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Certificate of Insurance in Motor Vehicles Act: Facts To Know

Team AckoJan 18, 2024

It is a known fact that a motor insurance policy is mandatory to drive a vehicle on Indian roads. A motor vehicle (two/four-wheeler) needs to have at least Third-Party Liability coverage to comply with the rules and regulations. Whether you buy a Third-Party or Comprehensive/Package Motor Insurance Policy, you will get an Insurance Certificate from the insurer. Read on as this article will provide you with all the information regarding the Certificate of Insurance in Motor Vehicles Act.

Contents

What is a Certificate of Insurance in Motor Vehicles Act?
How to get a Certificate of Insurance?
Form 51 Details:
- In a Nutshell:
Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Certificate of Insurance in Motor Vehicles Act?

Certificate of Insurance is nothing but a summary document issued by the insurance company, which contains details about the vehicle, policyholder and insurance policy itself. As per the rule 141 prescribed under The Motor Vehicles Act 1989, every insurance company should issue an Insurance Certificate to the policyholder along with other policy documents. The Insurance Certificate is issued during the purchase or renewal of the motor insurance policy.

The Insurance Policy Certificate should be issued in the format stated in Form 51, which contains all the vital details about the vehicle, policyholder and motor insurance policy.

How to get a Certificate of Insurance?

There is no special procedure to get an Insurance Certificate. When you buy a car/bike insurance policy or renew the car insurance policy, the insurer will issue the Certificate of Insurance along with other policy documents. You need to submit all the necessary documents while purchasing/renewing a motor insurance policy to get the Insurance Certificate. There is no additional process to obtain the Insurance Policy Certificate.

Note that the Certificate of Insurance is a legal document, and the insurance company should issue the certificate without fail. You should produce the Insurance Certificate along with other documents such as a driving licence, registration certificate and PUC certificate whenever your vehicle is stopped by the police for inspection. So, always keep a copy of the Insurance Policy Certificate in your vehicle along with other documents.

Form 51 Details:

As mentioned earlier, an Insurance Certificate is laid out in the format mentioned in Form 51. It contains details of the motor insurance policy, insured vehicle and the policyholder. Below are the details of Form 51:

Insurance Policy and Certificate Number: Form 51 contains the motor insurance policy number and the Insurance Certificate number. The policy number is important when rising claims and during policy renewal.
Registration Mark/Number: The registration mark is nothing but the registration number of the insured vehicle. Form 51 has details of the insured vehicle including the registration number.
Vehicle Description: The brief description of the insured vehicle which explains the body type. It also states the number of seats or doors the vehicle has.
Vehicle Make and Model: Form 51 contains vital details of the insured vehicle such as make and model. Apart from that, the year of the manufacturing of the insured vehicle is also mentioned.
Engine and Chassis Number: One should mention the engine and chassis number of the insured vehicle in Form 51. The chassis and engine numbers are the two vital details needed while insuring a motor vehicle. In the case of an electric/battery operated vehicle, the motor number should be mentioned.
Seating/Carrying Capacity: The maximum seating or carrying capacity of the vehicle is mentioned in Form 51. For instance, if the insured vehicle is a two-wheeler, the seating capacity is mentioned as 2-seater.
Name and Address of the Policyholder: Form 51 also contains the identity details of the policyholder. The name and address of the insured should be mentioned in the form.
Commencement of Policy Coverage (Date and Time): The insurance certificate or Form 51 contains the exact date and time of commencement of the motor insurance policy coverage. Usually, the coverage starts from the date you have purchased/renewed the insurance policy.
Insurance Policy Expiry Date: Apart from the coverage commencement date and time, Form 51 also contains the policy expiry date and time. It helps the policyholder to determine the policy lapse date and renew the coverage before the motor insurance policy expires.
Rules for Person/s entitled to drive the vehicle: Form 51 mentions the rules for the insured/persons who are eligible to drive the insured vehicle. The basic rule for a person entitled to drive the vehicle is that he/she should hold a valid driving/learner’s licence.
Limitations of Use: The Certificate of Insurance or Form 51 also states the limitations of the motor insurance policy with respect to the usage of the insured vehicle. For example, the insurance policy will not cover any damages to the vehicle if the insured car/bike is used for illegal racing or any such activity.

Note: The last two points mentioned in Form 51 are important as they must be fulfilled to comply with legal requirements. The driver of the vehicle should adhere to these points irrespective of the usage of the insured vehicle (Commercial or Private Usage).

Also, read: Car insurance policy document details

In a Nutshell:

The Certificate of Insurance is a legally required document. The insurance company will provide you with an insurance certificate when you purchase/renew the bike/car insurance policy. The Insurance Certificate is a document which has details about the active policy and the insured vehicle. You need to keep the policy certificate in your vehicle at all times so that you can produce the document during any sort of police inspection.

Also, read: How To Maximise Your Motor Insurance Policy Cover?

Frequently Asked Questions:

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about the Certificate of Insurance in Motor Vehicles Act:

What is the use of an Insurance certificate?

The Certificate of Insurance is a legally required document in India, and it provides information on the policy coverage and details of the policyholder.

How can I get the Certificate of Insurance?

You will get the Insurance Certificate when you purchase a motor insurance policy. The insurer will also issue the insurance certificate when you renew the insurance policy.

Do I need to pay additional charges to get the Certificate of Insurance?

No, you need not pay any additional charges to obtain the insurance certificate. You only need to pay the insurance premium while purchasing/renewing the motor insurance policy.

Are Insurance Policy and Insurance Certificate different terms?

Yes, Insurance Policy and Insurance Certificate are two different terms. An insurance policy is the coverage plan offered by the insurer. The Certificate of Insurance is a document which proves that your vehicle is insured.

Will I get the insurance certificate if I buy a Third-Party Insurance Plan for my car?

Yes, you will get the insurance certificate no matter if you buy Third-Party Insurance or Comprehensive Insurance Policy for your car.

Do I need to produce the insurance certificate while my vehicle is stopped for police inspection?

Yes, it is mandatory to produce the insurance certificate along with the driving licence, vehicle registration certificate and PUC certificate during any sort of police inspection.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet; and is subject to changes. Please go through the applicable policy wordings for updated ACKO-centric content and before making any insurance-related decisions.