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Get Your Car Prepped For The Monsoon
Team AckoJan 17, 2024
Thundering clouds, lightning, and then the much-awaited downpour. The rainy season brings with it the respite everyone craves for after facing blistering heat during the summer. Yes, rains do bring their share of problems but we tend to look at the positive side, don’t we?
The inability of car drivers to adjust to the changes on the road due to rainfall was termed as a key reason for accidents as per a survey in Mumbai. Mumbaikars termed driving during the rainy season as one of the worst driving scenarios. Don’t let the monsoon affect your driving, read ahead to know how to prepare your car for the rainy season.
Contents
Body Coating
You can opt for body coating depending on the age of your car. Also, the intensity of the rainfall in your city can be taken into consideration. You can opt for paint protection, underbody coating, and more importantly anti-rust coating. This can be done from vehicle manufacturer’s service center.
Braking System
A good braking system helps you keep a safe distance from other cars and avoid accidents. Often, brakes are the difference between an accident and a safe trip. Your car’s brakes are challenged in slippery conditions. It is a good practice to get your car’s brakes checked before the rainy season. Squealing and grinding noises while braking is a warning sign, and you must get your brakes checked immediately in such a case.
Correct Tires
Proper brakes but improper tires cannot bail you out of trouble. Both have to work in harmony. Your car needs good traction on wet roads and correct tires provide that. Also, keeping a spare tire in your car is a good habit. If your tires have become old and weary, then they surely need to be replaced with new ones before the rainy season hits its peak.
Check Your Car’s Battery
Imagine you are seated in your car which is stuck in traffic and your car’s battery dies! No one wants to be in that situation. If your car’s battery has crossed the three-year milestone, it should be examined by a professional mechanic. Trying your luck during a sunny day is a different thing but it is always better to get your battery checked before you hit the road in the rainy season. You can get your car’s battery checked at almost any garage. You can also opt for engine cover in monsoon, read the importance of having engine protection cover in insurance.
Opt for Comprehensive Car Insurance
Third-party liability insurance is mandatory if you want to drive your car on Indian roads. However, it does not protect your car from financial losses in case of unfortunate events. For a bit of extra premium, you can get a wider insurance coverage than a third-party liability policy by opting for comprehensive car insurance. With a comprehensive car insurance cover, you can also go for add-ons such as Car Roadside Assistance and Car Engine Protector Cover which can be extremely handy during the rainy season.
Be Monsoon Ready
People do some kind of vehicle prep work before every season but it gets more intense before the start of the rainy season. Follow the above-mentioned points to be prepared and avoid the monsoon struggles.
How Car Insurance Add-ons Save Your Car During Monsoon
While the Third-party Car Insurance Policy covers third-party liabilities such as injury/death of the third-party or damages to their property, the Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy covers damages/losses to your car due to accidents, natural calamities, man-made disasters, fire, etc. However, both the plans do not cover damages caused due to flooding such as engine failure or provide services such as roadside assistance or emergency outstation cover, etc. To make your car monsoon-ready, here are add-ons that you should consider buying with the Comprehensive Insurance Plan.
1. Engine Protection Cover
The car insurance add-on compensates you for the replacement or repair cost of your vehicle’s engine parts. Damages to the engine can be due to water ingression and hydrostatic lock caused when you start the wet engine, leak engine oil, or damage components of the car’s engine, or gearbox, etc.
Example: The monsoon season can be unpredictable. If water enters your car’s engine, it can cause severe damage to the engine. In addition, replacement or repair of the engine parts is expensive. In such cases, the Engine Protection cover add-on comes to your rescue by covering the cost of the replacement or repair of engine parts.
2. Return to Invoice Cover
In case of damages that are beyond repair or in case of car theft, the basic car insurance plan will compensate you with the Insured Declared Value (IDV) or the approximate market value. ACKO will consider the depreciation of the car before settling the claim. However, with the Return to Invoice cover, ACKO will compensate the amount mentioned in the car’s invoice value, including the road tax and the registration charges.
Example: Flooding due to heavy rains, storms or cyclones can cause severe damages to your car. Sometimes damages can be beyond repair. In such cases, the Return to Invoice cover will compensate you with the car’s purchase price or the invoice value.
Also, read: Return to Invoice vs. Zero Depreciation
3. Consumables Cover
The Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy does not cover the cost of consumable items such as nuts and bolts, screws, engine and gearbox oil, oil filter, distilled water, bearings, etc. However, with the Consumables cover, you can avoid out-of-pocket expenses while settling the repair bill.
Example: In case your car gets damaged due to flooding, storms, cyclones, or earthquakes, you have to get the car repaired and bear the cost of consumable items that the Comprehensive Car Insurance Plan does not cover. By adding the Consumables cover, you can reduce the cash outflow from your pocket.
4. Roadside Assistance Cover
In emergencies such as an accident or breakdown, the Roadside Assistance cover will provide emergency assistance. The Comprehensive Insurance Plan or the Third-party Insurance Plan does not offer such services. Hence, it is suggested you purchase the add-on with the Comprehensive Policy for broader coverage.
Example: In case your car has a flat tyre, ACKO will send its technicians to help fix or replace the flat tyre. Other services include towing, fuel support, taxi support, jumpstarting the battery, emptying the fuel tank, and picking up the car.
5. Outstation Emergency Cover
If your car breaks down or meets with an accident outside the 100km radius of your place of residence, and you are unable to drive the vehicle, the add-on secures you against accidents/breakdowns. Also, if the repair takes more than 12 hours, you get a reimbursement of Rs. 2,500.
Example: If you have gone on a holiday or visiting relatives/friends and your car breaks down, you may be stranded and require support until the car is fixed. During such instances, the add-on comes to your rescue by providing monetary assistance to help you tide over the difficult times.
6. Zero Depreciation Cover
During the car insurance claim settlement, depreciation of parts being repaired or replaced is considered, and then the compensation is paid out. However, via the Zero Depreciation cover, we will pay the cost of repair without considering the depreciation of the parts being repaired or replaced, saving you money.
Example: When you drive your car through water-logged roads, there is a possibility that motor parts can be damaged, and the value of your vehicle depreciates along with regular wear and tear. Hence, if the car is damaged due to water ingression, you can avoid the depreciation factor and get compensation for the entire repair bill through the add-on.
5 Tips to Wade Through Waterlogged Roads
Driving your car through waterlogged roads in India can be a daunting task. The potholes on roads make it even more challenging to move through the water and reach your destination. Driving in such a scenario can be problematic for the vehicle as well for your safety. It can also affect other drivers and pedestrians. Here are some tips that will help you to drive your car through waterlogged roads.
1) Gauge Water Level:
Keep an eye on the water level on the road. It gets more dangerous when the car’s tires are submerged. Higher water levels can make driving a lot difficult and prone to problems. If that is about to happen, try to take an alternate route. The alternate route might be time-consuming but it is better to be safe than sorry.
2) Stay in the Centre:
If you look closely, flood water gets accumulated on the side of the roads. That is because the roads are often constructed that way, to channel floodwater down the drain. But when the drains are flooded, the sides of the road also get flooded. Thus, the water level should be the lowest at the centre. Also, if a heavy vehicle passes swiftly, the water can get displaced to the side of the road and if your car is in that position, the water level can rise there drastically. Thus, try to keep your car in the centre lane.
3) Composed Driving:
Drive slow and do not move to higher gears. Keep toggling between first and second gear without letting the throttle go down. Maintain a consistent level of RPM. This will prevent the water from blocking the exhaust pipe.
4) Avoid Hydrostatic Lock:
If the car’s engine is underwater and it breaks down, do not try to force start it. Let it be. If you try to crank up the engine when it is submerged in water, chances are that your car might fall prey to a hydrostatic lock. This can be damaging to the car’s engine. The car should be towed to the nearest garage.
5) Don’t Panic:
Keep calm. It is not the end of the world. Everyone wants to get out of the waterlogged area and go home soon. The only way to do it is by staying patient and cooperative. Getting into arguments, unnecessary honking etc. is not going to help the cause. It will make matters worse. Stay focused and don’t panic.
Additional Driving Tips for The Monsoon Season:
Here are some tips to help you drive safely during the monsoon season.
Drive your car at a lower speed than usual. It will offer you better control in case you have to stop immediately or make quick manoeuvres.
Clear the windshield with the help of the HVAC system – heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.
If possible, move through waterlogged areas in one go without removing your foot from the accelerator.
There can be difficulty in braking after a car crosses a waterlogged area, drive accordingly.
Avoid starting your car on your own if it is parked in a flooded area. Get a mechanic or tow it to a nearby garage.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some commonly asked questions monsoon car care
Does car insurance cover if my car gets flooded?
While the Comprehensive Insurance Policy covers losses or damages caused due to flooding, it does not cover damages to the engine parts or gearbox. For that, you can buy the Engine Protection cover add-on to extend the primary plan’s coverage.
What are the benefits of add-ons in car insurance?
The Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy covers damages or losses arising due to an accident, natural or man-made calamities, theft of the vehicle, fire or explosion and total loss. However, coverage for losses such as engine damage, key or key lockset damage, personal accident cover for passengers, roadside assistance, etc., are not covered. That’s where the add-ons provide these specific coverages for an additional premium amount.
Does car insurance provide financial protection in case of a total loss?
Yes, the Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy provides financial cover if the damages to your car are beyond repair. However, the claim will be settled after considering the depreciation factor. That being said, by including the Zero Depreciation cover, you can negate the depreciation factor.
What sort of insurance cover should I buy for my car considering I reside in a flooding-prone area?
If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, your car insurance policy must have appropriate covers to tackle damages due to waterlogging. Choose a Comprehensive insurance plan with the right Add-ons for wide-ranging coverage.
Should I compare car insurance quotes online before buying the policy?
Buy and renew car insurance online only after comparing car insurance quotes. Also, do not be blinded by low rates, check if the policy is offering the right cover. Digital insurance companies tend to offer wide-ranging coverage at an affordable rate.
Will a Third-party Liability cover insure my car against damages due to waterlogging, flooding, and the monsoon season?
A Third-party Liability cover will not be able to cover you in case of damage to the insured vehicle due to waterlogging, flooding, or the monsoon season. This is because the third-party policy does not offer an Own Damage cover. An Own Damage cover is offered by a Comprehensive car insurance policy. Therefore, if you are worried about damages to the vehicle, you should insure your car with a Comprehensive policy and choose relevant Add-on covers.
Which Add-on covers are suitable to ensure enhanced coverage for my car in case of waterlogging?
You can opt for Add-on covers like Zero Depreciation, Engine Protection and Roadside Assistance.
| Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet; and is subject to changes. Please go through the applicable policy wordings for updated ACKO-centric content and before making any insurance-related decisions. |
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