The rising lifestyle and need for increased convenience have made the number of car owners in India rise exponentially. Likewise, the spiralling cost of car fuel like petrol and diesel has made most car owners turn to install a CNG kit in their cars. It is not only highly economical for them but it is also an eco-friendlier option. Moreover, it also improves the performance and mileage of a car. But one must be aware of a few important facts before you take this critical step. Let’s check them out!
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Compatibility and Licensing
Even though the CNG system is getting extremely popular; not all cars are compatible with it. In case your car model is compatible with it; you must procure the government’s approval to install it in your car. The procedure is often hectic and time-consuming. For procuring the CNG approval RC; you would need to supply the following documents:
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Vehicle Registration Certificate
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The car insurance paper of the vehicle
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Identity proof of the car owner
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The PUC or Pollution Under Control Certificate that has been attested by a notary. If your vehicle is new, you need not submit this document.
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Form 20 that has been duly filled in including the imprint of chassis number and cylinder number.
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Application letter for endorsement of CNG fuel on RC copy.
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The invoice of CNG retro-fitment
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Post approval, you get a ‘Registration Certificate’ (RC) branded with ‘fuel change.’ You can now get a CNG kit installed in your car. It must be noted that it is faster to get the fuel-change RC for a new car compared to an old car.
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Installation Cost & Maintenance
The initial cost of installing a CNG kit in a car is high. It is a minimum of fifty to sixty thousand and can be even more expensive. But the amount that you save on the fuel helps you recover the amount in just about two to three years. However, it tends to decrease the performance and ultimately the lifespan of the car. Hence, as the car gets old; you will need to pay an increased cost of maintaining the car compared to those running on diesel or petrol. Hence, you must calculate the cost with a far sight and then take an educated decision.
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Limited Availability
CNG as a car fuel is still in its infancy stage in India. Hence, not every fuel refill station offers this gas. Like any other fuel, you will need to refill your car tank regularly. Hence, you must always be aware of this fact and have all the arrangements made at all times. This is especially true if you are making any long trips in your car. You must always investigate and know all about CNG refill stations on your path of travel.
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High Insurance Premium
This is another critical factor that you simply cannot put under the carpet. We have already stated that a CNG kit installed car requires higher maintenance and repair costs. It also requires more frequent servicing. Consequently, you will inevitably find an increase in your car insurance premium amount.
Hence, it is always better that you enquire about the total premium cost from your insurer before you decide to install the CNG kit in your car. It is also advisable to insure your CNG kit separately.
Importance of Insuring Your CNG Kit Separately
We already talked about the premium of your vehicle going high with a CNG kit. However, the premium amount hike is not too huge and, on an average, sums up to about 4 percent of the cost of the CNG kit. In case, you are not insuring it separately; you have a high chance of losing more money in the long run. You also increase the risk of your claim getting rejected in case of an accident if you have not disclosed your CNG kit. Thus, it’s best to always take the safe road.
You must also become aware of the fact that at the time of upgrading your policy with the CNG kit included and at the time of renewing your policy; you might have to go through the inspection and approval process of the insurer from whom you are purchasing The Car Insurance Plan.
Wrapping up
Installing a CNG kit in your car, whether old or new, has its pros and cons. It is vital that you understand the full implication and cost involved with installing the CNG kit before you go ahead with it. Done with thought, you will emerge a winner.