What is Car Inspection?

Car inspection is a standard process, wherein a surveyor or a professional thoroughly examines your car to assess its current condition. The findings are then submitted to the insurance provider, who then grants you an insurance policy based on this data. 

So, even if you purchase a car insurance plan that requires an inspection of your vehicle, the benefits listed under it will not be active until the surveyor submits their findings to the insurance company. 

An inspection of a car is done by an insurance provider for two reasons. First, to ensure that the car physically exists and second, to take stock of pre-existing damages so that claims related to them are not processed. 

Insurance providers may mandate a car inspection under certain instances. Here’s a quick look at what they are. 

• When there has been a gap between the date of expiry and the date of renewal of the insurance policy

• When you switch from a third-party car insurance policy to a comprehensive car insurance policy 

• When the car insurance policy has been transferred from one person to another on account of the sale of the vehicle 

• When you wish to extend insurance coverage to accessories fitted to your car such as a CNG conversion kit or an anti-theft device 

• When your vehicle has been damaged due to an accident or due to other insured events

There are two different methods of car inspection that insurance providers typically carry out - pre-policy inspections and pre-claim inspections. Here’s a more detailed overview of these two methods:

1. Pre-Policy Inspections

Car inspections that are carried out before the issuance of insurance policies are termed pre-policy inspections. Usually, such inspections are carried out when you purchase an insurance policy after it has lapsed or when you seek insurance coverage for certain accessories fitted to your car. Pre-policy inspections primarily focus on ascertaining the physical condition of the car and a few critical functions such as the brakes and suspension. 

2. Pre-Claim Inspections

These are car inspections that are carried out when you lodge an insurance claim and are accordingly termed pre-claim inspections. Such inspections are done to authenticate the veracity of the claim and to draw up an estimate of the amount that would cost to repair the damages to the vehicle. Here, the surveying professional thoroughly checks your car both physically and mechanically to determine the extent of damage caused to it.

There are certain instances where insurance providers don’t require any car inspections before granting you the policy. As a policyholder, you need to get to know what they are. So, let’s take a quick look at the instances where an inspection of a car isn’t needed:

1. Third-Party Liability Policies

When you purchase only a third-party liability car insurance policy, insurance providers do not conduct any car inspections. This is because such policies don’t cover any damages to the insured car and are designed to provide coverage only to liabilities arising from third-parties. 

2.  Timely Policy Renewal 

When there’s no gap between the date of expiry of a policy and its subsequent renewal, your car won’t have to go through any inspections. This is one of the many reasons why renewing your policy on time is important.