Engine Protection Add on Cover in Car Insurance

Posted on: Jul 14, 2021 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Engine Protection Add on Cover in Car Insurance

Engine Protection Cover in Car Insurance

The engine is rightfully considered to be the heart of a car, as without it, nothing would run. It is also the most expensive component and the most complex. With several movable and immovable parts, the engine must be taken care of continuously to ensure the smooth running of your vehicle. Fixing problems in the engine can be expensive and cumbersome. And that is why insurers offer engine protection cover as an add-on to your car insurance policy.

While THIRD PARTY CAR INSURANCE is mandatory for vehicle owners, it only covers damages caused to the third party or their property. Meanwhile, the COMPREHENSIVE CAR INSURANCE policy covers damages caused to your vehicle as well but excludes the engine from its purview. The engine, being a complex and expensive component, requires a specialised and targeted protective strategy in the form of an engine protection cover.

What is the Engine Protection Cover?

An engine protection cover is an add-on to your CAR INSURANCE POLICY, covering the costs of damage to the engine and its parts, such as the piston, gearbox, connecting rods, and others. The engine is particularly vulnerable to water ingress and lubricant or oil leakage. This cover helps protect you against the financial implications of engine repair.

Why Is Engine Protection Required For a Car?

Firstly, the engine is the most expensive part of your vehicle and its most vital component. A car without a working engine, or a stuttering one, is usually considered junk-like. Carrying out repair work on the engine requires a highly specialised skill and is expensive in terms of both material and labour costs. And there’s no question of delaying or putting off the repair altogether because then the car would simply not serve its purpose of going from one point to another. In other words, you must attend to an engine problem immediately if there is one.

The car engine’s highly mechanical nature makes it vulnerable to wear and tear. You do not want to stress it further by being careless. The engine is prone to leakage of lubricating oil and coolant, fixing which would require a visit to a workshop on most occasions. During the rains, there’s always a chance of water entering the engine compartment. With a non-watertight seal, it can easily leak into the motor oil and coolant, which will denature the oil, reducing its cooling and lubricating properties.

The engine can also suffer catastrophic failure with water ingression, effectively locking the motor – called hydro locking. A car wading through waterlogged streets can have water entering through the air intake, further increasing the risk of hydro-locking. All these risk factors significantly enhance the value proposition of availing an engine protection cover, because fixing these issues not only side-lines your car for the duration of the repair but is also expensive.

Typically, a regular car insurance policy does not cover the cost of repairing or replacing the engine and associated parts. Engine repairs are costly, but engine protect in car insurance can come to your rescue, especially in cases of unexpected and expensive engine damage. However, it must be noted that starting your submerged car can trigger ignition damage, which is considered a deliberate act of damage to the engine. Only in such cases is the damage not covered by the add-on.

What Expenses Does the Engine Protection Cover in Car Insurance?

It includes the cost of repairing or replacing the engine or any of its components. It also covers damage to the gearbox and its parts, along with the cost of compression tests, labour, cylinder re-boring, and machine charges, are covered as well. Let's delve a little deeper to see the inclusions of engine protection cover in car insurance:

1. Parts of the car engine

The cost of repairing the engine’s parts due to damage from accidents, overheating, or other covered perils.

2. Water Ingress

If the outside water goes into the engine and causes any damage

3. Leakage

Damages that are caused because of lubricant oil leakage

4. Gearbox damage

Repair and or replacement of the gearbox would be covered.

5. Fluids and lubricants

The cost of necessary fluids, oils, and lubricants required for engine repair or replacement.

6. Labour costs

The cost of labour that goes into diagnosing the issue, disassembling and reassembling the engine, and performing necessary repairs or replacements.

7. Cost of consumables

Additional items such as nuts, bolts, coolant, lubricating oil, and other consumables

What are the Exclusions as part of the Engine Protection Cover in Car Insurance?

While engine protect in car insurance offers comprehensive coverage for the car’s engine, you need to keep in mind:

1. Coverage will not be offered if you try to start the car when it is submerged in water. Remember that you should never try to start the car when it is submerged in water.

2. Also, bear in mind that damages to the engine that happen due to everyday wear and tear will not be covered under the engine protection cover.

3. A claim that is raised after a specified number of days (generally 30 days) will not be accepted.

4. Generally, the engine protection cover is not available for cars that are over 5 years old.

Who Should Opt for Engine Protection Cover in Car Insurance?

The engine protection cover is a useful add-on. However, purchasing it is all the more useful for car owners who:

1. Have recently purchased a new or expensive car

2. Reside in an area prone to flooding, where water damage to the engine is a real risk

3. Wish for a comprehensive car insurance policy with coverage for various types of damages.

How to Avail of the Engine Protection Add-On?

Including the engine protection add-on to your comprehensive car insurance policy is easy. At the time of renewal, you simply need to choose the engine protection cover as a part of the coverage and pay the extra premium. If you are renewing or buying insurance offline, you can inform the agent or the insurance company executive about adding the add-on to your policy.

FAQs

1. I have comprehensive car insurance. Why do I need engine protection cove?

Under regular comprehensive car insurance, expenses related to the repair or replacement of the car's engine and its components are typically not covered. Therefore, including this add-on might be a useful decision as engine repairs can be heavy on the pocket.

2. What will happen if water enters the car engine?

If water enters the car engine, it will have no space to flow. There will be compression issues, and the connecting rods between the piston and the crankshaft will bend and soon break.

3. Do I need to pay extra for the engine protect in car insurance?

Yes, as the engine protection cover is an add-on, you need to pay a premium over and above your comprehensive insurance.

Conclusion

Engine repair can easily cost upwards of Rs 1 lakh, which makes the engine protection add-on a wise purchase. Plus, to ensure that the whole deal is affordable, CALCULATE CAR INSURANCE PREMIUM ONLINE and find the best car insurance price for your vehicle. Compare insurance providers to zero in on the right option.

Get the engine protection cover over and above the basic insurance policy, especially if you stay in a waterlogging-prone area. This will help prevent huge out-of-pocket expenses at your end, leaving you stress-free and relaxed.

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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