The main types of general insurance
- Motor insurance — your vehicle and third-party liability from an accident; third-party cover is legally compulsory
- Home insurance — your home structure and/or contents against fire, theft and specified perils
- Travel insurance — medical emergencies, trip cancellation and baggage loss while travelling
- Personal accident insurance — a payout on accidental death or disability
- Health insurance — hospitalisation and related medical expenses (covered in detail elsewhere on this site)
How general insurance differs from life insurance
Life insurance is typically a long-term contract that pays out on death (or, for some products, on survival). General insurance policies usually run for one year at a time and are renewed annually, and they cover a much wider range of shorter-term risks to your assets, health and travel.
How to choose any general insurance policy
- Set a sum insured that reflects the realistic value of what you are protecting — under-insuring is a common and costly mistake
- Read the exclusions carefully; they vary a great deal between products and insurers
- Understand the claim process and what documents it requires, before you need to use it
- Compare insurers on claim settlement experience, not premium alone
Frequently asked questions
What is general insurance in simple words?
General insurance is any insurance other than life insurance — it covers financial loss from an accident, fire, theft, illness or a disrupted trip. Motor, home, travel, personal accident and health insurance are all types of general insurance.
Is health insurance a type of general insurance?
Yes, technically. Health insurance is a category of general insurance, but because it is such a significant decision on its own, we cover it in detail separately across this site.
Official resources
- IRDAI — Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways — motor insurance rules
General education only — not a recommendation of any product. Benefits, limits and exclusions vary by insurer and policy; always read the policy wording and Customer Information Sheet. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation.
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