How Does Engine & Gearbox Protector Add-on Cover Helps in Monsoon

Posted on: Jul 19, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How Does Engine & Gearbox Protector Add-on Cover Helps in Monsoon

If you own a vehicle, it is mandatory that you must have active and valid car insurance, as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. It can be a basic third-party plan, elaborate comprehensive car insurance, or a standalone own-damage cover. A third-party plan only caters to third-party losses and damages and offers no coverage for your vehicle. If you have a standalone own damage cover, you need to maintain a third-party cover separately to meet the legal standards.

However, a comprehensive plan offers coverage for both the first and third-party damages and losses. Moreover, you can customise the basic policy by adding suitable riders to it in exchange for an additional premium. Depending on your choice and requirements, you can add multiple riders to the plan. Different insurance companies offer various kinds of add-ons. Some of the most popular add-ons include Roadside Assistance Cover, Engine Protection Cover, Zero Depreciation Cover, EMI Protection Cover, etc.

In this article, we will highlight the utility of engine and gearbox protection cover.

What is meant by Engine Protect cover in car insurance?

Considering the Indian context, a principal share of the profit of car manufacturers is usually achieved through the replacement of spare parts. Moreover, if the vehicle suffers any serious damage, these replacement costs often rise significantly. The most crucial part of a vehicle is the engine. It is indispensable and may develop issues at certain points. Seasonal changes and over-exposure to heavy rains during the monsoon months can negatively affect the functionality of a vehicle’s engine to a considerable extent. The special rider for engine protection in car insurance deserves special mention in this context.

Car engine maintenance tips

Some of the crucial steps that you can exercise to ensure the smooth running of the vehicle’s engine and ensure car engine protection include:

1. Replacement of air filter

2. Engine oil change

3. Oil check

4. Proper battery care

5. Battery status check

6. Brake check

7. Fluid check

8. Coolant check and refilling if necessary

9. Tyre pressure maintenance

10. Checking the functionality of the spark plug

11. Avoiding running on reserve fuel

12. Addressing the warning signals

13. Keeping the engine clean

14. Tyre rotation and wheel balancing

15. Keeping the engine tidy and aptly tuned

16. Avoiding automotive electrical components

Does car insurance cover engine failure?

Yes, but only under special circumstances, depending on the terms of the specific comprehensive cover chosen. Certain policies maintain a separate clause for specific electrical and mechanical breakdowns, which may pass for an engine failure. However, certain other plans might completely exclude it. It is best to read the policy documents well before the final purchase.

What is engine protection cover in car insurance?

As the name suggests, this is a special additional rider allowing coverage against financial risks associated with solving engine issues of the concerned vehicle. Such risks include oil leakage, hydrostatic lock, water ingression, physical damages to pistons, gearbox, rods, etc. As these are not covered under the basic plan coverage, you need to purchase this rider separately to enjoy the coverage.

What is the utility of an engine and gearbox protection cover?

A standard comprehensive coverage does not allow coverage for engine issues and you need to pay out of your pocket for the repairs. It may take a hefty toll on your pockets. The engine is the most complicated and most expensive car component. Any vehicle without a properly functioning engine is considered no more than a junkie. The average cost of engine repairs is also quite on the higher side, as it requires special knowledge and skill. If any such issues happen, it will be an emergency and you cannot afford any delay.

The extreme mechanical nature of the engine of any vehicle makes it prone to excess wear and tear, like leakage, water ingression, etc. The risks notch up during the monsoon months because of excess moisture and improper road conditions, especially enhancing the risk of hydro-locking, eventually leading to engine breakdown.

However, if you purchase a separate engine protection cover, all these issues will be sorted out very easily. Your rider will automatically cover such issues without bothering your pocket as per the chosen policy terms.

This particular rider even allows coverage for engine breakdown repair costs. However, you need to produce authentic documentation as proof of the failure. An estimate report from the designated report will suffice for it. But you must note in this context that, you will remain responsible for clearing the deductibles, which will not be covered under your policy coverage.

Engine protection cover benefits and inclusions

Engine protection cover allows coverage for repair costs of repairing or replacing the affected engine and/or any other related components. It also allows coverage for sorting the damages on the gearbox, along with cylinder reboring costs, compression test charges, machine costs, etc. It comprehensively includes the following:

1. The repairing costs of the affected vehicle’s engine parts damaged due to overheating, accident, etc.

2. Damages caused due to water ingression

3. Damages caused by leakage of lubricant oil

4. Repair and replacement of the gearbox

5. Cost of all the necessary lubricants and fluids as required for repairing

6. Labour charges

7. Consumables cost coverage like bolts, nuts, coolant, oil, etc.

Exclusions

Certain exclusions of engine protection cover are:

1. It will not allow any coverage if you try to start your vehicle when it is still submerged in water. This action must be avoided at all costs.

2. Any engine damage caused by regular wear and tear will also not fall under the coverage category of this add-on.

3. Any claim raised after the expiry of the stipulated time frame, which is usually 30 days, will not be entertained. It will automatically get rejected.

4. This particular engine protection rider remains usually unavailable for vehicles that are over 5 years old. Therefore, to ensure enjoying its coverage, you should purchase it before your vehicle turns too old for it.

Who should opt for this engine protection cover add-on?

From the above discussion, it is evident by now that the engine protection cover comes in quite handy depending on the circumstances. However, you must note here, that it proves to be especially helpful for those:

1. Who has bought a brand-new and expensive vehicle?

2. Who is residing in an area that is prone to get easily affected by certain natural disasters like flooding, which runs the risk of potential engine damage due to water?

3. Who is seeking expansive comprehensive insurance coverage for their beloved vehicle?

How do I avail of the engine protection rider coverage?

You can easily add this engine protection rider coverage to your existing comprehensive car insurance plan or while purchasing a new comprehensive cover. In the case of an existing cover, you can add it at the time of renewal and pay the additional premium accordingly. It can be done both online and offline.

Conclusion

We have aptly highlighted all the significant aspects of engine and gearbox protection add-on coverage. It is best to go for it especially if you own a comparatively luxurious and expensive vehicle, which is relatively new. Paying a negligible additional premium yearly will prove to be nothing when compared to the expensive engine repair costs if it ever breaks down. You should not have any second thought about purchasing it especially if you reside in an area prone to frequent water-logging and floods during the monsoon months. This coverage will prevent and protect your pocket significantly.

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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