, loss, and theft. This means businesses and individuals can be confident that their goods are protected, no matter what happens.
• Flexibility: Transit insurance policies can be tailored to the specific needs of businesses and individuals. This means that businesses and individuals can choose the level of coverage that is right for them and their budget.
• Competitive rates: Transit insurance rates are generally competitive, making it an affordable option for businesses and individuals of all sizes.

Transit insurance is a type of insurance that covers goods while they are being transported from one place to another. It is an important investment for businesses and individuals who ship goods, as it can protect them from financial losses in the event of a loss or damage.

Some of the specific types of businesses and individuals that may need transit insurance include:

• Businesses that ship goods: This includes businesses of all sizes, from small businesses that ship occasionally to large businesses that ship goods regularly.
• Individuals who ship valuable items: This could include those shipping heirlooms, antiques, or other valuable items.
• Businesses that ship goods to foreign countries: Many importers require shippers to have transit insurance.
• Businesses that rely on third-party carriers to ship their goods: This includes businesses that use shipping companies, trucking companies, and other third-party carriers to transport their goods.
• Businesses with their own fleet of vehicles: This includes businesses that use their trucks, vans, or other vehicles to transport their goods.

Even if you have a good safety record, accidents can happen. A transit insurance policy lets you rest assured about financial liabilities arising from any eventualities.

• • Transit insurance offers comprehensive coverage for goods during their transportation. This includes protection against a range of potential risks:

• Natural and Man-Made Calamities: Goods are safeguarded against damage resulting from natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and storms, as well as man-made events such as fires or explosions.

• Accidents and Collisions: The policy covers accidents that may occur during transit, including collisions, overturning of vehicles, or even sinking of the vessel if goods are being transported via water.

• Loading and Unloading Risks: Transit insurance extends coverage to the loading and unloading phases. This ensures that any damage sustained during these critical operations is included in the policy.

• Packing and Unpacking Protection: The policy also accounts for risks associated with the packing and unpacking of goods. This safeguards against potential damages that may occur during these processes.

• Theft and Malicious Damages: Goods are protected against theft, whether it's due to external forces or internal misconduct. Additionally, any damages resulting from intentional or malicious acts are covered.

• Accidental Damages: Unforeseen accidents can happen, and transit insurance accounts for damages that occur accidentally, ensuring that the financial impact is minimized.

This comprehensive coverage ensures that goods are shielded from potential risks and eventualities during transit. It provides peace of mind to businesses and individuals, allowing them to focus on their operations without worrying about potential losses or damages.

Understanding the breadth of coverage offered by transit insurance is instrumental in making informed decisions about safeguarding goods in transit.

Transit insurance is vital in mitigating financial losses during transit, but it's important to be aware of common exclusions that insurers typically do not cover.

While these exclusions may seem limiting, they can often be avoided through prudent planning and practices by the shipper.

• Inherent Vice

This exclusion pertains to losses or damages that could be anticipated due to the inherent characteristics of the goods.

For instance, unstable chemical compounds that could lead to an explosion fall under this category. Essentially, damages are attributed to the nature of the product itself.

• Latent Defect

This term refers to issues in a product that are not readily apparent upon inspection. For example, if a product's welds exhibit cracks or separations due to faulty manufacturing, any resulting damage would be attributed to the quality of labor or production.

• Loss Due to Improper Packaging

Proper packaging is critical in both land and sea transit. If a shipper neglects to secure cargo using appropriate techniques, products can be easily damaged in transit.

Reusing inadequately constructed corrugate boxes or crates can lead to losses that cargo insurance won't cover.

• Willful Misconduct by Assured

This exclusion protects carriers and forwarders from losses resulting from intentional misconduct by the insured party or their employees.

In essence, it prevents insurance fraud. For example, a company might intentionally import damaged products to file a claim with the insurance company.

• Unexplained Loss or Shortage

If goods go missing or experience a shortage while in a vehicle owned, leased, or operated by the insured party, this situation is excluded from coverage.

This often applies to cases of theft from the vehicle, either by the insured party or their employees.

A transit insurance policy is available for a wide range of stakeholders involved in transporting and transporting goods. This includes traders, manufacturers, transporters and businesses engaged in import-export activities.

This coverage ensures that goods are protected during their journey, providing peace of mind and financial security to those responsible for their safe delivery.

Offering this insurance to various players in the supply chain promotes responsible handling and transportation practices, ultimately contributing to the smooth flow of goods across different regions and markets.

To file a claim under a transit insurance policy, you will typically need to follow these steps:

• Notify the Tata AIG team as soon as possible. The sooner you notify us, the sooner we can investigate your claim and process your payment.
• Provide us with all of the relevant information. This includes the shipment details, such as the type of goods, the value, and the shipping route. You will also need to provide information about the loss or damage, such as the date and time of the incident, the cause of the loss or damage, and any supporting documentation, such as a police report or a bill of lading.
• Cooperate with our investigation. We may need to inspect the damaged goods or interview witnesses. Cooperating with the investigation is important so your claim can be processed quickly and efficiently.
• Submit a completed claim form. Once you have provided us with all the relevant information, you must submit a completed claim form. This form will typically ask for detailed information about the loss or damage, as well as your contact information and bank account information.
• Once you have submitted your claim form and supporting documentation, we will review your claim and determine whether your policy covers it.
• If your claim is approved, we will issue you a payment for the value of the lost or damaged goods.

The following documents are typically required to process a transit insurance claim efficiently. However, it's important to note that based on the specific circumstances of the claim, the insurance team from Tata AIG may request additional documentation:

• Original Invoice and packing List (if included in the invoice).
• In cases where transit damage is suspected, it's advised to insist on open delivery from the carrier and obtain their certificate validating the quantity of damaged or lost goods during transit.
• Original Receipt or Bill of Loading - endorsed with remarks detailing the quantity damaged or lost during transit.
• For Declaration Policies, ensure that the consignment falls within the limit of the remaining Sum insured.
• In the event of loss or damage during transit, it's crucial to promptly file a monetary claim with the carrier within the specified time frame to preserve recovery rights.
• Obtain a Damage/Shortage Certificate from the carrier.
• It's essential to appoint a surveyor (agreed upon by the insurer) to assess and determine the loss or damage's nature, cause, and extent.

These documents are crucial evidence to facilitate the claims process and ensure a fair and timely resolution.

Global Presence: With AIG's extensive reach spanning over 130 countries, we offer a global network combined with local expertise. This ensures we navigate and provide covers while adhering to local regulatory concerns. Our worldwide presence guarantees swift and effective response in handling losses as they arise.

Financial Strength: Backed by the formidable combination of the Tata Group and AIG, reinforced by robust reinsurance treaties, your cargo is in secure hands.

Specific Expertise: Specialized products demand specialized attention. Our expert team assists in identifying potential hazards in your supply chain, devising loss prevention guidelines and implementing loss control and quality improvement programs in all kinds of transit.

Innovative, Accessible Products: We cater to a diverse clientele - from small-scale exporters and importers to traders, manufacturers, SME, large corporations, and multinational firms. Our offerings include innovative yet straightforward products like the Sales Turnover Policy, Stock Throughput, the standard Marine Open Policy, and so on.

Tailored Policies: Leveraging our knowledge and expertise, we have the flexibility to customise policies to align with your specific needs.

Specialised Knowledge: Our dedicated marine cargo underwriters team sets us apart as the only company with specialised expertise in this domain. We also have expert underwriters catering to other modes of cargo.