Home / Car Insurance / Articles / How to claim car insurance for damages from a cyclone?

How to claim car insurance for damages from a cyclone?

Team AckoJan 17, 2024

India has seen some ferocious cyclones over the past few years. This dangerous natural calamity can cause heavy destruction that amounts to crores of rupees. It can cause damage to property and life without sparing anything in its path (quite literally). Yaas, Tauktae, Amphan, Fani are just a few examples of cyclones that have hit the country in the recent past. Vehicles, primarily cars, drift easily off the surface from a cyclone’s speed and they suffer significant damage. Here is what you need to know about the steps to claim car insurance if your car is damaged in a cyclone.

Contents

Steps to claim car insurance for damages caused by cyclones
Things to remember
- Importance of Comprehensive Car Insurance

Steps to claim car insurance for damages caused by cyclones

It’s a major misconception that damage caused by a natural calamity is not covered under car insurance. In fact, this is a major coverage provided by a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy. Thus, it is imperative to buy a holistic plan and not just the basic Third-party Liability Plan that does not cover damages to your car.

The claim process for damage to a car in the case of a cyclone is simple. The policyholder can easily prove the damage as it is national news and not an isolated event. The insurance company would expect bulk claims during a cyclone, and the processing may be done on a priority basis.

Here are steps to claim car insurance on ACKO for the damage caused by a cyclone.

Step 1: Intimate ACKO

Informing ACKO about car damage is the most crucial step after damage. Cyclone is national news but it is not fruitful to assume that the insurer will contact you for the claim. Thus, make it a point to get in touch with ACKO at the earliest and understand the claim process.

Step 2: Gather evidence

It will be very helpful if you click pictures or videos of the damaged car. News reports about the cyclone can also help you to build a strong claim.

Step 3: Collect the required details

Be ready with details like policy number, car details, and other documents are per the claim process.

Step 4: Claim

Raise a claim from ACKO’s website or mobile app by logging in through your registered mobile number. Click on “Claim Now” and upload the necessary details to complete the claim.

ACKO may require some details after you raise a claim. Ensure that all these details are shared with ACKO as soon as possible. This will help you get the claim amount faster.

What is total loss in car insurance?

Total loss is when your car gets so damaged that the repair cost is more than 75% of the actual value of the car i.e. the IDV (Insured Declared Value). The policyholder needs to declare the IDV while buying a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy.

It is likely that a cyclone may cause total loss to your car considering its impact and the flood-like situation. Water ingression is common in case of damage from a cyclone, which may impact the engine and other car parts. You will receive the claim amount approximately equal to the IDV if your insurer declares total loss.

For example

Mr. D lives in Odisha and his sedan and other property were affected by the Yaas cyclone in the year 2021. The IDV of Mr. D’s four-year-old sedan was Rs 6.5 lakhs and the cost of repairing the damage amounted to Rs. 5.5 lakhs.

As the repair cost is more than 75% of the car’s IDV, the insurance company declared a total loss for the car and the claim settlement amount was around Rs. 6.5 lakhs minus deductibles.

Things to remember

A cyclone can cause significant damage to the car. Not only visible damage but water can easily seep into the electrical and mechanical parts. Thus, ensure the following things before raising a car insurance claim.

Read the policy document to understand the coverage of your policy. Go through the fine print and the terms & conditions of the policy as well.
Inform ACKO about the damage at the earliest as this will help us complete the settlement process faster.
Do not try to start the car when you notice that the cyclone has caused damage. This can cause consequential loss and the related coverage might not be available under your car insurance policy.
Inform the insurance company (in this case ACKO) and ask for a damage survey before taking the car for repairs. The insurer may reject your claim if the car is repaired before the survey.

Importance of Comprehensive Car Insurance

Usually, two types of car insurance policies are available in India. One is the government-mandated Third-party Car Insurance that covers only third-party losses. And the second is a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy.

It is highly advised that you opt for Comprehensive Insurance to get complete coverage against multiple unfortunate events. Following is the list of coverages that are usually offered under this plan.

Theft coverage
Damage from fire or explosion
Natural calamities like cyclones, floods, earthquakes, etc.
Man-made calamities such as riots, vandalism, etc.
Accidental damages
Third-party liabilities
Personal accident insurance
Add-on covers like Zero Depreciation, Roadside assistance, etc at an additional cost.

The coverage of a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy can be enhanced with additional coverages mentioned above. It is an additional feature of this plan which is not available with a basic Third-party policy.

FAQs

Are natural calamities covered under Third-party Liabilities insurance?

No, Third-party liability Insurance does not cover any type of damage to your car. You need to buy a Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy to get the Own Damage (damage to your car) cover.

Is it okay if I send the car for repairs at a network garage without intimating the insurer?

No, it is mandatory to intimate the insurance company before sending the car for repairs. Here, surveying the damage is important as the claim will be reviewed only after the surveyor sends a detailed report of the damage.

Do I need to buy a separate add-on for getting the cyclone insurance cover?

The cover for cyclones or other natural calamities is covered under ACKO’s Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy and you don’t have to buy a separate cover. It is a good idea to get clarity about the cyclone insurance before making payments to other insurers.

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.