From Waterlogging to Engine Damage: Insurance Add-Ons That Protect Your Car During Rains

The monsoon has arrived; however, the joy of rain also brings challenges for car owners. We have all heard news about the Mumbai rains, Gurgaon/Delhi rains, and how vehicles are stuck in waterlogged streets. The rainy season comes with several risks, including an increased risk of accidents and damage to vehicles. Hence, it is important to secure your vehicles and make them monsoon-protected or monsoon-ready.

“A standard comprehensive motor insurance policy typically covers damage caused by waterlogging, flooding, or heavy rains; however, damages due to negligence or driving through waterlogged areas may be excluded,” says Niharika Singh, ED Marketing, IFFCO TOKIO General Insurance Company Limited.

One of the most effective ways to secure your vehicle during the rains is to opt for the right covers that can help you deal with monsoon-related issues. Let’s find out some add-on covers that one should consider to making car monsoon ready.

Engine Protection Cover

One of the most important parts of your car is the engine of your car.

“During monsoon, if you live or drive through waterlogged areas, then water can enter the engine. Engine protection cover comes to your rescue here and provides financial protection for repair and replacement of the engine and its parts, which usually is very costly, if those are damaged due to water ingress or hydrostatic lock,” says Amarnath Saxena, CTO – Commercial, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance

Tyre Protection Cover

Another useful add-on is protection against tyre damage. It provides coverage for repairing or replacing tyres damaged due to cuts, bulges, etc. As the tyres of a car usually come at a high cost, this cover proves to be highly beneficial.

Zero Depreciation Cover

The value of the car decreases as it ages. “With a higher likelihood of accidents during monsoon, if such an unfortunate event happens, a standard insurance policy will depreciate the value of the repaired part, which will result in lower payouts. Whereas, with zero depreciation cover, the policyholder receives the total cost of replacing damaged parts without any deduction, providing complete financial protection,” informs Saxena.

Roadside Assistance Cover

Getting stuck somewhere because of a breakdown during the rainy season is more common. With the Roadside Assistance Cover, you can get services like towing, fuel delivery, battery jump-start, and minor repairs on the spot. It helps you reach the destination without much worry.

Consumables Cover

Flooded roads and heavy rains can lead to frequent wear and tear of consumable items in your car, such as engine oil, brake oil, lubricants, nuts and bolts, and more. The Consumable cover provides the cost of replacing these items, saving you from additional expenses during the monsoon.

There are, thus, various add-on covers that can be considered based on individual requirements. Some insurers also provide various in-built features, a product like V-pay that covers electrical and mechanical breakdown (apart from accidental damages), waiver of deductible, gives the insured the flexibility to report multiple losses/damages in one go (during a policy period), amongst many other interesting features. Such add-ons eliminate the need to pick from an array of fragmented covers and make the insured worry-free.

“You also need to avoid driving through flooded areas. Don’t restart a water-stalled engine, and report damage immediately to the insurer. Following such preventive measures helps in a smooth claim settlement,” advises Singh.