Car Insurance Add-Ons That Can Protect Your Car in Monsoon
Car Insurance Add-Ons That Can Protect Your Car in Monsoon
Published on July 21, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes
All car owners know that buying a car insurance policy is mandatory, as per the laws. However, the coverage might not always be adequate. This is where the usage of add-ons becomes much more significant. If you are looking for specific coverage for the monsoon season or need better protection, here are some add-ons.
Add on policies for the monsoon season
As a car owner there are quite a few car insurance add ons that you can explore. The following list is some of the most prominent ones.
1. Roadside Assistance
Roadside assistance or RSA can be quite handy for car owners. The add-on can prove its weight in the time of an emergency. If your car breaks down in the middle of somewhere or gets stuck in a waterlogged area, the cover will aid you in such situations. RSA cover can also be used to jump start your car if its battery dies down or you can use it to tow your car to the nearest available garage.
Some insurance providers also offer fuel in emergency, key replacement, and accommodation, if your vehicle needs to be in a garage and you are out of station. By paying a small premium, you will not have to worry about towing charges or getting mechanical help as well.
2. Zero Depreciation
Zero depreciation cover is one of the most popular car insurance add ons. Though it is a good add-on to have always, the monsoon season can be particularly apt for it. The add-on will ensure that you do not have to pay for any expenses out of your pocket if there are any damages to the car. Your insurance provider will compensate the entire amount of repairs and not deduct the depreciation amount, which can eat a lot into the amount of the claim.
Sometimes known as zero depreciation car insurance , it is one of the most popular and prudent add-ons for car insurance policies.
3. Consumables
When you opt for a comprehensive plan and proceed with a claim, the cost of consumables is usually excluded from the final bill. Consumables in a car usually include expenses such as engine oil, brake oil, lubricants, nuts, bolts, etc. Though they might not seem much, they can do their bit to increase the overall cost of repairs.
Having consumables car insurance add ons will make sure that your repair bills aren’t too high due to the consumables, which aren’t usually covered as a part of comprehensive plans.
4. Engine protection
An engine is usually known as the heart of the car and for the right reasons. It is the most essential part of the car and any sort of repair on the engine can turn out to be an expensive affair. An engine protection cover ensures that you do not end up paying for hefty repairs due to water ingress or hydrostatic locking of the engine.
Apart from repairs, the add-on will also cover expenses related to the replacement of damaged elements of the engine. This cover can be particularly helpful during the monsoon seasons, where waterlogging and cars getting submerged in water are common sights.
5. Return to invoice
Return to invoice is among one of the most popular car insurance add ons. During monsoons, it is quite possible that a car is damaged beyond repair. It can happen either due to cyclones, severe water logging or even thunderstorms. If you were to have a standard comprehensive plan, your insurance provider will compensate the IDV of the car in such instances. However, if you opt for a return to invoice cover, you will receive the original invoice value of the car as compensation.
Are add-on covers additionally chargeable?
Add-ons are additional coverage that you can club along with your existing car insurance policy. Since they offer additional coverage, on top of a comprehensive plan or own damage coverage, they do come at a small premium.
The cost of the premium largely depends on the type of add-on that you want to opt for. For example, zero depreciation coverage is one of the more expensive add-ons as compared to others on the list. However, it does have better compensation if you were to file a claim. Similarly, a roadside assistance cover might not cost you a lot of money in terms of additional premiums.
Irrespective of which add-on you choose, adding them will increase the overall premium of the policy.
Is the claim process for add-ons different?
The steps and process to file a standard comprehensive plan and those of car insurance add ons remain similar. It is advisable that you reach out to your insurance provider for the claim process for specific add-ons. For example, if you want to claim zero depreciation car insurance, you must visit a network garage to avail of cashless benefits.
If you want to file a claim for roadside assistance, you must first inform your insurance provider about the issue and your location. They will take the necessary steps to provide you with aid.
Should you opt for add-ons?
When you opt for an own damage car insurance policy or a comprehensive plan, they offer a considerable amount of coverage. Right from protection against vandalism to coverage against accidents. However, they lack certain exclusive coverage. For example, if you have a standard comprehensive plan, you will have to bear the expenses related to depreciation. Car insurance add ons offer additional coverage and specific coverage as well. These can be particularly helpful for the monsoon season.
Conclusion
Car insurance add ons can be quite useful during the monsoon season, where the damages can hurt the finances of a car owner. There are enough examples, where car owners are unfortunately stranded in waterlogged streets during monsoons. And the cost of repairs can be quite steep in such cases. Not unless you opt for car insurance add ons. The list of add-ons mentioned above will help you save money in the long run.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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