Everything about buying your Car Insurance Online or Offline

Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, every service such as shopping, paying your bills, opening a bank account, etc. is possible online sitting at the comforts of your home. Yet people ponder whether is it safe to take the online route. And the same query rises whether you should buy a car insurance policy online or offline? Keep reading this post to find out.

Ravi, a 50-year-old man, living in Bengaluru, wants to renew the car insurance of his 2-year-old car. However, he's confused about whether to do it online or take the conventional offline route that he's used to. Like Ravi, there are still many others who are in a dilemma. While many experts have touted the online route as a better alternative, many fears and challenges are still associated with it.

Let’s understand this in detail through some key differences.

The process of buying/renewing an insurance policy

Renewing your vehicle insurance offline is slightly longer and more complicated compared to the online process. From contacting the insurance agents, evaluating the quotes submitted by the agents to getting the policy in your hand, it can take a few days.

Buying car insurance online is fairly simpler. Go to the website of the insurance company and enter your vehicle details. You will then get the best quotes basis the details you have entered. Since no agent is involved here, there is no room for negotiation. However, be rest assured that you get the best prices. Once you've selected the policy, fill out a small form, pay up, and the policy is issued. The policy is sent to your email ID, and you can take a printout immediately. From start to finish, you can do it in a few minutes.

Online discounts on premium

You stand a better chance of bagging discounts exclusive to online channel when buying car insurance online.

Comparing the policies

When buying an insurance policy through an agent, you have to depend on the information given to you by your agent. While insurance agents are certified professionals and adhere to ethical norms, you may not get a complete picture always.

On the contrary, buying it online allows you to take your time, go through various policies, and compare their details without the noise of salespeople or insurance agents. As a result, you can make a more informed decision without much disturbance.

Key challenges and fears of buying a policy online

Let’s face it. There are still some challenges and fears that stop people from taking the online route to buying a car insurance policy. Let’s have a look at these concerns and how you can overcome them.

Lack of clarity

One of the concerns of buying vehicle insurance online is that you don’t always get a hundred per cent clarity on the features and add-ons of the policy. Since you have to reply on information available on the internet, there is a slight fear of buying a policy with the wrong add-ons or not knowing the features.

While insurance companies list out the details explicitly on every feature and add-on, if you're still confused, you can reach out to the customer service immediately, and your query will be resolved.

Fear of fraudulent websites

This is still a big concern. While insurance companies and banks have made it very difficult for scammers to dupe you of your money, it is still a possibility.

For this, here are a few tips for a safe transaction

• Always buy from a secure website with the prefix "HTTPS."

• Always buy from companies registered with IRDAI

• Double-check the details before paying up.

• Take a screenshot of the payment confirmation screen and keep it for your record.

• If the policy is not generated right after paying up, contact the insurance provider immediately and submit all the proofs.

Final word

Buying a car insurance policy online is surely a better bet. It offers a lot of advantages. One can get in touch with our customer care at Kotak General Insurance and clear your doubts if you get stuck anywhere. Whatever process you follow, make sure you buy a policy that suits your needs and covers you car adequately.