MotorBabuVehicle insurance expired? What to do now
Noticed your car or bike insurance has run out? Here's what it means, what to do today, and how to avoid losing your no claim bonus.
By Avdhesh Solanki · Updated 16 Oct 2026
First: don't drive it
From the day after the expiry date your vehicle is uninsured. Driving it on a public road is an offence, and if anything happens — even a minor scrape with another vehicle — you pay for the damage and any injury yourself. Renew before you drive again; most insurers can issue a policy online within minutes, starting the same day.
What driving uninsured can cost
| Under Section 196, Motor Vehicles Act | |
|---|---|
| First offence | ₹2,000 fine and/or up to 3 months in prison |
| Repeat offence | ₹4,000 fine and/or up to 3 months in prison |
The bigger risk is an accident: without third-party cover, compensation for someone else's injury or property comes out of your pocket — and for injury or death there is no upper limit.
Is there a grace period?
Not for the cover itself. The "90 days" people talk about is about your no claim bonus: if you renew within 90 days of expiry, you keep your NCB (up to 50% off the own-damage premium). Renew later and it goes back to 0%. Use the NCB calculator to see what's at stake.
How to renew after expiry
- Get quotes online — from your current insurer or any other. You can switch insurers at renewal and still keep your NCB within the 90 days.
- Third-party only? It can usually be bought straight away, with no inspection.
- Comprehensive? After a lapse, most insurers want to see the vehicle first — a self-inspection with photos or a video in their app, or a surveyor visit — so they know it wasn't damaged while uninsured.
- Keep the new policy handy — a printout, the insurer's app, or DigiLocker / mParivahan.
Inspection rules and how quickly a policy starts vary by insurer — check with yours. A new policy never covers anything that happened before it starts.
Make sure it doesn't happen again
Insurance renews once a year, which is exactly why it slips. MotorBabu reminds you 30 days before the expiry date, keeps the policy on your phone, and notices when you've renewed — free, for every vehicle you own.
Questions people ask
Is there a grace period after vehicle insurance expires?
Not for your cover — the vehicle is uninsured from the day after the expiry date, and nothing that happens then is covered. The 90 days you may hear about only protect your no claim bonus: renew within 90 days of expiry and you keep it.
What is the fine for driving without insurance?
Under Section 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act: a ₹2,000 fine and/or up to three months in prison for a first offence, and a ₹4,000 fine and/or up to three months for a repeat offence. And if you cause an accident, you pay the other party's damages yourself.
Can I renew expired insurance online?
Yes. Third-party cover can usually be bought online straight away. For comprehensive cover, most insurers ask for a vehicle inspection after a lapse — often a self-inspection with photos or a video in their app, or a surveyor visit.
Will I lose my no claim bonus?
Only if you renew more than 90 days after expiry. Renew within 90 days and your NCB carries on as before — see what it's worth with our NCB calculator.
Can I drive to the insurer or a garage with expired insurance?
No — driving an uninsured vehicle on a public road is an offence, even for a short trip. Renew online first; a policy can start the same day.
How do I check if my insurance has expired?
Check the policy document, or look up your vehicle's insurance validity online — our guide shows how to check your vehicle insurance expiry date.