Car Insurance Companies in India (2026)
India has 26 general insurance companies that offer car insurance. Pick any car on an Indian road and, by law, it carries at least a third-party policy. Section 146 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 makes that cover compulsory for any vehicle used in a public place.
The bigger decision for a car owner is choosing the right level of cover and insurer. You can buy third-party liability cover alone or add protection for your own car through standalone own-damage or package/comprehensive cover.
Insurers differ mainly on factors like cashless garage network size, claim process timelines and the add-on covers they offer (such as zero depreciation, engine protection or return to invoice). Price is a weak way to tell them apart, because part of your premium is not theirs to set. The base third-party rate is notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in consultation with IRDAI.
Key Facts
| Insurers Offering Car Insurance | 26 |
| Compulsory Cover | Third-party only, under the Motor Vehicles Act |
| Optional Cover | Own damage, comprehensive, add-ons |
| Third-Party Premium | Prescribed by the MoRTH in consultation with IRDAI for the applicable vehicle category |
| Regulator | IRDAI. Complaints go to Bima Bharosa |
| Data Verified | 27 August 2026 |
List of Car Insurance Companies in India
26 general insurance companies in India are licensed to sell motor insurance, so the list of car insurers includes 4 public sector insurers and 22 private insurers. What separates them is not whether they sell car cover but how well they service a claim.
The table below compares the motor-line incurred claim ratio based on data from IRDAI’s Annual Report, the size of the cashless garage network, the number of add-on covers offered and the available claim channels.
| # | Company | IRDAI Reg. No. | Sector | Motor ICR (FY2024-25) | Cashless garages | Add-ons Offered | Claim channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. | 190 | Public | 106.40% | 1100+ | 16 | Web, phone, email |
| 2 | United India Insurance Co. Ltd. | 545 | Public | 99.49% | 737 | 16 | Web, phone, email |
| 3 | The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd. | 556 | Public | 113.34% | 3100+ | 11 | Web, phone |
| 4 | National Insurance Co. Ltd. | 58 | Public | 118.74% | 2300+ | 25 | App, phone |
| 5 | ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 115 | Private | 64.21% | 7100+ | 17 | App, web, phone, email |
| 6 | Bajaj General Insurance Ltd. (formerly Bajaj Allianz General) | 113 | Private | 68.54% | 7200+ | 32 | App, web, phone, email |
| 7 | HDFC ERGO General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 146 | Private | 101.80% | 13000+ | 18 | App, web, phone, WhatsApp |
| 8 | Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 108 | Private | 75.83% | 5700+ | 30 | App, web, phone |
| 9 | SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 144 | Private | 84.20% | 8700+ | 21 | App, web, phone, email |
| 10 | IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 106 | Private | 89.72% | 8500+ | 12 | App, web, phone, email, SMS, Walk-in |
| 11 | IndusInd General Insurance Co. Ltd. (formerly Reliance General) | 103 | Private | 82.80% | 11000+ | 19 | App, web, phone |
| 12 | Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 123 | Private | 72.65% | 17800+ | 30 | Web, phone |
| 13 | Generali Central Insurance Co. Ltd. (formerly Future Generali India Insurance) | 132 | Private | 67.89% | 6500+ | 23 | App, web, phone, email, Walk-in |
| 14 | Royal Sundaram General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 102 | Private | 75.86% | 8000+ | 26 | Web, phone, |
| 15 | Shriram General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 137 | Private | 67.05% | 12 | App, web, phone, email | |
| 16 | Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 134 | Private | 58.91% | 13500+ | 38 | Web, phone, email |
| 17 | Magma General Insurance Ltd. (formerly Magma HDI) | 149 | Private | 78.96% | 8554 | 32 | Web, phone, email |
| 18 | Liberty General Insurance Ltd. | 150 | Private | 78.33% | 4300+ | 20 | App, web, phone, email |
| 19 | Acko General Insurance Ltd. | 157 | Private | 82.08% | 4000+ | 16 | App, web, email, phone |
| 20 | Go Digit General Insurance Ltd. | 158 | Private | 67.04% | 10000+ | 16 | App, phone, web |
| 21 | Navi General Insurance Ltd. | 155 | Private | 79.06% | – | Phone | |
| 22 | Zuno General Insurance Ltd. (formerly Edelweiss General) | 159 | Private | 69.61% | 3642 | 17 | App, web, phone |
| 23 | Zurich Kotak General Insurance Co. (India) Ltd. (formerly Kotak Mahindra General) | 152 | Private | 77.88% | 6500+ | 25 | App, web, phone, email |
| 24 | Raheja QBE General Insurance Co. Ltd. | 141 | Private | 86.96% | 2000+ | 12 | Web, phone, email |
| 25 | Kshema General Insurance Ltd.* | 162 | Private | 79.83% | N/A | N/A | App, email |
| 26 | Kiwi General Insurance | 171 | Private | – | – | 8 | App, phone |
Note:
Kshema currently offers a private-car liability-only cover and further cover for two-wheelers. Their products are more focused on commercial and crop insurance.
Several names on this list have changed recently. Bajaj Allianz General became Bajaj General after Allianz SE exited the venture, Future Generali India Insurance became Generali Central Insurance and Reliance General became IndusInd General Insurance. They continue to service policies that were issued under their former names.
Cashless Garage Networks Compared
A cashless garage is a workshop where the insurer pays its approved share of the repair bill directly to the garage. You pay the amount that is not covered by the policy, such as deductibles, applicable depreciation or excluded costs.
A large national garage network does not automatically mean better service. What matters is whether the insurer has suitable network garages where you live, work, travel and normally service your car.
Before buying a policy, check:
- Garages in your own city and the two or three areas you drive most: Most insurers provide a searchable garage locator or network list. Use it before you buy.
- Whether your car’s authorised service centre is included: If you want repairs at the manufacturer’s authorised workshop, check whether it is part of the insurer’s network.
- Whether the network covers the highways you use. A breakdown 200 kilometres from home is where a thin network can matter most.
A caution on the numbers: Insurers publish their own garage counts using their own definitions and the figures change continuously as garages join and leave. Treat any published total as indicative and check through the live locator instead before purchasing or renewing a policy.
Add-on Covers: Which Insurer Offers What
A car-insurance add-on is an optional extension to eligible own-damage or package cover that changes the protection for a specific loss, service or deduction. Add-ons are one area where insurers differ because their availability, eligibility, limits and exclusions vary by product. Third-party liability cover is regulated, while own-damage pricing and add-on terms vary by insurer.
| Add-on | What it does | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Zero depreciation | Reduces or removes depreciation deductions on eligible replaced parts | Cars under roughly five years old |
| Engine protection | Covers engine and gearbox damage, including from water ingress | Anyone in a flood-prone city and any car with a low ground clearance |
| Return to invoice | Pays the original invoice value on total loss or theft, not the depreciated value | New cars, typically in the first two to three years with a material difference in invoice and IDV |
| Roadside assistance | Provides specified breakdown services such as towing, jump-start or tyre assistance | Anyone driving long distances or in unfamiliar areas at risk of breakdown or immobilisation |
| Consumables cover | Covers specified repair consumables like oils, coolants, nuts and bolts that the base own-damage claim may exclude | Any claim involving significant repair work with meaningful consumable charges |
| Key replacement | Covers lost or damaged keys, including smart keys | Cars with electronic keys, which are expensive to replace |
| No-claim bonus protection | Preserves your accumulated discount despite a claim | Drivers with several claim-free years to protect |
| Tyre cover | Covers tyre damage, which a standard policy usually excludes | Relevant where tyre/rim damage is at meaningful exposure |
Common Add-ons Available by Insurer
The table below shows which insurers offer commonly used add-ons.
Important:
“Yes” means the insurer offers the add-on under at least one eligible motor product. It does not mean the add-on is available for every vehicle or policy. Eligibility, limits, exclusions and pricing vary by product and policy wording.
Also, availability alone does not mean that two insurers provide identical cover, so compare the details from the policy wording.
| Insurer | Zero Depreciation | Engine | Return to Invoice | Roadside | Consumables | Key Replacement | NCB Protection | Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The New India Assurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| United India Insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| The Oriental Insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| National Insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ICICI Lombard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bajaj General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HDFC ERGO | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tata AIG | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SBI General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IFFCO Tokio | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IndusInd General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cholamandalam MS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Generali Central | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Royal Sundaram | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shriram General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Universal Sompo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Magma General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Liberty General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Acko General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Go Digit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Navi General | ||||||||
| Zuno General | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zurich Kotak | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Raheja QBE | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kshema General | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Kiwi General Insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | – | Yes | – |
Verdict:
For newer cars, zero depreciation and engine protection may be worth comparing, while return to invoice is generally most relevant while the gap between the car’s invoice value and IDV remains substantial. Consumables cover may also reduce out-of-pocket repair costs where eligible. Beyond those, add-ons are worth buying only if they match how and where you actually drive.
Third-party vs Comprehensive Car Insurance
A third-party policy covers your legal liability to other people. A comprehensive policy combines third-party liability with own-damage cover for your vehicle, subject to the policy terms. Standalone own-damage cover can also be purchased in eligible cases when third-party cover already exists.
| Parameter | Third-party | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| Legally required | Yes, third-party cover is the statutory minimum | No, not as a separate legal requirement |
| Covers injury or damage to others | Yes, subject to the Act and policy | Yes, through the third-party section |
| Covers damage to your own car | No | Yes, for covered own-damage events |
| Covers theft of your car | No | Yes, if theft is covered under the package/own-damage wording |
| Covers fire and natural perils | No own-damage cover | Yes, subject to policy wording and exclusions |
| Add-ons available | Not the own-damage add-ons compared on this page | Yes, if the vehicle/product is eligible |
| Third-party base premium | Prescribed under Central Government/MoRTH rules in consultation with IRDAI | Same regulated third-party component plus insurer-priced own-damage/add-ons |
| Effect of insurer on price | Third-party base component is regulated | Own-damage premium, IDV, deductibles and add-ons can vary |
Verdict:
Third-party cover alone does not pay for accidental damage to your own car, theft or other own-damage losses. Package/comprehensive cover adds own-damage protection, subject to policy terms, exclusions and deductibles. Whether you need the broader cover depends on the car’s value and how comfortably you could absorb the cost of repairing or replacing it.
One consequence of the pricing structure is worth knowing. The applicable third-party base premium is prescribed under Central Government/MoRTH rules in consultation with IRDAI. For the same applicable vehicle category, this component is regulated, while own-damage pricing, IDV, deductibles, add-ons and other applicable factors can cause total quotes to differ between insurers.
Points to Consider When Choosing a Car Insurance Company
Choosing a car insurance company in India depends on the following checks that can affect your experience when you need to make a claim.
- Cashless garages where you drive: Search the insurer’s live locator for your own city and your regular routes and check whether your car’s authorised service centre is included. Local network availability can materially affect the convenience of a cashless claim.
- Motor-line incurred claim ratio (ICR): ICR compares incurred claims with earned premium. It can provide useful information about an insurer’s claims experience, but it is not the percentage of claims settled or approved. Use it alongside coverage, grievance data and claims-service information rather than treating a higher or lower number as automatically better.
- Claim turnaround and process: Some insurers offer app-based or digital inspection for eligible claims, while other cases require a surveyor. Check how the insurer accepts claim intimation, arranges inspection and communicates repair approval before you buy.
- IRDAI grievance data: Use grievance data as an additional check, ideally relative to the insurer’s policy volume. Raw complaint counts alone can be misleading because larger insurers naturally serve more policyholders. Check complaints and grievance ratios where available.
- Compare price only after comparing coverage: Price matters, but compare like-for-like policies. A cheaper quote may have a different IDV, deductible, add-on set or eligibility conditions. Start by comparing the coverage and policy terms. Then compare the final premium for policies that offer broadly similar protection.
How Car Insurance Claims Work
A car insurance claim generally follows a similar broad sequence across Indian insurers, though the exact process and tools differ. The route also changes materially for a total loss or theft.
For an ordinary repair claim:
- Inform the insurer as soon as possible. Check your own policy wording and claim instructions for any applicable notification requirement.
- Contact the police where required. Theft claims and accidents involving injury, death or significant third-party liability may require police involvement. Follow the requirements of the police, insurer and policy wording for your specific incident.
- Take photographs at the scene. Where it is safe to do so, photograph the damage, vehicle positions, registration details and surroundings.
- Take the car to a network garage, or follow the insurer’s instructions for survey or reimbursement if using a non-network workshop.
- Allow the insurer or surveyor to assess the damage where inspection is required before repairs. The approved claim amount may differ from the garage estimate because deductibles, depreciation and exclusions can apply.
- Pay any amount not covered by the policy. This can include deductibles, applicable depreciation and costs excluded from the claim.
For a total loss or theft, the route differs. Settlement is generally based on the applicable insured declared value, subject to policy terms, deductions and any relevant add-on cover. Theft claims normally require an FIR and a police untraced or final report. Depending on the insurer and claim, you may also need to provide vehicle keys, registration or RTO documents and financier paperwork.
Note: Cashless does not mean zero payment. Cashless settlement means the insurer pays its approved share directly to the garage. You may still have to pay deductibles, depreciation and expenses that fall outside the approved claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many car insurance companies are there in India?
There are 26 general insurance companies registered with IRDAI that can sell motor insurance. A few of them write mainly commercial or crop business and have little retail motor presence, which narrows the practical choice. Note that standalone health insurers cannot sell motor cover.
Which car insurance company has the largest cashless garage network?
There is no useful single answer based only on published national counts. Insurers update their networks and use different counting methods. More importantly, check whether the insurer has suitable network garages in your city and whether your preferred service centre is included.
Is car insurance compulsory in India?
Third-party car insurance is legally required for a motor vehicle used in a public place in India under the Motor Vehicles Act. Driving a vehicle in a public place without the required third-party insurance is an offence. Comprehensive insurance, which adds own-damage cover, is not itself legally required, although many vehicle-finance agreements may require broader cover while the loan is outstanding.
Does third-party insurance cover damage to my own car?
Third-party insurance does not cover damage to your own car. It covers your legal liability for injury or damage caused to other people and their property. Own-damage cover, either bought separately or as part of a package/comprehensive policy, protects your vehicle against covered losses such as accidental damage, theft, fire and specified natural perils.
Which car insurance company settles claims fastest?
Claim turnaround varies by insurer, claim type, survey requirements and the completeness of the documents submitted, so no single insurer can reliably be called the fastest for every claim. Digital inspection may shorten the process for some eligible claims, while theft and total-loss claims involve additional documentation and procedures.
What is a good incurred claim ratio for car insurance?
There is no universal “good” motor incurred claim ratio for choosing an insurer. ICR measures incurred claims relative to earned premium and reflects claims-cost experience, not the percentage of claims approved or how quickly they are settled. Use the motor-line figure over several years and consider it alongside grievance data, policy coverage and claims-service information.
Can I change my car insurance company at renewal?
Yes. You can switch insurers when your policy is due for renewal and carry forward an eligible No-Claim Bonus (NCB). The new insurer may ask for proof of your NCB entitlement. Avoid allowing the policy to lapse. IRDAI states that the accrued NCB benefit is lost if a comprehensive policy remains lapsed for more than 90 days.
How do I check the claim settlement ratio of a life insurance company?
Claim settlement ratios for every Indian life insurer are published by IRDAI in its Annual Report and its Handbook on Indian Insurance Statistics, both available free on irdai.gov.in. Compare the ratio alongside the total number of claims the insurer handled that year, and check the settlement ratio by amount as well as by count.
Disclaimer:
MyRupia is not an insurance intermediary and does not sell insurance policies. This page is published for information only. Policy terms, including coverage, add-on availability, deductibles and exclusions, vary between products; always read the policy wording.
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