Getting monsoon ready – Five add-ons to consider for your car insurance

• The engine and gearbox protection add-on offers coverage for damages to the vehicle’s engine, or gearbox due to waterlogging or hydrostatic lock during the monsoon.
  
• With a zero-depreciation cover in place, the entire cost of vehicle repair or replacement of damaged auto parts is compensated by the insurance company.
  
• Securing an add-on to a car insurance policy is possible only during the renewal period.
  

For any car owner, monsoons can be a nightmare, especially if they live in areas prone to heavy rains, floods and water-logging. Most of our cities are susceptible to flooding during the monsoons, and recent instances of flooding in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore are fresh in our minds. In the Bangalore 2022 floods alone, thousands of cars were damaged during the monsoons.

In these times, plain vanilla insurance may not suffice. Here are five add-ons to your insurance cover that will protect your car during the monsoons.

Engine and gearbox protection add-on

During the monsoons, if your car is forced to ply on a flooded road and water damages the engine, you can run up thousands in repair costs.

“This add-on offers coverage for damages to the vehicle’s engine or gearbox due to waterlogging or hydrostatic lock (occurs when a car is driven after the engine is filled with water) during the monsoon. It includes the cost of repairing, or replacing the engine parts, which can be quite expensive. This feature is strongly recommended for areas which are prone to flood and waterlogging,” says Parthanil Ghosh, president of retail business at HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company.

Zero-depreciation add-on

Monsoons bring a fair share of challenges with a high risk of accidents and collisions due to slippery roads and hazy visibility. “With zero-depreciation cover in place, the entire cost of vehicle repair or replacement of damaged auto parts is compensated by the insurance company. However, there is 50% coverage for tyres, tubes, and batteries,” says Nitin Kumar, head of motor insurance at Policybazaar.com.

24x7 roadside assistance add-on

During the monsoon season, unpredictable weather conditions can frequently lead to vehicle breakdowns, battery failures or flat tires. To avoid being stranded without assistance for extended periods, it is beneficial to consider adding roadside assistance coverage.

This additional coverage provides services such as immediate repairs, towing, and arranging for alternative transportation. “This cover offers services like on-the-spot repairs, towing, and arranging for alternative transportation to save the vehicle owner from the inconvenience and heavy financial expenses while being stuck on the road during heavy rainfall,” says Kumar.


Cost of add-ons



Source: Policybazaar.com


Consumables add-on

Expenses like brakes, engine oil, nuts and bolts, etc, are typically excluded from a standard comprehensive plan. However, they may drive up the cost of repairs in case of damage due to flood waters.

“This add-on is recommended for all geographies as it covers for the cost of consumables like engine oil, nuts, bolts and other similar items that need to be replaced during repairs and are excluded being wear and tear items,” says Ghosh.

“For eg., any engine, or gearbox damage on account of impact, or water-related repairs would require oil replacement, which can be paid for under this add-on cover,” says Animesh Das, chief underwriting officer, ACKO.

Daily allowance add-on

In situations where the car is completely immobilised, or undergoing repairs, this add-on feature provides compensation to cover the expenses of renting an alternative vehicle for a specified number of days, up to a predetermined daily limit. The exact daily limit for reimbursement may differ depending on the insurance company.

“However, adding an add-on to a car insurance policy is (only) possible during the renewal period. Insurance providers typically allow policyholders to evaluate and modify their policy coverage during the renewal process,” says Das.

During this period, the customer can assess their insurance needs and make any necessary changes or enhancements to their coverage for the next policy term.