New Delhi, Sept. 13 -- A repair bill of Rs.12,000 may look like a reason to claim car insurance. But what if avoiding that claim saves Rs.22,000 when your policy comes up for renewal? Paying from your pocket could leave you better off.

This comparison explains why a claim should involve calculation. The amount on the repair bill does not tell the story.

Your No Claim Bonus (NCB) rewards you for keeping a claim-free record. It can reduce your renewal premium, making smaller claims less attractive.

Suppose covered repairs worth Rs.12,000 are approved while your NCB benefit is Rs.22,000. Paying yourself may make more sense.

Now consider a Rs.45,000 repair bill against the same Rs.22,000 benefit. A claim would generally be more useful, de...