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Does Your Car Insurance Cover Animal Attack?

Team AckoJan 17, 2024

Animals are sometimes unpredictable, they could dart out from a tall tree, a building, or a vehicle and they can be impossible to avoid. They might attack your car while driving across a forest or on a highway. A collision is bound to occur and may also cause damage to your car. The question arising here is that does your car insurance cover animal attack? Read on to learn about car insurance for an animal attack, its benefits and coverage.

Contents

Car Insurance for Animal Attack:
- Common Types of Damages Due to Animals:
How To Claim Car Insurance For Animal Attack Damages?
Benefits of Having a Comprehensive Car Insurance:
How To Prevent Animal Attack on Cars?
Frequently Asked Questions:

Car Insurance for Animal Attack:

Damages to your car can be due to accidents, vandalism, natural calamities, and sometimes you may encounter an animal attack. These are some of the common reasons why your car requires repairing. Motor insurance protects the insured vehicle from financial liabilities towards damages to the third party or their property, and if you have a Comprehensive policy, it will cover Own Damage as well. So, how does an animal damage car insurance cover work? Firs, learn about the types of damages due to animals before you can raise a claim for the same:

Common Types of Damages Due to Animals:

A rodent or a pest may chew the car wiring present in the engine compartment causing damage to the wiring system of the vehicle.
A wild or a large animal may dart towards your car while driving through a forest or a wildlife area causing severe damage.
Your pet may have chewed the seat or the upholstery which requires repair.
An animal may have gained entry into the cabin of the car through an unattended window or sunroof, allowing it to cause damage to the exterior and interior.

How To Claim Car Insurance For Animal Attack Damages?

Any accidental damages to your car should be reported to your insurance immediately. This will ensure the insurer will be able to review the damages and settle your claim accordingly. If you’re wondering if a dog damages your car or if rodent damages are covered by insurance, the comprehensive policy covers such damages. Below are the steps to raise a claim from your car insurance for animal attack damages:

Step 1: Call your insurance company or visit their website to report the damages and to raise a claim.
Step 2: The insurer will send a surveyor to inspect the damages. You can either get a cashless claim by getting the damages repaired at the network garage, or you can get a reimbursement for the repair bill.

Benefits of Having a Comprehensive Car Insurance:

The car insurance should be able to cover financial liabilities arising out of damages to your car as well as third parties. Buy comprehensive car insurance to cover your vehicle with excellent coverage at a lower premium. Below are the benefits of having a comprehensive car insurance policy:

Damage to Car

Accidental damages come unannounced, which leads to an unexpected repair bill. Sometimes they can be expensive depending upon the extent of the damages. This can certainly burn a hole in your pocket. The Comprehensive car insurance policy not only covers third party damages, but it also covers damages to your car or the insured vehicle. Besides, it also covers damages due to animal attack.

Death or Disability Cover

The comprehensive car insurance policy, apart from protecting third parties, also covers the insured vehicle and offers the Personal Accident Cover. Also, it is mandatory to buy the Personal Accident Cover as per the directive of the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI). Hence, in case of death or disability, the policyholder is well covered in terms of financial protection.

Third-Party Liability Coverage

The comprehensive motor insurance policy offers exhaustive coverage. It offers protection to the third-party against any damages caused by the insured vehicle. It also protects the policyholder against financial liabilities arising out of third-party damages and legal liabilities.

Also, read: Car Insurance Policy For Your Next Road Trip

How To Prevent Animal Attack on Cars?

While it is indeed unpredictable for an animal to dart and attack your vehicle, there are a few precautions you can take to avoid a collision. Here are some tips to prevent animal attacks on cars:

Keep Calm

One of the main reasons why animals attack a vehicle or a person is that they can sense fear or if a person is excited. This could scare the animal and could get confused. It is this reason the animal tends to defend and attacks you or the vehicle. Remain calm, especially if you are driving through a highway and you encounter an animal on your way. Animals rarely attack, but if they feel threatened, they would not think twice to attack. Ensure you keep calm and wait for the animal to leave.

Keep the Windows Closed

While the car is parked or left unattended, ensure you do not keep the windows open. Chances are animals may enter the vehicle and could cause damage to the interior and the exterior. Sometimes you may forget to close the sunroof, which is easy access for animals to enter your car.

Park in a Garage

Try and find a garage if you do not have one to park your car inside the garage. This will eliminate any chances of an unpredictable animal attack. Also, it keeps your car away from sunlight and dust, thereby increasing the life of the vehicle.

Do Not Leave the Car Unused for Long

Drive your car regularly even if it is not daily. This will prevent rodents or rats from nesting and chewing the wiring of your car.

Do Not Leave Food Inside the Car

Do not leave any leftover food or avoid eating food inside the car. These are great in attracting animals inside the car and could damage finding their way inside the vehicle.

Use Animal Repellents

There are several types of repellents for rats and other pests. They might cost a bit, but it can avoid damages to the car when pests or rats enter the vehicle and cause unwanted damages.

Get a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy

While you may take precautions to avoid any animal attack damages or damages due to rodents chewing up the wiring, get the comprehensive car insurance policy which covers Own Damage as well.

Get a Protective Cover or Hammock for Your Pet

Use a car hammock for pets or covers which keeps your pet from chewing or damages the interior of the upholstery of the car. It will also prevent your pet from wandering in the car.

Do Not Feed Wild Animals

If you are driving through a wildlife sanctuary or a forest, avoid feeding wild animals. They are unpredictable and could possibly damage your car while you are feeding the animal.

Also, read: Vehicle Scrappage Policy in India

Frequently Asked Questions:

Below are some of the common queries about car insurance for damages due to animal attacks:

Does Third-party car insurance cover animal attack damages?

No, this is available only with the comprehensive car insurance policy and not under the Third-party car insurance.

Are rodent damages covered by insurance?

No. Damage to the wiring in the engine compartment is not covered since the engine is not covered under the standard comprehensive policy. However, it is good to check the terms and conditions of the policy.

If my pet has damaged the upholstery of the car. Will the car insurance cover the damages?

If the damages for which you are raising a claim is found to be intentional, the car insurance company will reject the claim.

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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