Own Damage Insurance

As the name suggests, an Own Damage Insurance is a customized motor insurance policy designed to protect you and your insured vehicle from your own damages, i.e. damages and losses caused to your own vehicle. 

Let’s take a seemingly funny but often true example; let’s say your car is parked at its usual place and all of a sudden, the tree beside lets down one of its branches or worse, your neighbor's cricket ball attacks one of its windows and the ultimate, a coconut falls and leaves not only shackles but dents too! Funny as a story but, hefty losses in retrospection, in real life! In such situations, an OD insurance is one that could help you get out of such unfortunate troubles. 

Know more about:

• Own Damage Car Insurance
• Own Damage Bike Insurance

Who is eligible to buy an Own Damage Insurance?

Applicable since September 2019, insurance companies can now offer standalone Own Damage Insurance policies for cars and two-wheelers that only have a third-party car or bike insurance in place.

For example; Many car or bike owners have bought long term third-party policies at the time of purchasing their vehicle (especially those who got these in March 2019) can now opt for a standalone OD insurance too to cover for own damages and losses as well.

Note: When you buy an od insurance, you indirectly confirm that you already have a valid third-party policy (as made legal by the Indian Motor Laws) in place. This could be one from Digit Insurance, or a different insurer too.

An Own Damage Premium is the price you pay for your OD insurance. The premium price for the same is usually determined based on the type of vehicle you own; how old it is and the city you use it in. However, no matter what your premium price is, every OD insurance policy offers you protection from the following:

• Accidental damages caused by external means.
• Burglary, Theft and Housebreaking.
• Fire, Explosions, Implosions, Lightning, and self-ignition.
• Natural calamities like flood, typhoon, cyclone, hailstorm, etc.
• Earthquake, landslide and rockslides.
• Transit of vehicles by rail, road, air, or inland waterways.
• Terrorism Attacks, Riots and Strikes, or Malicious Damage.

How is the Own Damage Premium is calculated?

The Own Damage Premium either for a four-wheeler or a two-wheeler is based on:

• Make, Type and Age of the vehicle.
• The Declared Value of the Vehicle.
• Cubic Capacity of the Engine.
• Geographical Zone

Let us look at the mathematical computation of the Own Damage Premium, but before you should know the basis of the calculation.

OD premium - IDV X [Premium Rate (decided by insurer)] + [Add-Ons (eg. bonus coverage)] – [Discount & benefits (no claim bonus, theft discount, etc.)]

IDV - Showroom Price of the Vehicle + Cost of Accessories (if any) - Depreciation as per (IRDAI)

How to reduce OD insurance premium?

• Increase Voluntary Deductibles - In an OD insurance, there’s something known as ‘Voluntary Deductibles’, which refers to the amount of money you choose to pay during claims. Therefore, based on your feasibility you can increase the percentage of your voluntary deductible, which will directly reduce your OD premium.
• Declare Correct IDV - With Digit, you are given the option to customize your IDV yourself. Therefore, make sure your IDV is always right since this will affect both your OD premium and your claim amounts too during claim settlements.
  
• Don’t Forget to Transfer your NCB - If you’ve had an Own Damage or Comprehensive Motor Insurance policy before, ensure you transfer your NCB to your current policy, to get your accumulated discount.

An Own Damage Insurance, Third-Party Insurance or Comprehensive Insurance?

This all depends on the kind of coverage and protection you want, both for your vehicle and your pocket! Your best bet would be to go for a Comprehensive Insurance as it covers for both the mandatory, third-party losses and damages and your own damages as well.

However, if you already have a valid Third-Party Insurance, you can simply go for an OD insurance to get complete coverage for your respective vehicle.

The total amount of coverage offered, at the time of claim, will depend on the conditions specified in the policy and obviously your insurance plan. Every year the extent of coverage and own damage premium changes because the value of the vehicle depreciates.