Own Damage, Third-Party Liability, and Personal Accident cover for hand carts, push carts (thela / rehri), pull carts, factory hand trucks, and all human-powered vehicles. Protecting India's 1–2 crore hand cart workers — street vendors, mandi coolies, factory workers, and railway porters. A Probitas Insurance Brokers rural product.
Rural Insurance
Hand Drawn Vehicle (HDV) Insurance is a rural insurance product by Probitas Insurance Brokers Ltd. (the insurer) providing financial protection to owners and operators of non-motorised, human-powered wheeled vehicles — hand carts, push carts (thela / rehri), pull carts, factory hand trucks, and goods trolleys. An estimated 1–2 crore workers across India use hand-drawn vehicles as their primary livelihood tool — street vendors, market workers, factory coolies, and railway porters. The policy covers Own Damage (OD), Third-Party Liability (TPL), and optional Personal Accident (PA) for the owner-operator. Probitas Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. (IRDAI Lic. No. 528) is your licensed broker.
Flat-bed or box cart pushed from behind — vegetable & fruit vendors, street vendors
Cart with shafts pulled from the front — goods delivery, mandi & wholesale market workers
Wheeled trolleys used in factory, warehouse, and industrial premises for goods movement
Steel frame / aluminium heavy goods hand trucks — railway stations, cold storage, construction
For street vendors, mandi coolies, factory workers, and railway porters — the hand cart is their primary livelihood asset. A stolen or damaged hand cart means zero income until it is replaced — often a week or more of lost earnings for a daily wage worker. HDV Insurance protects the asset that protects the livelihood. With IDV as low as ₹2,000 for a simple thela, the premium is minimal compared to the financial security it provides.
Who Can Apply
IDV = Current market value of the hand-drawn vehicle as declared by the insured and accepted by the insurer.
Typical IDV ranges:
Simple push cart / thela: ₹2,000–₹8,000
Box / enclosed hand cart: ₹5,000–₹15,000
Steel frame / heavy goods hand truck: ₹8,000–₹25,000
Customised / specialised HDV: ₹15,000–₹50,000+
CTL (Constructive Total Loss): When repair cost exceeds 75% of IDV, the claim is settled as a total loss — IDV minus compulsory excess minus salvage.
Each hand-drawn vehicle must be identified at inception by type, material (wood / steel / aluminium), approximate dimensions, and any serial or identification number — supported by a photograph where possible. Unlike motor vehicles with registration plates, HDVs have no formal registration system — so description + photograph is the identification method. Unidentified vehicles cannot be insured.
| Parts Type | Depreciation |
|---|---|
| Rubber / Nylon parts (wheels, tyres, grips) | 50% |
| Fibre / Glass / Plastic parts | 30% |
| Steel / Iron frame, platform (Year 1) | NIL |
| Steel / Iron frame, platform (Year 2) | 5% |
| Steel / Iron frame, platform (Year 3) | 10% |
| Steel / Iron frame, platform (Year 4) | 15% |
| Steel / Iron frame, platform (Year 5+) | 20–50% |
Plan Comparison
Compare OD Only, TPL Only, OD+TPL, and Comprehensive (OD+TPL+PA) plans under the insurer Hand Drawn Vehicle Insurance. TPL cover is strongly recommended for all HDVs used in public places.
| Points of Difference | OD Only | TPL Only | OD + TPL | Comprehensive (OD+TPL+PA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accidental damage (collision, overturning) | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Theft / Housebreaking of vehicle | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Fire, Self-ignition, Lightning, Explosion | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Flood, Storm, Cyclone, Hailstorm, Frost | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Earthquake / Landslide / Rockslide | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Malicious Acts / Civil Commotion | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Transit damage (road / rail / waterway) | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| 3rd Party Death / Injury (Unlimited) | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| 3rd Party Property Damage (₹7.5 lakh) | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Legal defence costs (TPL) | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Owner Accidental Death (PA) ₹1–₹2 lakh | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Owner PTD / PPD / TTD (PA) | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Sum Insured Basis | IDV | Unlimited + ₹7.5L | IDV + Unlimited + ₹7.5L | IDV + TPL + PA SI |
| CTL at 75% of IDV | Yes | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| Compulsory Excess | As per schedule | None (TPL) | As per schedule (OD) | As per schedule (OD) |
| Premium Level | Base | Low | Moderate | Highest |
Coverage Under HDV Insurance
Hand Drawn Vehicle Insurance covers three areas: Own Damage to the vehicle, Third-Party Liability arising from its use, and optional Personal Accident for the owner-operator. Each has specific claim procedures — especially TPL which requires you to NOT admit liability.
If your hand-drawn vehicle injures a person or damages someone's property — do NOT admit fault, apologise formally, or pay any compensation to the third party without the insurer's prior written consent. Call Probitas immediately on 022 4302 0000. The insurer handles all legal proceedings, court appearances, and settlement negotiations on your behalf. Admitting liability before notifying the insurer may prejudice the TPL claim and expose you to personal liability beyond the policy limits.
For Own Damage claims — do NOT authorise repairs before the insurer's licensed surveyor inspects the damaged vehicle. Emergency temporary repairs to prevent further damage are permitted — photograph the damage first, then call Probitas on 022 4302 0000. The surveyor must see the vehicle in its damaged state to assess repair cost and certify the cause of loss.
For theft of the hand-drawn vehicle, a Police FIR must be lodged at the nearest police station immediately. Claims without FIR will not be settled. For theft total loss settlement, a "Non-Traceable Certificate" from the police is also required after the prescribed waiting period (confirming the vehicle has not been recovered).
How Claims Are Calculated
Claim = Repair cost of damaged parts − Depreciation on parts − Compulsory Excess
Repair cost and extent of damage assessed by the insurer's licensed surveyor after inspection of the damaged vehicle.
CTL triggered when: Repair cost > 75% of IDV
CTL Claim = IDV − Compulsory Excess − Salvage value
Theft Total Loss = IDV − Compulsory Excess (after FIR + non-traceable certificate from police)
TPL claims are settled as per court award — the insurer pays the compensation awarded by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal or court, up to policy limits. The insurer also pays the legal defence costs. The insured does NOT pay anything to the third party directly.
A compulsory excess (deductible) as per the policy schedule applies to all Own Damage (OD) claims. The insured bears this excess amount; the insurer pays the balance. For TPL claims, there is no compulsory excess — the insurer pays the full court award. At renewal, check whether a voluntary excess (additional deductible) can be opted for a premium discount.
The Hand Drawn Vehicle Insurance policy covers the vehicle only — not the goods or cargo being carried on it. If your vegetables, fruits, merchandise, or factory goods are damaged in an accident, that requires a separate Goods in Transit / Marine Insurance policy. Contact Probitas on 022 4302 0000 to arrange goods transit cover alongside HDV Insurance.
| Parameter | Accidental Damage (Partial Loss) | Theft (Total Loss) | Flood Damage (Partial Loss) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Type | Steel frame goods hand cart | Wooden push cart / thela | Aluminium hand truck (factory) |
| IDV | ₹ 12,000 | ₹ 7,500 | ₹ 20,000 |
| Event | Collision with auto-rickshaw; frame bent, wheel damaged | Stolen from market overnight (FIR filed) | Flood inundation; frame corroded, platform warped |
| Repair / Replacement Cost | ₹ 4,500 | Total loss (IDV basis) | ₹ 6,800 |
| Depreciation on Parts | 10% (Year 1) = ₹ 450 | N/A | 15% = ₹ 1,020 |
| Net Repair Cost | ₹ 4,050 | ₹ 7,500 (IDV) | ₹ 5,780 |
| Compulsory Excess | ₹ 500 | ₹ 500 | ₹ 500 |
| Claim Payable | ₹ 3,550 | ₹ 7,000 | ₹ 5,280 |
* Illustrative only. Actual settlement depends on surveyor-assessed repair cost, applicable depreciation schedule, IDV at inception, and compulsory excess as per policy schedule. Theft settlement requires FIR + non-traceable police certificate.
Policy Conditions
The following 12 conditions are binding under the the insurer Hand Drawn Vehicle Insurance Policy. Condition 7 (Do NOT admit TPL liability) and Condition 5 (Police FIR for theft) are the most critical for protecting your claim rights.
Vehicle Identification Mandatory: The hand-drawn vehicle must be identified at inception by description (type, material, dimensions, any serial number) — supported by a photograph. Unidentified vehicles cannot be insured.
Accurate IDV Declaration: IDV must represent the current market value of the vehicle. Under-declaration means under-compensation at claims. Over-declaration is treated as misrepresentation.
Use as Described: Vehicle must be used only for the purpose declared at inception. Using a goods cart to carry passengers, or using an agricultural cart in a factory, voids OD and TPL cover.
Notification within 48 Hours: Any loss, damage, or third-party accident must be notified to Probitas (022 4302 0000) within 48 hours. Delayed notification may prejudice claim settlement.
Police FIR for Theft: For theft of the vehicle, a Police FIR must be lodged immediately. Claims without FIR will not be settled. A "Non-Traceable Certificate" from police is also needed for total loss theft settlement.
Do NOT Repair Before Survey (OD): Vehicle must NOT be repaired before the surveyor inspects it. Emergency temporary repairs are permitted — photograph before any repair. Unauthorised repairs before survey may result in claim reduction.
TPL — Do NOT Admit Liability: In any third-party accident, the insured must NOT admit fault or pay the third party without the insurer's prior written consent. Call Probitas immediately — the insurer manages all legal proceedings.
Compulsory Excess: A compulsory excess applies to all OD claims as per the policy schedule. The insured bears this amount in every OD claim. No compulsory excess applies to TPL claims.
Contribution (Multi-Policy): If the same vehicle is insured under more than one policy, each insurer contributes proportionally. The total claim cannot exceed the IDV.
Subrogation: On settlement of any OD claim, all rights of recovery against responsible third parties (e.g., vehicle that caused the accident) automatically transfer to the insurer.
Cancellation: Either party may cancel the policy on 7 days' written notice. On cancellation by the insured, premium is refunded on a short-period scale for the unexpired term.
Policy Period — Annual 12-Month: Standard 12-month annual policy. At renewal — IDV must be reassessed at current market value and current vehicle condition re-declared.
How to File a Claim
OD claims require surveyor inspection before repairs. TPL claims require immediate notification without admitting liability. Theft claims require Police FIR. Notify Probitas within 48 hours in all cases. Call 022 4302 0000.
Call Probitas on 022 4302 0000 within 48 hours of any accident, damage, theft, or TPL event. For theft: lodge Police FIR immediately. For OD: do NOT repair before surveyor inspection (photo first). For TPL: do NOT admit liability or pay the third party.
Insurer appoints a licensed surveyor to inspect the damaged vehicle, assess repair cost / extent of damage, and certify cause of loss. For CTL / theft: surveyor confirms total loss. For TPL: insurer's legal team handles court proceedings — no surveyor needed.
OD: Claim Form, Policy, vehicle description/photo, surveyor report, repair estimate/bill, Police FIR (if theft/accident). TPL: Court summons, Police FIR/accident report, medical bills/death certificate, property damage report. PA: FIR, medical/disability certificate, death cert + legal heir (if death).
OD partial: Repair cost − depreciation − excess. CTL: IDV − excess − salvage. Theft: IDV − excess (after FIR + non-traceable cert). TPL: Court award paid by insurer. PA: As per schedule. Payment by NEFT within 30 days of complete documents per IRDAI TAT norms.
Common Questions about HDV Insurance
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