Introduction
Every year we see flash floods and heavy rains in many parts of India. But while the news usually focuses on damage to homes; Floods can also cause serious damage to cars. If your car is damaged by flood, you should contact your insurer (ACKO in this case) to see if they can cover the cost of repairing the vehicle. Here’s everything you need to know about car flood insurance and how to make a claim against car insurance for flood damage.
Car Flood Insurance: Does Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage?
Whether or not your car insurance covers flood damage depends on the insurance plan you purchased. Flood damage is covered only if you have comprehensive coverage, which is optional and not mandatory like third-party insurance. A comprehensive car insurance policy covers damages to your car caused by natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, cyclones etc. It also covers damages caused by accidents, fire, man-made disasters and theft.
It is always a good idea to consider the amount of insurance coverage you need before you are exposed to flood damage. Flood damage can cause serious damages and reduce the value of the car. This can lead to expensive repairs and in some cases, even total loss (irreparable damage). Although a comprehensive car insurance policy may cost you more, it can save you a lot of money in case of unexpected losses like this.
Types of flood damage
- Here are the main types of flood damage to your vehicle.
- Engine Damage: Water seeping into a car’s engine due to flooding can cause partial or total damage to the engine’s internal components.
- Gearbox Damage: Water injection into the gearbox can cause the unit to malfunction or become completely unusable.
- Electrical and Electronic Damage: Water can cause damage to electrical and electronic functions. This may cause a short circuit in electronic or electrical components or the warning lights on the dashboard may malfunction.
- Upholstery Damage: Interiors can be damaged due to moisture caused by water ingress. This includes carpets, seats and other soft furnishings.
Which car insurance covers flood damage?
Flooding can happen unexpectedly, and having the right insurance coverage for your car in case of flood damage is vital. Fortunately, car insurance covers flood damage. But, for that, you need to buy a comprehensive insurance plan. This is the only way to ensure that you are compensated for flood damage or total loss.
You should also opt for comprehensive coverage if you live in a flood-prone area. Since comprehensive car insurance plan is optional, it is not an automatic part of your car insurance policy. Instead, you have to choose the plan. As it is not mandatory, it is recommended to opt for this plan for a wider coverage plan.
Comprehensive insurance not only protects you financially from floods, but also protects you from man-made disasters, accidental damage, fire or explosion, theft and other natural calamities with protection against third-party liability.
To further extend the coverage of the basic plan, you have the option to add additional covers like engine protection cover, zero wear and tear cover etc. You can avail these benefits through our online portal with online car insurance renewal option.
Best car insurance add-ons to protect against flood damage
A comprehensive insurance policy is the perfect cover for your vehicle, especially if it is damaged by flood. However, this is a basic plan and does not provide coverage for certain damages or losses.
You can also add various add-on covers along with comprehensive insurance to extend the basic plan. Car insurance add-ons are additional covers that provide financial assistance against specific damages or losses caused by your vehicle.
While comprehensive insurance covers you against flood damage, it does not cover damages to your engine or gearbox. For that, you can add some of the add-ons below to further strengthen your policy.
Engine Protection Cover: Car engine is damaged due to disuse or ingress of flood water. Comprehensive insurance does not cover damages to your car engine; However, this add-on provides financial coverage for repair or replacement of damaged engine parts.
No Claim Bonus (NCB) Protection Cover: When you file a claim during the policy period, you lose the NCB. However, even if you file a claim, NCB will keep the protection card discount intact. Even if you raise a claim, you will get a discount of up to 50% (if you have not claimed for five consecutive years).
Return to invoice card: If your car is damaged beyond repair by flood or stolen, by returning to invoice you can claim the invoice value of the car, including the purchase price or registration cost and road tax. As per policy terms.
Zero Depreciation Cover: Over a period of time, parts of the car depreciate due to wear and tear and the value of the car decreases accordingly. When you raise a claim, the insurer pays the depreciated value of the parts, not the full value. However, with this add-on, depreciation is not considered while settling the claim, resulting in the total value of car repairs.
Key replacement card: Modern car keys are sophisticated and cost a lot of money when it comes to repair or replacement. If your car keys or lockset are damaged by flooding, the add-on will cover the cost of replacing or repairing the lockset.
Consumables Cover: The cost of replacement of consumables like lubricants, gearbox and engine oil, nuts and bolts, grease is not covered under the basic plan. With this add-on, you are protected against expenses incurred on consumables during natural calamities like accidents or floods.
Roadside Assistance Cover: With this add-on, you get 24×7 emergency roadside assistance including towing services if your car gets stuck in floods. You also enjoy other benefits like refueling, minor repairs, flat tire service etc.
Steps to File an Insurance Claim for Flood Damaged Cars
Follow the steps below to raise an insurance claim for flood damaged cars.
Step 1: Notify ACKO immediately. You can call or write to us or visit our website or mobile app to inform us about the damages to your car and understand the claim process.
Step 2: Try to gather as much evidence as possible. Click pictures or take videos of the damaged car.
Step 3: Collect all necessary information like Registration Certificate (RC) of the car, Driving License (DL) of the owner-driver, policy document (hard copy) and supporting documents.
Step 4: Claim your damages by accessing your ACKO account through our website or mobile app, answering a few questions and uploading a soft copy of the documents required to file your flooded car insurance claim.
Our support team will contact you and guide you through the claim resolution process.
Tips to follow when your car is flooded or submerged in water
If your car is submerged in water, do not turn on the ignition or attempt to push-start the car.
Disconnect the battery and tow the car to a garage.
Do not attempt to start the car even if the water is low.
Your car’s brakes can suffer when water gets into the brake discs, lines, or pads, so check them for functionality.
Measures to deal with flood damage to cars
Flash floods can occur without warning and during such situations you may be caught unawares. Damage to your car during a flood is sometimes unavoidable. However, there are some precautions you can take to minimize impact or damage to your vehicle. Here are some top tips to deal with flood damage to cars.
Park your car on high ground: By parking your vehicle on high ground, you reduce the risk of water entering your car which can damage the interior, engine, electrical and mechanical components.
Roll up the windows: Make sure to roll up all the windows of the car. Any gap in the window will allow water to enter your car. Water can damage your car’s upholstery and electronic components.
Disconnect your battery: If possible, disconnect the battery to avoid an accidental short circuit if water gets into the engine bay and damages electrical components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about car flood insurance.
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Will car insurance pay for a flooded car?
Car insurance covers damages or losses to the insured car due to flooding only if you have purchased a comprehensive car insurance policy. A third-party car insurance policy does not cover damages or losses caused by your vehicle.
Will car insurance premiums increase after a flood claim?
If you raise a claim during the policy period, you lose the NCB discount. So, if you don’t raise a claim, the premium is higher. However, even if you file a claim, you can purchase an NCB protection card to protect your rebate.
Does car insurance cover water damage to engine?
In most cases, your insurer will cover the cost of minor damages to the engine and will not cover damages due to engine breakdown or normal wear and tear. However, you can opt for an engine protection cover add-on, which will cover the replacement or repair of your engine and its components.
