Which Insurance Should You Buy for Off-Road Driving?

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

Which Insurance Should You Buy for Off-Road Driving?

Published on October 03, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Many people feel that if a car is not used often, spending money on paying the insurance premiums for a car insurance policy is a waste. However, one should remember that having third party car insurance is mandatory by law, and thus, it is essential to have it in hand before you get the car out of the showroom also. However, taking comprehensive car insurance is a choice.

Most people use a car to drive from one place to the other for work or pleasure. But there are some who keep cars for off-road driving. For the unversed, driving cars on unexplored and natural paths is called off-roading. These are usually not regular concrete roads and can be different terrains. As the car is not driven on regular roads, the risk of injuries and damage to the car is high. Many people wonder if their car insurance policy will cover off-road driving. Let us discuss this in detail.

Types of off-road driving

Before we talk about insurance and off-road driving, let us see the types of off-road driving which are there:

● Desert racing

● Dune bashing

● Cross-country

● Rock racing

● Green laning

● Raid

● Mud plugging and mudding

● Rock crawling

Is Off-Road Driving Covered by Car Insurance?

This question depends on the insurance company you have chosen to insure with and the kind of car insurance policy. Basically, off-road driving comes under the category of adventure sports, and some insurance companies provide coverage for these, and some do not. There are some insurance companies that issue car insurance policies that exclude adventure sports. But, if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, it will cover accidents, and thus, you will be covered against any accident that causes damage to the car. This comes under the own damage coverage and not third party car insurance and thus, taking a comprehensive policy is recommended.

What is the coverage of a car insurance policy?

When it comes to car insurance, there are three types that we will discuss here:

1. Third party liability car insurance:

The third party car insurance is important insurance mainly because it is mandatory by law under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This policy will help the insured against any legal liabilities that may arise due to an accident. A third party can be affected by property damage, injury, or death, and the policy helps in paying for these liabilities. This policy does not provide for the car owner or the car.

2. Own Damage Cover:

This type of insurance cover for the car protects the driver or the owner and also the car. This insurance policy covers damage to the vehicle due to an accident, natural calamities, transit damage, manmade disasters, and thefts. Any damage to the car in this case due to the covered peril will be paid for by the insurance company.

3. Comprehensive Car Insurance:

Comprehensive car insurance is a complete insurance policy that covers both the third party car insurance and also the own damage. Besides the calamities, thefts, explosions, fires, accidents, etc., this covers liability also. Also, you do not have to take a standard policy only as there are options for add-on coverage as well in this policy, like zero deprecation cover or return to invoice, besides many others. This is a good policy to have with the add-on coverage that suits the requirements of the insured.

Third party insurance or comprehensive car insurance: Which is better for off-road driving?

When buying car insurance , it is important to decide which one suits your needs the most. In terms of complete peace of mind, comprehensive car insurance is the best option as it will cover both third party liability and own damage as well. Many people use vehicles for off-roading, and thus, it is important for them to decide which insurance is best for them.

Most insurance companies do not prefer to insure cars used for off-road driving. This is mainly because adventure sport involves a certain amount of danger. As there is a high risk of damage to the car during driving on different terrains, it is always advisable to take comprehensive car insurance. It helps to honestly declare to the insurance company that the vehicle being insured will be used for off-roading. This should be done both at the time of purchasing a new policy and also at the time of renewal. Based on the details provided, a quote of premium will be given by the insurance company.

It is always better to give all correct details to the insurance company so that there is no issue in the coverage provided and also at the time of claim settlement. The insurance company issues a policy with all terms and conditions and also lists the inclusions and exclusions. These must be checked at the time the policy is issued to ensure there is no discrepancy later.

Need for insurance for off-road driving:

Third party car insurance is mandatory by law, as mentioned earlier. But there are quite a few risks involved when the car is used for off-roading. Some of the risks that come with this adventure sport are:

● Poor visibility

● Judgment error

● Malfunction of vehicle

As there are risks involved that can harm the driver and the car, basic third party insurance will never suffice. Comprehensive car insurance is highly recommended as it will cover most of the risks involved. And if there is no claim taken during the policy, a no-claim bonus can be availed which basically is a discount offered by the insurance company when no claim has been taken in a policy year. This discount keeps increasing every year for continuous no-claim years.

Conclusion

Car insurance is something that none of us should compromise on. Although the government has only made third party car insurance . mandatory, it is always better to have comprehensive car insurance . The latter includes both third party and own damage coverage making it absolutely stress-free to drive a car on the roads. With increasing traffic, driving on the road is full of risks today, and when you drive off-road, the dangers increase by multiple times. Thus, if you like off-road driving for adventure and fun, always ensure you declare the same to the insurance company and also buy a comprehensive car insurance policy with adequate add-ons to ensure no compromise on coverage. This is the best way to ensure you enjoy your sport with complete ease of mind.

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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