The insurance regulator has directed insurance companies to ensure easy availability of motor third party liability only policy. It has asked insurers to co-operate with the police authorities to facilitate issue and renewal of third party liability policy to owners of the vehicles without third party cover.

The order comes after several states reported that insurers have a cumbersome process that involves inspection of the vehicle concerned and that vehicle owners have complained that it is not an easy process to obtain insurance. Motor own damage policy covers losses to the vehicle arising out of accidents.

Motor third party cover is mandatory for all public, private vehicles and commercial vehicles. It covers liability arising out of third party claims due to accidents.A Supreme Court committee on road safety had directed the States and Union Territories to periodically carry out checks to see whether the vehicle owners have third party insurance cover. If not, their vehicle can be detained till such time the valid third party insurance certificate is produced by the vehicle owner.

This is the only segment which is under the tariff regime. Insurance regulator raisespremium annually. This financial year, Irdahad raised premium by 28% for cars in 1000-1500 cc and above.

The regulator has asked insurers to co-operate with the police authorities to facilitate issue and renewal of third party liability policy to owners of the vehicles who are not having third party cover.

Also, insurers are asked to ensure the easy availability of Motor TP Insurance and in no case can a request for a TP cover be denied.

General insurance companies collected Rs 26,523 crore under the third party motor segment in the last financial year while the premium collected under own damage was Rs 23,727 crore, according to the data published by insurance regulator.