Accidents are unpredictable, whether you are driving a car or riding a bike. Many times, despite of careful driving you end up in an accident with no fault of yours. Reports suggest that every hour, around 17 people die in road accidents. Thus, the Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory to have at least third-party insurance coverage for all vehicles registered in the country.
In the event of a car accident, it isn’t only the driver who sustains injuries, but also the passengers. Thus, a third party car insurance coverage isn’t sufficient to cover for these injuries. This is when investing in a comprehensive policy makes a prudent choice. Comprehensive policies come with additional coverage to protect damages to the car as well as injuries sustained. Moreover, these compressive covers can be further enhanced to provide protection for the passengers with the help of a passenger add-on cover. Insurance companies charge additional premium since it is an additional feature over the standard comprehensive cover.
What is a Passenger Add-on Cover?
Passenger add-on is the facility that insures the passengers in your car. Whether you drive a private or commercial car, at most times you will have passengers travelling with you. While a standard comprehensive policy doesn’t include passenger in their coverage, a passenger add-on makes up for this. The personal accident cover that is mandatory by the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 ensures the safety for the driver, injuries to the passengers are now covered under this add-on rider.
What are the Inclusions and Exclusions of a Passenger Add-on Cover?
A passenger add-on covers for the cost incurred by the passengers of the vehicle for medical treatment in the event of an accident. Further, in the event of disability due to an accident, the passenger add-on provides compensation for it. Other than disability, it extends to provide financial assistance in the event of an unfortunate demise of the passenger during the accident.
Passenger cover is not available if the passenger exits the vehicle during an accident. Also, there is a limitation on the number of passengers covered under the policy and it is primarily based on the carrying capacity of your car.
Who Should Opt for a Passenger Add-on?
Ideally, every car owner must opt for a passenger add-on to ensure the safety of the people riding along. However, it is of utmost importance for commercial vehicle owners like cabs, pool cars, buses, etc. Here since the vehicle are chauffeured for the passengers, it becomes crucial to have an insurance cover to provide for any injuries sustained. For private car owners, buying a passenger cover is necessary when you generally travel with passengers.
A passenger cover can be purchased when you buy car insurance online. But that isn’t the only insurance add-on available. Considering your driving habits and the geographic location where you drive and reside, other add-on covers can make protecting your car hassle-free. You can make use of a car insurance premium calculator to evaluate its impact on your premium and then select based on your preferences.