Will Road Travels Get Affected if There is a New Outbreak of COVID-19 in 2023?

Posted on: Jan 11, 2023 | | Written by:

Will Road Travels Get Affected if There is a New Outbreak of COVID-19 in 2023?

Published on January 11, 2023. EST READ TIME: 4 minutes

With the emergence of BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron in China, we can say that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. Learning from the past two severe waves of COVID-19 in India, it is always wise to take precautionary measures to avoid getting our life affected by this disease. If the COVID-19 outbreak in 2023 in India, there might be a possibility of road travel getting affected and also drivers will have to take necessary precautions. Therefore, it is necessary to have car insurance during coronavirus, even though you might not take out your car just in case of COVID-19 outbreaks. Also, a motor insurance policy will protect your parked car from damages caused due to natural or man-made calamities.

Will COVID-19 Outbreak Have an Effect on Road Travel?

If COVID-19 outbreak occurs in India, there might be a possibility that road travel will be restricted to a particular area. During worse situations we observed in past two waves, that motorist were not allowed to cross particular area or district. Only during specific time of the day and under valid essential scenario motorist were allowed to cross state borders or move out from particular district or region. If you have to drive during an emergency situation, it will be necessary for you to have a valid car insurance policy. As per Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, you cannot drive a vehicle without a valid car insurance policy. Also, even if you will not move out if lockdown occurs, your car can get damaged due to unforeseen events which can lead to huge financial losses, if you don’t have a car insurance policy. Let us discuss below importance of having car insurance policy during lockdown period and also precautions drivers should take while driving.

Why Renew Car Insurance Policy During Lockdown?

Although you will not move out regularly in your car if lockdown occurs in 2023, there are non-accidental risks that could damage your car. You can cover losses due to these risks under the comprehensive car insurance policy.

Natural Calamities

Natural calamities occur without warning. Calamities, such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, etc., are beyond a person’s control and can significantly damage your vehicle. The best way to safeguard your car from such calamities is to have valid motor insurance even during the lockdown.

Fire

Even if you are not driving your car, it is still at risk of fire danger. A simple short-circuit can happen even if the car is standing in the parking and ultimately damage it. If you want your losses recovered in case your car catches fire during the lockdown, make sure to buy or renew your car insurance policy.

Theft

Theft activity continues to happen during the lockdown. With not so many people outside their houses, you cannot negate the probability of car robbery. Thus, you need to renew your car insurance policy before its expiry to make a theft claim to your motor insurance provider.

Vandalism

Car vandalism can damage your vehicle even during the lockdown. For instance, a wall or ceiling collapse in your society may damage the car in the parking lot. However, if your car insurance is renewed, you can recover the losses even during the coronavirus lockdown.

Precautionary Tips Drivers Should Take if Lockdown Occurs

• Sanitise Your Car Regularly. It is advisable to clean parts of your car that passengers come in contact with, like door handles.

• It is wise to keep windows open while driving the car if you are not alone in the car. Consider wearing gloves as a precaution and washing your hands before and after driving.

• Use soap and water to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. You can also use an antibacterial solution with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face, keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible.

• Using debit/credit cards or online digital modes is advisable to make payments. This way, you won’t need to handle cash, a common cause of infection.

Conclusion

Irrespective of whether you will drive or not if COVID-19 outbreaks in 2023, it is best to renew or buy a car insurance policy. It will provide coverage for losses that might occur due to unwanted events discussed above. Also, you can secure your no claim bonus by renewing your car insurance during coronavirus. HDFC ERGO has come up with the option to customise your Own-Damage premium through the pay as you drive – kilometre benefit add-on cover. You can buy or renew car insurance online from HDFC ERGO without hassle.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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