Car Insurance Endorsements

 

Wondering about what a car insurance endorsement means? It refers to any kind of change made to your existing car insurance policy. These changes can be related to coverage, vehicle, driver, loss payee, etc. 

It is common knowledge that having valid car insurance for your vehicle is mandatory to drive on Indian roads. However, not everybody is aware of the fact that the policies can be updated periodically to reflect any changes that you may have made to your vehicle. Learn more about car insurance endorsements in this article.

Car insurance endorsements are incorporated within an existing policy by issuing an Endorsement Certificate. You may get a car insurance endorsement in two scenarios:

 

• When you need an upgrade in your policy

 

• When you have made some changes to your car that accounts for a change in your car insurance plan

 

As a policyholder, it is important to update your existing insurance plan with car insurance endorsements whenever you make any modifications or changes to your vehicle. Otherwise, it becomes risky since there is a possibility of getting the insurance claim rejected due to conflicting information.

There are two types of endorsements in motor insurance:

 

• Modifications in existing car insurance policy terms and/or coverage

 

These can be changes in your existing policy term or coverage, like in your personal details, including misspelt name or address, change in contact number, etc., They will be made as car insurance endorsements and will replace the original policy document issued to you while purchasing the insurance plan.

 

• Additions to the existing car insurance policy terms and/or coverage

 

Such endorsements are made in case any additional coverage or restriction is added to your original car insurance policy. Here, only the specific terms are added to your policy, without affecting the entire policy wording. In other words, such endorsements act as an add-on to your existing policy, and you must keep these endorsement certificates along with the original policy document.

Making a change to your existing car insurance policy using endorsements is an easy task. All you need to do is follow the steps given below for an auto endorsement:

 

 

Step 1: Reach out to your insurer and provide the details about the motor insurance endorsements that you want to add to your existing car insurance plan.

 

Step 2: You will then have to submit proof of the changes that you have made to your car or proof of the changes that you wish to add.

 

Step 3: If the changes are about the details of the policyholder, the ownership of the car or nominee details for the policy, you may have to submit proof of sale or other such supporting documents.

 

Step 4: The insurer will then verify the authenticity of these changes and incorporate them into your existing policy.

 

Step 5: You will then be issued an Endorsement Certificate that cites the requested changes to your existing policy.

Note: Many insurance providers also have an option to apply for motor insurance endorsements online.

Car insurance endorsements can either increase or decrease your overall premium based on the nature of changes. For example, if you make any changes to your car to enhance its aesthetic appeal, it can increase your car’s Insured Declared Value, thereby increasing your car insurance premium. On the other hand, if you install anti-theft devices in your car, such endorsements can reduce your car insurance premium.

The frequency of car insurance endorsements depends on their nature, the policy’s terms and conditions, along with the insurer’s rules and regulations. Most car insurance policyholders think that it is okay to make multiple endorsements in their car insurance plan during the policy tenure. However, it is advisable to not make more than one or two endorsements in a year as frequent changes in your insurance plan can cause confusion while updating policy records, which can lead to delays during insurance claims.

Details ranging from changes in the name of the policyholder to changes in ownership of the vehicle or modifications to the vehicle itself are applicable. These require adjustments to be made to your car insurance policy in the form of endorsements. Changes to the vehicle may include a change in the model or make of your car, your vehicle’s fuel type, seating capacity, etc. Moreover, in case you need to upgrade or downgrade your policy, it can be done through car insurance endorsements. Any changes in your contact information can also be registered under car insurance endorsements.

Since any changes made in your car insurance policy as endorsements become a part of your policy contract, they remain valid throughout the policy tenure. During car insurance policy renewal, these endorsements will be activated again if you do not want to make any further changes to them. However, this rule is not applicable to certain endorsements that are specified to be valid only till a specific period as per your insurance plan. Hence, ensure that you read all the terms and conditions carefully before signing your insurance contract or making a car insurance endorsement.

Now that you know the importance of updating your car insurance policy using endorsements, you must make these changes on time. This will be helpful during the time of settling claims, as the entire process will also be more seamless and transparent for all parties concerned if any of your documents are updated. With various car insurance plans available on Bajaj Markets, you can bring an additional level of transparency to the process by completing the entire process online and enjoy benefits like cashless garages, quick claim settlements, and fast renewals.