Car Insurance Explained: Have you ever wondered if any kind of damage is caused to the vehicle due to these natural disasters, is it covered in insurance? If yes, then what is its process and what things are important to keep in mind while taking the policy.
Car Insurance Policy in Natural Calamities: Every year, natural calamities like floods, earthquakes and landslides cause heavy loss of life and property in the country. To avoid these natural disasters, our disaster management teams, security forces and army personnel are always ready. But have you ever wondered if any kind of damage is caused to the vehicle due to these natural disasters, is it covered in insurance?
For the past few days, after the arrival of monsoon in the country, waterlogging was seen in many parts due to heavy rains. Due to which many people’s vehicles have also suffered heavy damage. Apart from this, strong earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR and surrounding areas early this morning. In such a situation, it is very important to know how your car insurance provides coverage in such natural disasters? What kind of insurance should you buy for this and God forbid… if needed, what is the way to claim it?
It is seen that, often people are satisfied with just taking third party insurance, but when the vehicle is damaged due to natural disaster, then the real trouble begins. Therefore, first of all it is important to know that there are two types of insurance available for vehicles in India. One is third party insurance and the other is comprehensive insurance policy-
Third Party Insurance:
It provides coverage only in case of damage to a third person or property. It does not provide any compensation in case of damage to your own vehicle due to flood, earthquake, storm or any natural disaster.
Comprehensive Insurance:
If you have taken a comprehensive policy, then it covers the damage caused by flood, rain, landslide, storm and other natural disasters. Therefore, if you want to compensate for the loss caused by natural disasters, then it is important to take a comprehensive plan, not just a third party plan. This policy becomes even more important for those areas where such natural disasters keep occurring.
Which natural disasters are covered?
Comprehensive policies usually provide coverage for damage to the vehicle due to flood, heavy rain, waterlogging, storm, cyclone, hailstorm, earthquake, landslide or land subsidence, fire or lightning, falling of tree or pole.
What is included in damage coverage?
- Engine damage (if engine protect cover is included in the policy).
- Damage caused by water entering the car’s interior.
- Damage to the electrical system.
- Body damage, paint deterioration or wear and tear.
- Damage caused by building or debris to the car’s body part.
Note: Engine protect cover is often not included in the base comprehensive plan. It has to be taken as an add-on cover. The greatest risk of engine hydrolock in floods is for which engine protect cover is very important. Therefore, do make sure of this while taking the policy.
How to get damage claim?
- Immediately inform the car insurance company about the accident.
- Do not try to start the vehicle, (engine hydrolock will cause more damage).
- If there is damage due to flood, then shift the vehicle and keep it in a safe place.
- Keep the photo and video proof of the damaged vehicle with you.
- Keep the vehicle in the same condition until the surveyor comes and inspects it.
- The surveyor will come and assess the damage.
- The company approves the claim based on the surveyor’s report.
- Most companies also provide the facility of cashless claim in network garages.
Are there any conditions?
If you deliberately show negligence like driving in a waterlogged area, then the claim may also be rejected. Actually, this policy provides coverage only in natural disasters or sudden accidents. In some policies, engine protection cover has to be taken separately. The engine suffers the most damage in floods, so it is wise to take engine protection add-on.
Keep these things in mind
While buying car insurance, do not rely only on third party policy because it will not help in case of natural disaster. It will be better to take a comprehensive policy and necessary add-on cover, so before buying insurance, talk to the company executive in detail about this and get information about all their terms and conditions. Get the insurance renewed on time so that the policy does not lapse.
