How to Save Your Car during Monsoon with Add-On Insurance Cover

Monsoons on Indian roads can be particularly harsh on cars, with flooded streets, potholes concealed beneath water, and impaired vision posing significant risks of damage. While regular car insurance covers basic damages, the monsoon often necessitates more comprehensive coverage. This is where additional insurance coverage becomes crucial. Add-ons expand the coverage given by the regular insurance policy to offer additional protection from specified risks. In this article, we shall outline some of the different types of add-on covers that help you protect your vehicle during the rainy season.

Understanding Add-On Insurance Covers

An add-on is an additional cover that you buy over and above your basic car insurance policy for extra protection in multiple scenarios. Here are some must have car insurance add-ons that can prove to be extremely helpful during the monsoons:

• Engine Protection Cover
• Zero Depreciation Cover
• Roadside Assistance Cover
• Return to Invoice Cover
• Consumables Cover
• Hydrostatic Lock Cover

• Engine Protection Cover

Your car’s engine is its heart, and it’s particularly vulnerable to waterlogging. An engine protection add-on would help to reduce the costs of repair or replacement in case your vehicle’s engine gets damaged due to water. Such an add-on coverage feature is critical, given that the standard insurance policies do not provide coverage if the engine gets damaged due to water seepage.

Benefits of Engine Protection Cover:

• Covers the cost of repair or replacement on any damage arising from water collection to the engine.
• Provides you with peace of mind in times of heavy rains and floods.
• Prevents expensive engine repairs.

• Zero Depreciation Cover

It also goes by the name of bumper-to-bumper car insurance coverage. This particular coverage will ensure you get the full claim value sans any depreciation deduction. During monsoons, you can always expect to experience slipperiness of the roads, minor accidents and damages, and this is where this cover will come in the most handy. With this, you will not need to pay for a part replacement out of your pocket as the insurer will take care of it.

Benefits of Zero Depreciation Cover:

• The total claim amount without deduction of depreciation.
• Ideal for new vehicles and luxury models.
• Covers the cost of replacing damaged items without taking into account their devaluation.

Also Read: All You Need To Know About Bumper To Bumper Car Insurance

• Roadside Assistance Cover

Breakdowns can be nerve-wracking, especially in the rain. But with your roadside assistance cover, help is just a call away! From towing to minor repairs, you can get back on the road in absolutely no time. Roadside assistance coverage is a saviour, it gives you peace of mind, offering towing, emergency repairs, and battery jump-starting. It can also provide lodging for you if you are a long way from home.

Advantages of Roadside Assistance Cover:

• Immediate help is available if your car breaks down.
• Towing services to the nearest garage.
• Peace of mind in emergencies.

• Return to Invoice Cover

If your car is beyond repair or is stolen, a standard insurance policy will only pay out the present market value, which may be considerably less than what you paid for it. A return-to-invoice cover bridges this gap by paying the original invoice value of the car along with road tax and registration fees.

Benefits of Return to Invoice Cover:

• Full compensation for the car’s invoice value.
• Covers the gap between market and invoice values.
• Best used for new vehicles, providing more financial protection.

• Consumables Cover

In the course of repairing, minor parts like nuts, bolts, engine oil, brake oil, and such are replaced. The cost of such expenses can really add up, and typical insurance doesn’t include them in coverage. A consumables policy takes care of those costs so you don’t have to reach into your pocket.

Benefits of Consumables Cover:

• Pays the cost of consumables replaced at the time of repair.
• Reduces out-of-pocket expenses.
• Offers complete protection at the time of repair.

How to Choose the Right Car Insurance Add-Ons

The right selection of add-ons depends on multiple factors, such as the age of your car, the way you drive it, and the monsoon conditions that prevail in your area.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right Car Insurance add-ons:

1.Assess Your Needs:

Think of the specific threats you will be facing through the monsoon. If you stay in a flood-prone area, the must-have features include engine protection and roadside assistance cover

2. Assess the Age of Your Car:

New cars benefit more from zero-depreciation and return-to-invoice coverage.

3. Keep in Mind Your Budget:

While add-ons provide you with extra coverage, they are capable of escalating your costs as well. So choose the best value for your needs.

4. The Devil Is in the Details:

Be aware of the terms and conditions of every add-on to get an idea about the coverage.

Conclusion

Though an incredible season, monsoons can, at times, prove to be a little harsh on your car. But the right insurance protection can save your day and your car, too! Take time to study and learn about different types of add-on covers that can prove to be very beneficial in the long run. Engine protection, zero depreciation, roadside assistance, return to invoice, consumables,  are some of them that can help protect your car.

Call 1800 266 9693 or email us at support@elephant.in if you have any questions. Visit Elephant.in for the best car insurance plans!

*Terms and conditions apply. The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances. You are recommended to obtain specific professional advice from before you take any/refrain from any action. Tax benefits are subject to changes in tax laws. Please contact your tax consultant for an exact calculation of your tax liabilities.| EL/BLOGS/24-25/13