Do You Need Car Insurance with a Learner's License?
Do You Need Car Insurance with a Learner's License?
Emergencies are not announced, and a car insurance policy is the best thing to buy when you want protection for your car against any unforeseen event. As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, it is compulsory to have a third party car insurance policy for your car, and if one is found driving a car without a valid insurance policy or a driving license, they should be prepared for legal action. Having said this, people with learner's license often tend to ignore the need for insurance. As this is also mandatory by law, it often leads to penalties and fines and can result in a problem in getting a permanent license. Let us now discuss in detail to understand all aspects. But before we discuss insurance, we should know what a learner's license is.
Learner's License and How to Get One?
For people who are learning to drive on the road, there is a need to take a learner's license. This license is issued with a validity of 6 months only. The RTO issued the permit, which is essentially a restricted and provisional license. To get the same, the applicant must pass a test and should be well aware of all rules and regulations. This license is issued after the age of 16, which gives them permission to drive on the roads and practice under the supervision of a person holding a valid permanent driving license. The learner's license can be taken for personal use and commercial use, and it is mandatory to have this before applying for a permanent one.
To apply for a learner's license, the following documents are required:
● Form 1 of the application form which has a declaration of physical fitness
● Form 2 of the form to grant the learner's license
● 2 copies of passport-size pictures
● Copy of age proof, self-attested
● Self-attested copy of address proof
● Copy of proof of educational proof
● The fee to apply for the learner's license.
Need for Car Insurance with Learner's License
As per the law of the country, it is illegal to drive a car on the road without a valid driving license. But if there is a person driving a car on the basis of a learner's license, having car insurance is also mandatory for them. Under the following circumstances, it is mandatory for the owner of the car to have an insurance policy even if they have a learner's license:
1. When the car is a collectable or vintage car
2. If the owner of the car is the primary driver
3. If the car is bought for someone in the family who will be the primary driver
4. As the learner's license is only valid for 6 months, the permanent license will be coming soon
5. When the owner cannot drive due to medical reasons or age-related issues and will have someone else be the primary driver.
Car Insurance for People with Learner's License
As the name suggests, a learner's license is for people who are learning to drive; thus, they are not very efficient at handling traffic and adverse weather. Thus, it is very important for them to have car insurance as the probability of an accident is higher for such people.
Apart from doing what the law demands, car insurance, when you learn to drive, is very important and has many benefits.
Importance of Car Insurance for Learners
If you want to know why a learner should have car insurance, the main answer will be because they do not have enough experience to drive a car. Through training in the driving school, they will be aware of all traffic rules and regulations and learn how to drive. But still, driving on the road without an instructor can be risky; thus, it is always better to have valid car insurance.
It can be overwhelming for new drivers to manage traffic, and they are bound to find it tough when driving on a busy road. They are likely to make mistakes which can cause damage to the car or also impact a third party on the road. This is where car insurance becomes important, as this will take away the financial strain in case of a mishap.
Car insurance is essential so that the stress of a financial emergency is taken away and the learner can concentrate on driving the car and not take stress about committing mistakes.
Getting Insurance without License
When buying car insurance, an insurance company will check for the license of the person buying the insurance, and this is an important document that is needed to be submitted. Thus, it is not easy to get motor insurance on the basis of a learner's license. There are very few insurance companies who will issue an insurance policy to a learner, and for this, they will have to do many checks. Car insurance can be obtained by showing the valid permanent license of the primary car driver, and under their supervision, the learner can learn to drive and apply for their permanent license.
When the car insurance is obtained on the basis of another person's license, the learner is considered to be an excluded driver and will not have coverage in the driver's insurance. Once the permanent license is received within six months, records with the insurance company can be updated.
When applying for a learner's license, it's essential to ensure that all details, including your name, are accurately recorded. If you ever need to update or change your name on your driving license, refer to this comprehensive guide on How to Change/Update Name on Driving Licence in India
Things to Keep In Mind
If you are a learner and have a car, there are some things you must keep in mind about car insurance.
● Know the sum insured by your policy
● Do not take claims for minor damages as this affects the no-claim bonus
● Understand the types of insurance and their coverage
● Renew the policy on time every year
● Understand the claim process
Conclusion
Owning or driving a car in India is not possible without a valid driving license and insurance. Car insurance is more important for a person who is learning and is new on the road. A leaner is more prone to making mistakes, which can damage the car or cause damage or injury to a third party. In such a scenario, car insurance becomes important as it takes care of any financial strain which can come up when a third party needs to be paid compensation, or the car needs repair. So if you are a learner, only drive a car with valid car insurance.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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