Are Tyres, Battery, and Broken Parts Covered by Car Insurance?

Car insurance policies offer essential financial protection from accidents, natural disasters, and theft or burglary. While standard policies provide extensive coverage, they often exclude certain components like tyres, battery, and broken parts, which are prone to wear and tear. Let's examine whether standard car insurance policies provide tyre and battery insurance coverage, and if not, how you can bridge the gap.

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Does Car Insurance Cover Tyres, Battery, and Broken Parts?

Standard car insurance policies in India generally do not cover tyres and the battery. However, damages due to accidents and other covered events are included in the car insurance coverage. The repairs and replacement of car doors, rear bumpers, windshields, and wheels are also covered. However, depreciation is deducted from the claim amount for rubber parts, fibreglass components, wooden parts, etc., at specified rates. For more extensive coverage, you may need to purchase add-on covers at an additional cost.

Why Should You Get Tyre and Battery Insurance?

You should get tyre and battery insurance coverage through add-ons since these components face frequent damage. Insurance coverage helps you manage these risks without straining your budget.

• High Repairs and Replacement Costs: Repairs and replacements for tyres, car batteries, and broken parts can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses if not covered under your car insurance policy.
• Wear and Tear: If you live in a hilly region or often go on drives on challenging roads and terrains, your car tyres may be subject to rapid wear and tear. Getting tyre and battery insurance coverage can help you compensate for the repairs and replacement costs.
• Essential for Luxury Cars: If you own a supercar like an Aston Martin or a Lamborghini, even routine maintenance can cost you 5 to 10% of their purchase price. In case of accidental damage, the service centres often replace the car parts instead of repairing them, leading to even higher expenses. This makes tyre and battery coverage essential.
• Useful for EV Owners: You may need to pay at least Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 per kWh to replace the battery of your electric car. Replacing a normal 30-40 kWh battery unit can cost you Rs. 3 to 4.5 lakh. Battery Protector Add-on Covers can compensate for this cost.

Tyre and Battery Insurance Coverage Through Car Insurance Add-Ons

Here are some add-on covers that help you enhance the financial protection for your car's battery, tyres, and other components.

1. Tyre Protection Add-on Cover

   This optional cover provides financial coverage against damages caused to your car's tyres. You can purchase this add-on cover with most of your own standalone damage and comprehensive car insurance policies. Tyre protection add-on covers the following risks.

   • Tyre damage due to normal wear and tear.
   • Accidental tyre damage.
   • Tyre replacement.
   • Labour charges for repairs and replacement of tyres.

   However, tyre damage is not covered if the losses are caused by the car owner's negligence, such as failing to perform routine maintenance. It also doesn't cover losses due to normal wear and tear that go beyond the manufacturer's bounds or wheel balancing issues.

2. Zero Depreciation Cover

   Zero Depreciation Cover can increase your car insurance claim amount by not deducting depreciation on car parts. You can get full claim settlement for the repair and replacement of plastic parts like body panels, rubber components like tubes and belts, nylon components, and fibreglass parts.

3. Rim Damage Cover

   Rim Damage Cover extends your car insurance coverage to wheel rims, the outer edges of wheels that hold the tyres in place. This add-on covers the cost of replacing the damaged rims of your car. Some policies also cover the labour charges and consumables costs incurred while replacing the rims. However, the minor damages that don't affect the functioning of your car are not covered.

4. Battery Protection Cover

   Some insurance companies offer Battery Protection Cover for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrid cars. It covers the cost of repairing and replacing the car battery due to consequential damage from water ingress or short circuit. However, this cover is available for up to a specified number of years, usually 3 years after the purchase of a car. Some insurers also cover the loss of or damage to the drive or electric motor and the HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) system of the car.

5. Consumables Cover

   Consumables add-on covers the cost of consumables used while repairing your car. It covers nuts, bolts, brake fluid, grease, oil, air conditioner gas, and other components that are subject to normal wear and tear, but are not covered by standard car insurance policies.

Final Thoughts

Each part of your car, right from its battery to its small spare parts, contributes to its functioning. With the tyre & battery protector add-on covers, you can extend your car insurance coverage to these essential parts of your car that are not covered by standard motor insurance policies. Always remember to compare car insurance online before buying or renewing a policy.