Get a Comprehensive Car Insurance for the Monsoons

• Protect yourself with third party or comprehensive cover
• Use bumper to bumper policies to reduce your liability
• Enjoy facilities like zero depreciation and roadside assistance covers

For those who own a car or wish to buy one, they are probably aware of the fact that it is mandatory as per the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to have a third-party insurance policy to drive on the roads of India. A third-party insurance cover is the most basic form of motor vehicle insurance and covers the damages of the third party in the accident. For third-party insurance policyholders, there is no protection for the damages met to their own car or themselves if they meet with an accident, which brings us to the benefits of a comprehensive car insurance. A comprehensive car insurance policy/plan covers the cost of the third party as well as the first party (the policyholder) for damages caused following an accident.

Not just that, a comprehensive car insurance policy/plan that offers coverage also offers protection against natural calamities, such as floods, earthquakes and so on, making it imperative for car owners to have during the monsoons. Car owners that have purchased a comprehensive insurance policy are protecting their car from any sort of financial burden that they could face if their car is damaged in a flood or in the monsoons. Apart from this, a comprehensive car insurance policy comes with various add-on covers, enhancing the protection of the car against any damages that could be caused to the car during the monsoons. Let’s discuss further.

Why you should get a comprehensive car insurance policy for the monsoons

We’ve listed the common occurrences that happen during the monsoons, giving you a good enough reason to purchase a comprehensive car insurance policy:

• Hailstones are one of the biggest reasons during the monsoons that result in windscreen cracks. The situation is unavoidable, but without a comprehensive car insurance policy and a windscreen protection add-on cover, you would need to cover the cost of replacing your windscreen from your own pocket.
• Flooding is by the far the biggest reason behind engine failures during the monsoon season. If the car owner does drive through a water-logged area, it’s quite possible that water will seep into the engine and cause an engine failure. Repairing the engine can be an expensive scenario, and having a comprehensive car insurance policy with an engine protection add-on cover will help cover the cost of the repairs.
• Damage to interiors might be the next biggest worry if your car is stuck in heavy rains or in a water-logged area. Electrical and non-electrical parts might turn faulty if they do come in contact with water and having a depreciation cover to exchange the damaged parts will save you a good amount of money.
• Comprehensive car insurance policies also come with add-on covers that offer coverage for items in the car that could get damaged as a result of flooding and so on, such as a laptop, etc. Having such an add-on cover will definitely give you complete protection if you’re stuck in a precarious scenario.

Lesser known facts about a comprehensive car insurance policy

Most people assume that just because they have got a comprehensive car insurance policy, the insurance company is liable to cover the damages come what may. However, though you might have an active comprehensive car insurance policy, the insurance company has every right to reject your claim based on certain circumstances. A car insurance company will cover the costs of the damages up to the insured declared value of your car. The insured declared value is based on the age, condition of your car and of course, the depreciation factor.

Now, a car insurance company will only cover the damages met to your vehicle if it is classified as ‘own damage’ and not ‘consequential damage’. For it to be classified as own damage, the policyholder and vehicle owner at no cost should be responsible for the damages caused to the car. For example, if a car is idle and parked in a water-logged area, leading to it being damaged. A consequential damage is if the damage to the car was caused out of the negligence of the driver. For example, if a driver attempts to drive past a water-logged area and cranks the engine, leading to a hydrostatic lock - water in the engine causing it to seize. Once the car insurance claim has been made, and if the damages caused to the car are consequential, then the claim will be rejected.

Comprehensive add-on covers

While a comprehensive car insurance policy will cover the basic damages caused to a car during the monsoons, having the listed-below add-on covers will enhance your protection:

• Windshield protection add-on cover

If your windscreen is damaged following a hailstorm, a windshield protection cover will cover the cost for the replacement of the windscreen.

• Engine protection add-on cover

Having this add-on cover is definitely the most important. The engine protection add-on cover offers coverage for engine seizures as well if there is a damage to the gearbox.

• Zero-depreciation cover

Since the coverage to cover the cost of the damages is based on the insured declared value (IDV) of the car, or the depreciation factor, having a zero-depreciation add-on cover will negate the depreciation value of your car. This add-on cover will make it possible for the policyholder to make the highest possible claim to cover the cost of the damages.

• Roadside assistance add-on cover

If your car stalls in a water-logged area, then instead of trying to start the car - a move that will result in a possible engine seizure - the road-side assistance cover will help you save on any sort of towing charges. Also, by having the insurance company move the vehicle, it reduces the chances of them deducing the damages as a consequential loss.

Car tips to keep in mind during the monsoons

Since the monsoons could quite possibly damage your vehicle, it’s important that you keep the below-listed tips in mind for the season:

• Avoid traversing through water-logged roads or driving during heavy rains.
• Do not keep your original insurance documents or other car documents in the car in case the car gets submerged in a flood.
• Do not park your car under a tree.
• If you’re car gets stalled on a water-logged road, avoid cranking the engine. This will lead to a hydrostatic engine lock.
• A roadside assistance cover will cover the costs of towing your car to the nearest garage. Getting the insurance company to do this will be a convenience if you’re stuck in such a situation.

Policyholders should note that if the damage caused to the car is a result of any of the circumstances as listed in the exclusion list of the insurer, then the claim will be rejected. As already mentioned, a consequential loss will also result in a claim rejection. Policyholders should also ensure their comprehensive car insurance policy is active when making the claim.