While rain can act as a welcome respite on an otherwise hot day, heavy rains and waterlogging can wreak havoc on your car and its engine. A comprehensive car insurance policy is a must in such circumstances to protect the health of one’s most prized possession.
“How does that happen?”, you may wonder. Take the example of Shruti. She had suffered severe losses in the recent floods in her city. Her car engine was damaged due to water ingress and her windows were shattered and the car top was dented due to a tree branch falling on her car.
Her insurance company covered all these damages and ensured that she faced no financial pressure due to that unfortunate event.
Top Insurance Related Tips to Follow If You are to Drive Your Car Through Waterlogged Roads
If you are worried about damages to the vehicle caused due to waterlogged roads then car insurance with a Comprehensive policy and choose relevant add-on covers to protect it. The add-ons that one can opt-in for have been outlined below -
Get the ‘Engine Protector’ cover as an add-on
The Engine Protect or The Engine Secure Add-on keeps the policyholder financially protected from the cost of repairs of the engine or its components which is the most expensive part of the car. This cover provides compensation for losses caused to water ingression, leakage of lubricant oil or damage to gearbox, pistons, hydrostatic lock, etc.
It is a must-have for owners of new cars, especially if they have expensive, high-end cars. It is generally opted for by those living in flood-prone areas where waterlogging is a common phenomenon. This add-on is about 2% of the current market value of the car.
Get Roadside Assistance cover
The road assistance cover is an add-on that guarantees services such as emergency services, towing, refuelling, resolving technical issues, change of flat tyres, etc., all day long.
The insurance company sends a technician to the site where assistance is needed. The insurer also offers emergency accommodation and allied utility benefits if the policyholder is aground in a deserted site with no substitute arrangements available at his disposal.
Get Zero Depreciation cover
Zero Depreciation cover add-on entitles the policyholder to claim the cost of replacing the damaged parts of the car from the insurer. It is beneficial to have this add-on as it ensures that the wear and tear costs are not deducted while making the final settlement.
A maximum limit of 2 such claims can be made during the policy period. The add-on is valid for a period of 5 years from the date of the purchase of the car.
Now suppose your car meets with an accident and you approach your insurance company for a claim. Without zero dep cover, your insurance company will deduct the depreciation value from the actual damaging/repairing cost of your car. Hence, offer you the remaining claim amount. Well, which means, the policyholder has to pay the difference from his own pocket.
But with zero dep cover, this is not the case, as the policy owner will get the complete claim amount from the insurance company without depreciation deductions.
Below is a table showcasing the depreciation rates of a car
Age of the Car | Depreciation % |
| 6 months and below | 5% |
| 6 months to 1 year | 15% |
| 1 year to 2 years | 20% |
| 2 years to 3 years | 30% |
| 3 years to 4 years | 40% |
| 4 years to 5 years | 50% |
Top 14 Tips to Follow While Driving Through Waterlogged Roads
The top 14 tips that one must keep in mind while driving through waterlogged roads are as follows -
- Turn off the AC as keeping the air conditioning on might increase the splash of water while the car is stagnant in water.
- Do not crank up the car in circumstances that it breaks down as it might result in water ingress.
- Avoid central locking of the car.
- Avail the roadside assistance service of the insurer to get the car towed in a systematic manner.
- Do not drive if the water is above the tyre level.
- Use fog lights to navigate on the roads.
- Drive in the middle of the road and be vigilant about oncoming vehicles and objects at all times.
- Keep the throttle pressed at all times and maintain a constant speed.
- Avoid standing pools of water and search for alternate routes.
- Take a break and resume after the rain has stopped or reduced significantly.
- Clear the windshield with the help of the HVAC system – heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.
- Pump the breaks once you are clear of the surrounding water.
- Creating a single lane behind other drivers is safer than passing by and splashing water onto passing vehicles.
- Stay out of moving water as it poses great danger.
Conclusion
Monsoons do not present the most ideal conditions to go for a drive with all the potholes, flooding, poor visibility and water-logged roads. A little preparation and presence of mind can get you out of a sticky situation preventing any sort of harm to yourself or your vehicle.
Do not let your guard down at any cost!
