Car insurance quotes in India are becoming more personal in 2026, according to reporting by The Tribune. Insurers are moving away from rough guesses and towards prices built around you and your car.
What does it mean for you? Two people with the same car may now see different premiums. Your driving record, car details and claim history can count for more than before.
Key takeaways
- Car insurance pricing is getting more personal, as reported by The Tribune.
- Your own record and car details can change what you pay.
- Third-party cover is priced by the regulator, so personal pricing mostly touches own-damage cover.
- Always compare quotes with the same cover and the same insured value.
- A clean claim record can save you real money over the years.
How personalised car insurance pricing works
Old-style quotes leaned on broad groups. Your car's make, model, age and city set most of the price. Everyone in that group paid close to the same amount.
Personalised pricing adds more detail about you. Insurers can weigh how you drive, where you park and whether you've claimed before. We know only the headline, so the exact methods each insurer uses aren't covered here.
A car policy has two parts. The third-party part covers harm to other people and their property. IRDAI, the insurance regulator, sets that premium. The own-damage part covers your own car, and insurers price it themselves. That's where personal pricing shows up.
What changes for you: a worked example
Say a standard quote for your car's own-damage cover is ₹10,000 a year. These numbers are made up to show the idea. They aren't real quotes.
| Driver | Standard quote | Personal adjustment | Final own-damage premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Careful driver, no claims | ₹10,000 | 20% lower | ₹8,000 |
| Average driver | ₹10,000 | No change | ₹10,000 |
| Driver with two recent claims | ₹10,000 | 15% higher | ₹11,500 |
The gap between the careful driver and the one with claims is ₹3,500 a year. Over five years, that's ₹17,500. Small yearly gaps add up.
There's also the no-claim bonus, a separate discount you already know. It starts at 20% after one claim-free year. It can reach 50% after five. Personal pricing sits on top of that.
Who is affected
Careful drivers with clean records may gain the most. They've been paying for the group's risk. A fairer quote could bring their price down.
New car owners have no history yet. Their quotes may lean on car details until a record builds up. People with frequent claims may see higher premiums at renewal.
City drivers may notice a difference too. Busy roads and crowded parking can raise the risk an insurer sees. The third-party part of your bill won't change with any of this.
What to do now
You don't need to act in a hurry. A few simple habits will help you get a fair price:
- Collect at least three quotes for the same cover. Match the insured declared value (IDV) across all of them. That's what the insurer pays if your car is stolen or written off.
- Check which add-ons are in each quote. A cheap quote may leave out cover you want.
- Think before you claim. For tiny dents, paying yourself may protect your no-claim bonus.
- Answer every question honestly. Wrong details can get a claim rejected later.
- Budget the premium with your other costs. Our EMI calculator helps if you're also paying a car loan.
For more explainers like this, visit our news hub.
Frequently asked questions
Will my car insurance premium go down in 2026?
It might, if you're a careful driver with a clean record. It might also rise if you've claimed often. Your quote will depend on your own details.
Is third-party insurance premium personalised too?
No. The regulator sets third-party premiums by car type, so they don't vary by driver. Personal pricing mostly affects the own-damage part.
How do I get the best car insurance quote?
Compare at least three quotes with the same IDV and add-ons. Keep your claim record clean. Don't pick on price alone.
BankCreds analysis
This story is real, but it's smaller than it sounds. Only the own-damage part of your premium can be personalised. The third-party part is fixed by the regulator.
Who gains and who doesn't
A careful driver with a ₹10,000 own-damage premium might save ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 a year. That's useful, not life-changing. Someone with repeated claims could pay more, and that's the trade-off.
Don't read this as a promise of cheaper cover for everyone. Prices follow risk, and risk differs from driver to driver.
The bigger saving is still the no-claim bonus, which can reach 50% of the own-damage premium. Protect it before you chase a personalised quote. This week, get three quotes on the same cover and compare them line by line.
This section is BankCreds' own assessment of what the development means for Indian borrowers and savers. It is independent commentary, not part of the source reporting above.
Sources & references
- The Tribune — originating report https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/from-guesswork-to-personalised-pricing-how-car-insurance-quotes-are-becoming-smarter-in-2026/?utm
- IRDAI — Insurance regulator that sets third-party motor premiums and oversees insurers https://irdai.gov.in/
Source links are shown as plain text, not clickable links. Copy a URL into your browser to read the original report.
Editorial note & disclaimer
How this was reported. The development above is attributed to the source or sources listed. BankCreds does not independently verify a third party's reporting; where a figure or a regulatory position is stated as fact, it is either attributed or drawn from the regulator's own published material. Everything under "BankCreds analysis" is our own assessment.
Rates and figures. Interest rates, per-gram values and premium bands quoted here are indicative, move daily, and differ by borrower profile, city and lender policy. Confirm the final number with the institution before you act on it — the sanction letter or policy schedule governs, not a news report.
Not financial advice. This article is general information for an Indian audience. It is not investment, tax, credit or insurance advice, takes no account of your circumstances, and BankCreds is not a lender, broker, distributor or advisor. Consider speaking to a SEBI-registered investment adviser or a qualified professional before acting.
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