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Are Airbags Covered in Indian Car Insurance Policies?

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If you look at the statistics, it will reveal that car airbags have saved thousands of lives over the years throughout the world. It is a matter of necessity to further secure your safe ride. Its primary function is to lessen the impact of collision during hard braking and reduce the level of injury to the passengers. Although the usage of airbags in Indian cars is still significantly low compared to other countries, it is gradually increasing at a rapid and consistent pace.

These airbags are primarily made of thin nylon fabric, which is highly space-saving when folded. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, airbags remain installed in various places:

● Front airbags:

These are the commonest types of airbags, generally deployed from the dashboard and the steering wheel, with the aim of protecting the front-seat passenger and the driver during a frontal collision.

● Side airbags:

Such airbags remain installed on the backseat of the car so that in case of a collision, it inflates between the vehicle door and the car seats.

● Knee airbags:

These types of airbags remain installed down the dashboard. In case of a collision, the special airbag sensor instantly sends a particular signal to the designated inflators so that they inflate the airbags and fill the empty space between the dashboard and the passenger.

How do airbags work?

To understand the importance of the proper replacement of the airbags, we need to first understand the working mechanism of the airbags.

Airbags are an important safety feature which automatically inflate on an impact and deflate when you come in contact with them.

When your car experiences any collision, the impact sensors send necessary signals to the airbags for deploying the passenger and the driver. They are capable of preventing heavy, serious injuries or even death under certain circumstances.

When a seatbelt maintains the seating position of the passenger and the driver, the airbag capably supports their head. Generally, airbags are used in juxtaposition with seatbelts and inflate to supply the necessary support.

Airbags are termed as a supplementary restraint system, which significantly lowers the risk of injury to both the upper and the lower body that may develop when it hits the steering wheel or the car dashboard under any accidental circumstance.

The style and the number of airbags present in the vehicle depend exclusively on the make, model, and variant of the car. These airbags have become the most highlighting feature of current generation vehicles, especially the bigger ones, succumbing to the risks of accidental injuries.

Are airbags covered in a car insurance policy?

We are all aware of the fact that there are two basic types of car insurance plans: the basic third-party car insurance and the comprehensive insurance plan . As the name suggests, the third-party plan only covers the third-party loss and damage of the vehicle caused by your vehicle under any accidental circumstance. On the other hand, a comprehensive plan covers for own damage cover too, along with third-party damage.

A comprehensive car plan acts as strong financial protection for your car, protecting it from loss or damage caused due to any accident, natural calamities, fire, or theft. Under normal circumstances, most car owners, especially for the more luxurious cars, never find it enough to cover all their necessities and opt for expanding the scope using additional add-ons.

It is even advisable to ensure optimum coverage using all the necessary add-ons, especially for new and more luxurious cars, even if it requires you to pay an enhanced premium.

However, comprehensive insurance is not optimum and does not provide complete coverage as per requirement, missing out on several essential liabilities. Generally, it excludes the cost of normal wear and tear of your vehicle, technically termed depreciation.

When any part is replaced, the depreciation rates are applied as follows:

● Zero deductions for glass-made parts in the vehicle

● 30% depreciation on all the components of fibreglass present in the vehicle

● 50% depreciation rates are applied on vehicle parts made of nylon, plastic, rubber-like batteries, tyres, tubes, airbags, etc.

Therefore, you can well see that the zero depreciation car insurance plan covers airbags, although it is not entirely covered as the depreciation rate gets applicable in this particular component of the vehicle. However, when you are opting for zero dep coverage, you are liable to receive compensation for the entire loss or damage without subtracting the rate of depreciation for up to at least five years.

In this context, it is fair to mention that the cost of replacing or repairing the airbag is comparatively quite expensive. Therefore, it is best to choose the zero depreciation cover plan, which covers at least a part of the total expenses incurred.

How do insurance companies cover airbag replacement?

A zero depreciation coverage covers the entire vehicle but only comes in handy under any accidental circumstances involving your vehicle. Depending on the nature and type of the accident that occurred, the insurance companies cover airbag replacement costs in several ways:

● When the fault is yours:

In case of any accident, when you are at fault, your insurance company is liable to cover airbag repair and replacement, provided you possess collision coverage in your car insurance.

● When the fault lies on the other driver:

When the fault lies on the part of the opponent driver, his liability insurance coverage covers the accidental expenses, including the airbag replacement costs.

Conclusion

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry have expedited a new policy for the installation that has been mandated in all passenger vehicles of a minimum of six airbags each. Therefore, the need to know the future consequences and implications has all the more arisen.

Depending on the general terms and conditions of the car insurance , all standard insurance companies cover the costs of airbag repair and replacement under normal circumstances, provided you have chosen zero depreciation car insurance . Moreover, occupant restraint systems even include an air cushion restraint system, thus enhancing the scope.

A deployed and burst airbag significantly reduces the safety issue of the vehicle. Moreover, repairing or replacing the airbag is comparatively far cheaper than replacing the entire vehicle, provided your vehicle does not need to undergo too much work.

From the above discussion, it is evident that you can rest assured of airbag replacement costs getting covered by insurance policies when proper terms and conditions are followed.

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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