Step by Step Guide for Getting a Duplicate Copy of Your Car Insurance Documents

02 Feb 2019

When you buy a car, the first thing you need to do is insure it. While the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 makes it mandatory for all car owners to purchase a third party liability cover that offers protection in case of road accidents and its devastating outcomes; you also have the choice to invest in a comprehensive car insurance policy. You need to produce your insurance documents should the need arise to register a claim. As such, you must ensure you file your insurance documents safely. However, in case you lose these important documents, you can also apply for a duplicate copy of the same. Let's find out how to get duplicate car insurance copy.

Steps to follow

Here's a step by step guide that you can follow to get a duplicate copy of your car insurance documents.

Step 1 – Inform your insurance provider

The first thing you need to do upon discovering that you have lost your vehicle insurance documents is to get in touch with your insurance provider. You can call them on their toll free number or get in touch with your insurance agent who helped procure the policy. It is vital for you to report the loss of your documents as soon as possible so that the insurance provider can begin the process of getting you a replacement certificate.

Step 2 – File a First Inquiry Report or FIR

After informing your car insurance provider about the loss of your policy, the next crucial step is to register a first inquiry report or FIR. You need to visit the nearest policy station and report that you have lost the insurance documents. This will help you justify your situation when you approach the insurance provider for car insurance duplicate copy. Additionally, you need to provide a photocopy of the FIR to the insurance provider to authenticate your claim of losing the documents.

Step 3 – Place an advertisement in the newspaper

Your insurance provider may also ask you to place an advertisement in the newspaper. The advertisement can be placed in either an English language or a vernacular newspaper or both, so long as the circulation of the same covers the state in which you misplaced the insurance policy. Also, the policy holder needs to bear the cost of getting the advertisement published.

Step 4 – Write an application to your insurance provider

Apart from informing the insurer electronically, you should also send a hard copy application requesting a duplicate car insurance policy. You must provide important details in the application including your name, policy number, date when policy was issued, type of coverage, etc. The FIR copy should be submitted along with this application along with the reasons why the documents were lost.

Step 5 – Get an indemnity bond

The final step for procuring a duplicate copy of your car insurance documents is getting an indemnity bond. The indemnity bond should be affirmed before a notary. Depending upon the city and state where you are residing and your insurance provider, you need to bear stamp duty charges to get the duplicate insurance documents, along with an additional fee charged for issuing the duplicate certificate.

Remember that in the absence of you motor insurance policy, you should avoid driving your car altogether as it is regarded as a punishable offence as per Indian Penal Code. If you are caught driving without a valid car insurance policy, traffic authorities can charge a fine of ₹10,000, an imprisonment sentence of 3 months or both. Moreover, you would be attracting several legal and financial troubles so it is best to avoid driving your car until you receive the duplicate car insurance policy documents. Also, it is a good idea to keep photocopies of your insurance policy as they can come in handy when you need to report the loss of documents.

Disclaimer: Liberty General Insurance provides you car insurance policies depending on your requirements. However, before you apply, please read the policy wordings carefully. You can click here to know more