Bangalore has been receiving heavy rains and that’s sparked a number of memes online from techies swimming to work from prominent IT parks being called water parks. Moving on to more serious matters now — the rains have left the streets flooded and many cars stranded on the road because of water ingress messing up the electricals. Cars in low-lying areas have been affected by floods, leaving some owners heartbroken.
A flooded car does not mean the end of the world as it can be repaired and brought back to 100 percent. However, the process may involve calling the insurance company for a claim and for those left wondering if car insurance covers floods — here’s your answer.
Does insurance cover vehicle flooding?
The short answer is yes — if you have opted for a comprehensive cover, which is optional. A comprehensive insurance plan covers natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, and more. It also covers damages due to accidents, fire, man-made calamities, and theft.
A comprehensive insurance plan is more expensive than third-party coverage, however, if you are in an area prone to floods or other natural calamities, this is a good idea as repair costs – and in some cases, total write-offs – can turn out to be expensive.
How to claim insurance for a flooded car?
While we now know that comprehensive plans cover flood damage to cars, here are a few pointers to keep in mind, or rather a to-do list to claim insurance if your vehicle is flooded. Firstly, do not start the car — a detailed what to do story will soon follow. But here’s what you need to do to claim insurance.
Take as much evidence as possible — pictures and videos of the car and the surroundings and the place it was when the flooding occurred. Then, contact the insurance company as soon as possible. Next, gather all the needed details such as registration certificate, insurance policy, and DL details. Once all this is done, access the insurance claim section online, or wait for the representative to call you.
At the same time, call an authorised service centre to visit the location and get an estimate of the damage and what it would cost to fix the vehicle. In the meantime, do not attempt to start the vehicle or move it, as it may cause more damage to the vehicle.
