1. Type of Contract
The fire insurance is a contract of indemnity, where payment of loss will be made only when fire occurred, but the life insurance contract is a contract of certainty, wherein payment is certainly made.
2. Occurring of Event
The fire may or not occur in fire insurance but in life insurance the death will certainly occur.
3. Classification of Risk
There are numerous types of risk in fire insurance whereas the risks in life insurance are divided into three classes :
(a) the standard risk,
(b) the sub-standard risk and
(c) the uninsurable risk
4. Period of Insurance
The term insurance in fire insurance does not exceed generally more than one year but in life insurance it lasts for a very long period.
5. Protection and Investment
Fire insurance includes only the element of protection whereas the life insurance includes the element of protection and investment because the premium paid or sum assured is returnable in the latter case whereas no premium or amount is returnable in fire insurance.
6. Insurable Interest
In fire insurance, the insurable interest must exist from the date of the proposal to the date of completion of the contract whether by death or by expiry of term.
In life insurances insurable interest must exist at the time of proposal.
This is the reason that the insured property, insurance policy, or policy amount – cannot be assigned to others in fire insurance whereas it is freely assignable in life insurance.
7. Moral Hazard
The degree of moral hazard in fire insurance is maximum whereas it is very nominal in case of fire insurance.