Total motor insurance premium collection drop-ped 22 per cent to Rs 9,350 crore in 2008-09, compared with Rs 1,1971 crore in the previous year.

Private sector insurers surpassed the public sector companies with the former garnering Rs 4,989 crore and the latter collecting Rs 4,360 crore.

In the previous year (2007-08), the public sector general insurers collected Rs 6,481 crore, compared with Rs 5,490 crore by private sector.

Private cars accounted for the maximum premium collection of Rs 3,886 crore, followed by public goods-carrying vehicles (non-three wheelers) at Rs 2,034 crore.

The claim ratio of 75.21 per cent in 2008-09 remained at the 2007-08 level. The total incurred claim in 2008-09 was Rs 7,033 crore, while the same was at Rs 8,990 crore in 2007-08.

Claim ratio is the proportion of claims incurred to the premium underwritten by insurers.

Among public sector insurers, United India Insurance collected the maximum premium of Rs 1,558 crore, followed by National Insurance at Rs 1,451 crore. Oriental Insurance garnered Rs 1,350 crore as motor insurance premium.

In the private sector, Bajaj Allianz collected a maximum premium of Rs 1,509 crore, while ICICI Lombard collected a premium of Rs 1,327 crore.