How to Claim for Car Damage in Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy?

Posted on: Oct 10, 2022 | | Written by:

How to Claim for Car Damage in Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy?

Published on September 29, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy claims

Natural disasters do not come announced, and they can create destruction and havoc beyond limits. Whether earthquakes or cyclones, it is difficult to estimate their intensity and at what level they will hit. The destruction caused by cyclones can be massive and can cost huge amounts. Be it life or property. Both are badly affected by these. When a cyclone hits, vehicles, especially cars, just drift off and get severely damaged. When the cars are damaged in a cyclone, you realise it is important to have comprehensive car insurance. Let us discuss the basic steps that need to be followed to file a claim if your car is damaged in the cyclone.

How to file a claim for car damage caused by a natural disaster?

If the car is damaged due to a natural disaster like a cyclone, it is important to inform the insurance company immediately. This has to be done if you have either comprehensive car insurance or your own damage insurance. If you only have a third party liability policy which is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, then filing any claim is not needed as there is no coverage. To file the claim, which can be done by calling the insurance company or online, you need to follow some basic steps. Let us discuss them in detail:

Inform the Insurance Company

As soon as you discover that the car has been damaged in the cyclone, you should immediately call and inform the insurance company. The claim must be reported within 48 hours of the damage. The intimation can be given either over the phone or online on the website of the insurer. While intimating the claim, some details like the name of the insured, the number of the vehicle, policy details, etc. have to be provided accurately.

Do not use the car

If there is a case of flooding and the car is affected by the same, always remember that never start the car in such a scenario. If the engine is started in the event of flooding, there are very high chances that the claim will be rejected by the insurance company.

Take Photos and Videos

When the surveyor comes to assess the loss or the insurance company seeks help, they will always ask for pictures of the damaged car to assess the admissibility of the loss and also to settle the claim. There should be pictures and videos from all angles that clearly show the damage. Once you send the car for repairs, there will be no other way to prove the damage, and thus, these pictures are the only evidence you will have to prove the damage and take the claim. Thus, be smart and take proper and clear pictures so that there is no ambiguity later and there is no issue in the processing of the claim. Pictures are the best way to prove the loss.

Wait for Assistance

When you intimate the loss to an insurance company in case of a cyclone, they, in all probability, will have a tie-up with a garage. Once intimated, the garage will send a vehicle for towing the vehicle and also carry out the inspection by a surveyor. The damage and the cost of repair will be ascertained by the garage and told to the insurance company. Once the loss is assessed, the insurance surveyor or garage will inform the insurer, and then depending on the admissibility of the claim and the coverage. The claim amount will be dispersed. For the parts not covered in the policy, the cost of repair of the damaged parts will have to be paid by the insured.

Benefits of buying a comprehensive car insurance

When it comes to car insurance, there are two types of insurance mainly, i.e. comprehensive car insurance and third-party liability car insurance . The latter is compulsory by the government, and the former is a choice, though it should ideally be bought. There are many events covered under the comprehensive policy, making it an ideal choice and ensuring complete peace of mind. Some of the events that are covered are:

● Damage from explosion or fire

● Theft and burglary

● Manmade calamities like vandalism and riots

● Natural calamities like cyclones, earthquakes, floods etc.

● Third party liabilities

● Accidental damage

● Coverage from add-on covers like roadside assistance, zero depreciation, return to invoice etc.

When should I buy comprehensive car insurance?

Comprehensive car insurance is the ideal choice for any vehicle owner. Although the premium payable is higher than a third party liability policy, the coverage it offers is much more. When the car is damaged due to any of the events, the cost of repair can be much more than the premium. When you are not insured and have to pay these from your pocket, the stress is less, and that is when you realise the importance of buying comprehensive car insurance.

Comprehensive car insurance seems very beneficial in case of a total loss. This is the case when the car is damaged, and the cost of repairing is more than 75% of the insured declared value, i.e. the IDV. In the case of a cyclone, the chances are high that it is a total loss, as water ingression can cause a lot of damage to the car and the machinery. Thus, in such times, it is important that you have car insurance that is comprehensive and will cover all these losses. In case of a total loss, you realise how important is insurance coverage as otherwise, you will have to sell the car at scrap value.

Conclusion

A cyclone can cause a lot of damage to the car, and this is more than physical damage. The car gets damaged internally because of the water. Always the first thing to do is to inform the company with whom the car is insured and also not to start the vehicle. In the case of comprehensive car insurance , add-on covers can also be bought, which improves the coverage of the insurance policy.

Care must always be taken while buying insurance, and also the policy must be read carefully to ensure there is no issue at the time of a claim. As long as all steps are followed, and there is no discrepancy in the data provided, filing and settling a claim with the insurance company is a simple task.

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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