Does Car Insurance Cover Off-road Driving?

Driving off-road can be fun and refreshing but it can also be risky. Therefore, to ensure full safety while off-road driving, you must have a car insurance that covers the damages and risks caused to your own vehicle. A comprehensive car insurance is the first step that you can take to limit the risks that may occur while off-roading. Since, off-road driving can be hard on your car and can lead to damages that may not be covered under your car insurance policy. Moreover, some insurers also specifically mention off-road driving under their car policy exclusions. Read the article below to understand how to get coverage against off-road driving.

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What is Off-road Driving?

Off-road driving or off-roading refers to driving a vehicle (specifically made for this purpose) on roads or surfaces that are made of sand, gravel, snow, rocks, and other natural terrains. People indulge in off-road driving as a recreational activity or enjoyment while some drive off-road as a profession. Some types of off-road driving include dune bashing, rock racing, desert racing, rock crawling, etc.

Types of Car Insurance Cover for Off-road Driving

Your car insurance company may not specifically cover off-road driving but it will cover any accidental damages sustained while you are off-roading. However, the coverage depends on whether you have a third-party, own damage, or comprehensive car insurance.

To cover your car for off-road driving, you can buy either an own damage (OD) insurance or a comprehensive car insurance policy. While a third party car insurance only compensates against third-party liabilities, an own-damage car insurance will cover the own damages sustained by the insured car. You will have to buy an own damage insurance separately with your liability policy.

On the other hand, a comprehensive car policy offers wider coverage as it covers the insured car's own damages as well as damages sustained by a third party during an unfortunate incident while driving off-road. You can purchase this policy to get extensive coverage against off-roading.

Will My Car Insurance Cover Off-road Driving?

When it comes to off-roading, your car insurance company will mostly cover it if the damages sustained during off-road driving are accidental. But if you have intentionally rolled your car on an unsurfaced road, then the resultant damages will not be covered.

Moreover, if you are participating in any off-road racing event or adventurous sport, your car insurance policy will not cover any loss sustained by your car during such an event. Some insurers categorically put off-road racing or adventurous sports as an exclusion in their car insurance plans. Hence, it is always better to read your policy wordings thoroughly.

Your car insurance policy will cover accidents that happen during the normal use of your car. For example, if your car crashes into another car while you are off-roading, chances are your motor insurance policy will cover such damages. But if you are purposefully involved in speed racing or any off-road adventurous sport, your four-wheeler insurance policy won't cover any loss or damages.

Irrespective of the type of car insurance policy you have, there are certain risks that it would not cover. These risks are normal wear and tear, damages while drunk driving, mechanical and electrical breakdown, damages while driving without a driving license, damages due to speed racing, and damages for unapproved modifications done to your car.

Car Insurance Add-ons for Off-road Driving

A comprehensive motor insurance policy covers the insured car against both third-party damages and own damages. However, you can also enhance the coverage of comprehensive car insurance by purchasing add-on covers for off-roading at an additional premium. Few add-ons that can offer your car enhanced coverage in case of accidents occurring while off-roading are:

1. Roadside Assistance Cover

   Roadside assistance cover can help you get on-road assistance services if your car breaks down on the road. Some assistance services provided under this add-on include Battery repair, flat tyre, towing facility, minor on-site repair, fuel delivery, etc. This add-on is essential as it can help you cover your car during an emergency breakdown while you are off-roading.

2. Engine Protection Cover

   An engine protection cover can help you repair or replace your car's engine and its parts such as the gearbox if it suffers damages due to water ingression, oil spillage, mechanical or electrical breakdown sustained by the engine of the insured car during off- road driving.

3. Consumables Cover

   Consumables cover for off-roading can be additionally purchased to cover damages sustained by the consumables items of the car. Under this add-on, the insurer will compensate for the repair or replacement of consumable items such as nuts, screws, oil filters, engine oil, grease, etc.

4. Tyre Protection Cover

   A tyre protection cover can help in covering damages sustained by the tyres and tubes of the car due to an unfortunate incident while off-road driving. This add-on cover provides compensation for the repair or replacement of punctured tyres, in-tyre bulge, bursting of tyre, and tubes of the insured car.

Do I Need to Cover My Car Against Off-road Driving?

Purchasing four-wheeler insurance is a mandatory requirement as per the motor laws of India. So if you want to drive off-road or on-road in India, you need to have a car insurance policy. You must at least possess a third-party car insurance to drive in India. However, this policy alone is not enough to cover your car during off-road driving. Hence, it is always advised to purchase a comprehensive car insurance policy or own damage insurance to protect your car from any possible damage that may arise due to off-road driving.