Car insurance renewal checklist: what to check in the 30 days before expiry
A dated, step-by-step car insurance renewal checklist for India, from NCB and RC details to comparing quotes, paying safely and checking the new policy on Vahan.
To renew car insurance well in India, start about 30 days before expiry: confirm your NCB and that your details (owner, fuel type, CNG kit, address, licence, PUC) are correct; decide the cover, IDV, add-ons and voluntary deductible you want; get your insurer's renewal notice and at least two new quotes on exactly the same terms; compare total cost including what you would pay at claim time; pay through the insurer or a registered intermediary so the new policy starts the minute the old one ends; and check the new schedule line by line. Motor cover has no grace period: if you are late by a day, you are uninsured for that day.
This is the pillar guide for this section. The tasks below link to the detailed guides, and the renewal checklist tool lets you tick them off.
30 days before expiry: get the facts right
- Find the expiry date and time on your current schedule. Policies usually end at midnight on the date shown.
- Confirm your NCB. If you made no OD claim this policy year, you move up a slab (20%, 25%, 35%, 45%, 50%). If you claimed, you drop to 0% unless you had NCB protection. See NCB rules.
- Check the RC against the policy: owner's name, registration number, engine and chassis numbers, fuel type, cc or kW. If a CNG or LPG kit has been fitted, it must be endorsed on the RC and declared to the insurer.
- Check your driving licence and PUC certificate are valid. A claim while driving without a valid licence can be refused, and PUC compliance is checked by enforcement and may be asked for at renewal.
- Note any change of address; OD premium depends on the registration zone and insurers need your correct address for claims.
- If your car is under three years old, check whether you are renewing a standalone OD policy and when your long-term TP ends.
20 days before: decide what you are buying
- Cover type: comprehensive, standalone OD or liability-only; see cover types.
- IDV: work out the standard figure with the IDV calculator and decide whether to move it within the allowed band.
- Add-ons: decide which you will really use; see add-ons.
- Voluntary deductible: choose a figure you could pay without strain; see voluntary deductible.
- CPA: keep it unless you qualify to opt out; see CPA cover.
Write these down. They are your specification for every quote.
15 days before: collect quotes on equal terms
- Your insurer's renewal notice
- Two or three quotes from other insurers' websites, an IRDAI-registered web aggregator, or a registered agent or broker
For each, record: total premium with GST, IDV, NCB applied, compulsory and voluntary deductible, each add-on and its limits, the garage network near you, and anything excluded. The worked renewal comparison shows how to adjust them so they line up, and the quote comparison tool does the claim-time arithmetic.
Worked example: a renewal timeline
Illustrative. A policy expires at midnight on 30 November 2026.
| Date | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 Nov | Pull out policy, RC, licence, PUC. NCB moves from 35% to 45%. |
| 5 Nov | Decide on comprehensive, IDV ₹4,90,000, zero dep, engine protect, no voluntary deductible. |
| 10–15 Nov | Collect renewal notice and two new quotes with that specification. |
| 18 Nov | Compare totals and claim-time cost; ask the current insurer about any gap. |
| 22 Nov | Pay; new policy start date 1 Dec 2026, 00:00. |
| 23 Nov | Check the policy PDF; correct any error by endorsement. |
| Early Dec | Check the insurance appears on your vehicle record on Parivahan. |
Paying a week early leaves time to fix a typing error in the chassis number or a wrong NCB before the policy is needed.
On the day you pay
- Pay only to the insurer, or through a registered intermediary's payment page that issues the insurer's policy. Do not transfer money to an individual's UPI ID for a "discounted" policy; see verifying a motor policy.
- Under section 64VB of the Insurance Act, 1938, cover starts only after the insurer receives the premium. A cheque that bounces means no cover.
- Set the start date to the day after the old policy ends, not the day you pay, unless the old one has already expired.
After you pay: check the schedule
Check these against the RC and your choices: insured's name, registration number, engine and chassis numbers, make, model, variant, fuel, cc or kW, IDV, NCB percentage, add-ons, deductibles, CPA, nominee, and period of insurance. Keep the PDF on your phone or in DigiLocker. An error found now is fixed by an endorsement; an error found after an accident becomes a claim dispute.
If you have already missed the expiry date
Do not drive the car until it is insured. Renew online if the insurer allows; expect a self-inspection by video or a surveyor visit for own-damage cover. NCB survives only if you renew within 90 days. See renewing an expired policy.
Guides in this section
- Renewal quote vs new quotes: a worked comparison
- Claim or pay yourself: the NCB arithmetic
- Choosing a voluntary deductible
- Renewing after the policy has expired
- NCB transfer on a new car or when selling
- Two-wheeler insurance renewal
- Multi-year and pay-as-you-drive policies
Frequently asked questions
Does auto-renewal exist for motor insurance?
Some insurers offer auto-debit or reminders, but many renewals are manual. Do not assume your bank will pay it; check that a new policy has been issued.
Will my insurer inspect my car at renewal?
Not if you renew before expiry with no break, in most cases. Inspection is usual after a break, when adding OD cover to a liability-only policy, or when raising IDV significantly.
Can I renew early and keep my NCB?
Yes, with the start date set to the day after the old policy ends. NCB is earned when the current year completes without a claim.
Should I accept my insurer's renewal notice without comparing?
You can, but compare at least once a year. Your insurer's offer may be good, but you only know by comparing on the same terms.
Sources
- IRDAI — registered insurers, web aggregators and intermediaries
- Parivahan Sewa — vehicle record and insurance validity
- DigiLocker — store RC, licence and insurance documents
- Bima Bharosa — register a complaint about a renewal
