Monsoon is a time when Indian motorists frequently face car breakdowns or even damage to safely parked vehicles owing to heavy rainfall and floods. With the roads becoming slick and slippery, motorists have a hard time and the number of road accidents is higher as well during this season.

Needless to say, it is imperative to have a comprehensive motor insurance policy covering damage to one's vehicle including that arising from natural calamities like rain and floods as well as personal accident coverage.

However, simply buying a policy does not mitigate the financial losses which may arise. Many motorists get a rude shock when their claim is rejected owing to conditions of which they are unaware. Here are a few points of which one has to be careful in case of damage to one`s vehicle during the monsoon, to navigate smoothly through the claims process.

Damage to the engine

It is a little known fact that if one tries to forcefully start the car in a flood situation, this could severely damage the engine. Such engine damage is often the ground for claim rejection. Typically, when the car is submerged and water reaches the engine, repairing it is a relatively easy and inexpensive affair.

However, if one attempts to start the car while there is water in the engine, this could cause hydrostatic lock, critically damaging the parts and substantially raising the cost of repair. This is termed as ‘consequential loss’ where the damage has been aggravated by the driver, therefore it may lead to claim rejection.

If the vehicle has broken down and the water reaches above the tyre level, one should get an authorised workshop mechanic to give a go ahead before trying to start the engine. Alternatively, wait for the water to recede and get the vehicle towed to the nearest workshop rather than risk damaging the engine through a push start technique. The insurance company usually has a provision for covering the towing fees.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Berkshire India is a majority owned non-direct subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway incorporated in India. It is a licensed corporate agent of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance. It sells Bajaj Allianz's products directly to retail consumers through the internet on BerkshireInsurance.com.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are driving through a flooded patch where the water level exceeds the height of the tyre and you cannot stop the car, shift to the first gear, accelerate to increase engine speed and drive through.

Intimating the insurer

It is important to intimate the insurer in time. The extent of damage and consequently the cost of repair rises significantly, the longer the car remains unattended. To elucidate, a car worth Rs 4 lakh which could be repaired in Rs 30,000 one day after being submerged may cost Rs 1.5 lakh to repair, a week later. This would result in claim rejection since the owner is violating the clause of taking all reasonable steps to safeguard the vehicle. It is essential to act fast and the insurance company should be informed within 48-72 hours of the damage occurrence.

Avoid unnecessary damage

As they say, prevention is better than cure. As far as possible, park your car in a place where the water does not rise above tyre level. This is particularly relevant when it comes to replacement of parts made of rubber, nylon and plastics and also electronic parts like music system and power steering.

There is usually a cap on the amount reimbursed for rubber, nylon and plastic parts varying as per the insurer and policy you have chosen. As for electronic parts, insurers take into account depreciation for every year of use thereby making the replacement a costly affair.

Know your policy and the claims procedure

To have a hassle free claim settlement experience, do your due diligence while buying the policy to understand all terms and conditions. Make sure you have a list of the preferred workshops where cashless repair facility is available as per your policy or call the insurance company helpline for guidance to the nearest authorised garage.

In case you are filing for a reimbursement, there are certain documents which must be submitted including a valid registration certificate of the vehicle, driving license, repair bill and proof of release. Ensure that these are in order while submitting the claim application. Whether you opt for the cashless route, or reimbursement, you must ensure a surveyor
examines the damage to the car before getting it repaired.

And in case you still do not have an appropriate insurance policy for your prized vehicle, it would be advisable to get one before the rains set in. The simplest way to do so is to log onto the various portals available online, do a comparative assessment and purchase the motor vehicle policy best suited to your needs.

Equipped with a good policy and paying heed to the necessary care for your vehicle during rains, you can bid goodbye, at least to the financial element, of your monsoon motoring woes!