There is no legal upper limit on the number of times you can claim car insurance in a year in India. Under a standard car insurance policy, you may file as many claims as required — as long as the damages are covered under your policy terms and the total claim amount does not exceed your vehicle's Insured Declared Value (IDV). (Source: IRDAI Motor Insurance Guidelines)
However, filing multiple claims in a single policy year has real consequences. Each claim you file affects your No Claim Bonus (NCB), potentially increases your renewal premium, and may exhaust specific cover limits under add-on policies such as Zero Depreciation cover.
This article explains the drawbacks of multiple car insurance claims, how to decide when to file, and how to protect your coverage effectively.
How Many Car Insurance Claims Are Allowed in a Year?
As a rule, there is no fixed cap on the number of claims you can make under a comprehensive car insurance policy in India in a single year. You may file two or more claims within the same policy period without violating any legal requirement.
The key constraints are:
The total claim value across all claims cannot exceed your vehicle's IDV (Insured Declared Value).
Each claim must relate to an event covered under your policy terms.
If you have opted for a Zero Depreciation add-on, many insurers cap the number of claims eligible for full depreciation waiver per policy year. Check your policy document for the specific limit.
So, to directly answer the question: yes, you can claim car insurance twice or more in a year. But doing so carries significant financial consequences.
Drawbacks of Filing Multiple Car Insurance Claims
1. You Lose Your No Claim Bonus (NCB)
The NCB ( No Claim Bonus ) is a discount on your own-damage (OD) premium earned for every claim-free policy year. Even a single claim resets your NCB to zero. The NCB slab for private cars as prescribed under IRDAI guidelines is as follows: (Source: Policybazaar – NCB in Car Insurance)
Consecutive Claim-Free Years | NCB Discount on Own-Damage Premium |
|---|---|
1 consecutive claim-free year | 20% |
2 consecutive claim-free years | 25% |
3 consecutive claim-free years | 35% |
4 consecutive claim-free years | 45% |
5 or more consecutive claim-free years | 50% |
To illustrate the financial impact: if your car's OD premium is ₹12,000 and you have accumulated a 50% NCB, you pay only ₹6,000 at renewal. Filing even one claim wipes this discount away. The ₹6,000 saving you forgo is a real cost — sometimes larger than the repair itself.
2. Your Renewal Premium May Increase
Multiple claims within a policy year signal that you pose a higher risk to the insurer. At renewal, the insurer may apply a premium loading on your policy. The more claims you file in a year, the higher this loading is likely to be. Over consecutive years of multiple claims, your renewal premium can increase substantially.
3. Zero Depreciation Cover Has a Claim Limit
A Zero Depreciation cover ensures your claim settlement does not deduct depreciation on replaced parts, giving you a higher payout. However, most insurers restrict the benefit of this cover to a set number of claims per policy year, (Source: Policybazaar – Zero Depreciation Cover) often two partial loss claims. After this limit is reached within the year, depreciation will be applied to all subsequent claim settlements — even though you paid the additional premium for this cover.
It is important to note that the exact claim limit under Zero Depreciation cover varies by insurer and the specific policy you have purchased. Check your policy document for the applicable limit before filing.
4. Deductibles Apply to Every Single Claim
Every car insurance claim is subject to a deductible — the portion of the repair cost that you bear before the insurer settles the balance. Under IRDAI motor insurance regulations, the compulsory deductibles for private cars are as follows: (Source: Policybazaar – Deductibles in Car Insurance)
Vehicle Category | Compulsory Deductible Amount |
|---|---|
Private cars with engine capacity up to 1,500cc | ₹1,000 |
Private cars with engine capacity above 1,500cc | ₹2,000 |
In addition to the compulsory deductible, you may also have a voluntary deductible — an amount you opted to pay in exchange for a lower premium. Both are deducted from every claim settlement.
If your repair cost is close to or less than your total deductible, filing a claim makes little financial sense: you receive very little compensation while losing your accumulated NCB.
The NCB vs. Repair Cost Calculation
Before filing any claim, do this simple calculation:
Find out your accumulated NCB discount on the OD premium calculator .
Compare it with the repair cost minus the applicable deductible.
If the repair cost after deductible is less than the NCB you would lose at renewal, it is better to pay for the repair yourself.
Practical example: Your OD premium is ₹10,000 and you have a 35% NCB, saving you ₹3,500 at renewal. A minor collision results in ₹2,800 in repairs. After deducting the ₹1,000 compulsory deductible, you would receive only ₹1,800 from the insurer — but you would lose ₹3,500 in NCB next year. Paying ₹2,800 out of pocket is clearly the better financial decision here.
When Should You Avoid Filing a Car Insurance Claim?
Avoid filing a claim in these situations:
The repair cost is lower than or equal to your total deductible (compulsory plus voluntary).
The repair cost is less than the NCB discount you stand to lose at the next renewal.
The damage is minor — a small scratch, a cracked wing mirror, or a dent on the bumper — and the repair cost is low.
You have already filed a claim this year and doing so again would exhaust the Zero Depreciation claim limit under your policy.
How to Protect Your NCB
You can add an NCB Protector cover to your car insurance policy at an additional premium. This add-on allows you to retain your NCB discount even after making one claim in a policy year, without the bonus resetting to zero.
If you have accumulated a 35% or 50% NCB, the NCB Protector is often well worth the extra cost. Before purchasing, check how many claims the protection covers (most policies protect for one claim per year) and what the terms are for retaining the bonus.
How IDV Affects Your Claim Settlement
The IDV ( Insured Declared Value ) is the maximum compensation you can receive from the insurer. It is the current market value of your vehicle, calculated using the manufacturer's listed selling price for your car's make and model, adjusted downward for depreciation based on the age of the vehicle. (Source: Policybazaar – IDV in Car Insurance)
IDV is relevant in two claim scenarios:
Total loss or theft: Your compensation equals the IDV minus the compulsory deductible. No claim can pay you more than the IDV.
Partial damage: Repair costs are covered up to the actual repair expenses, minus the deductible and any applicable depreciation.
As your vehicle ages and its IDV decreases, so does the maximum compensation available to you. This is another reason to consider adding Zero Depreciation cover while the vehicle is relatively new.
Conclusion
You can claim car insurance as many times as needed in a year — there is no legal restriction. But the financial consequences of multiple claims are real: your NCB resets to zero after even one claim, your renewal premium may increase, and your Zero Depreciation cover benefit may be exhausted.
The practical approach is to calculate the cost of each claim against the NCB you would lose and the deductible you must pay. For minor repairs, paying out of pocket often makes better financial sense. For significant damage, your insurance is exactly the safety net it was designed to be — use it.
If you are looking for comprehensive car insurance with NCB Protector, Zero Depreciation cover, and transparent claim settlement, Zurich Kotak General Insurance Company (India) Limited offers plans designed to give you the right protection. Contact our team to find the best plan for your needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Times Can You Claim Car Insurance in a Year?
There is no legal cap on the number of car insurance claims per year in India. You may file multiple claims in the same policy year, subject to your policy terms and your vehicle's IDV. However, each claim resets your NCB and may increase your renewal premium.
Can I Claim Car Insurance Twice in a Year?
Yes. You can file two or more claims in a single policy year. There is no rule against this. However, filing multiple claims loses your NCB, may increase your premium at renewal, and if you have a Zero Depreciation cover, the depreciation-waiver benefit may be capped after a set number of claims.
Does Filing a Car Insurance Claim Increase My Premium?
Not necessarily on the same policy immediately, but at renewal, the insurer may increase your premium if you have filed multiple claims. More significantly, every claim resets your NCB to zero, which means you lose the accumulated discount on your own-damage premium. Over 5 claim-free years, this discount can reach 50%.
What Is the NCB Slab in Car Insurance in India?
Under IRDAI guidelines, the NCB for private cars starts at 20% after one claim-free year and rises to 50% after five or more consecutive claim-free years. The full slab is: 1 year – 20%, 2 years – 25%, 3 years – 35%, 4 years – 45%, 5+ years – 50%.
What Is a Compulsory Deductible in Car Insurance?
A compulsory deductible is a fixed amount that is deducted from every claim settlement, regardless of how small the claim is. For private cars in India, it is ₹1,000 for vehicles with an engine capacity up to 1,500cc and ₹2,000 for vehicles with an engine capacity above 1,500cc.
Should I File a Claim for Minor Car Damage?
Generally, no. For minor damage where the repair cost is less than your deductible or less than the NCB you stand to lose at renewal, it is financially smarter to pay for repairs out of pocket. This preserves your NCB and keeps your renewal premium from increasing.
What Happens to My Zero Depreciation Cover If I File Multiple Claims?
Most insurers allow Zero Depreciation-waived claims only up to a set number per policy year (often two partial loss claims). After this limit is reached, depreciation will be applied to subsequent claims, even if your policy includes Zero Depreciation cover. The exact limit depends on your specific insurer and policy.
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