Monsoon Car Care Tips: How to Protect Your Car With Car Insurance Add-Ons?

The monsoon season in India is the lifeblood for many people in our country, bringing much-needed relief, especially for our farmers. However, besides this relief, it sometimes creates challenges, such as flooding and drainage issues, causing potential damage to your car. So, to save your car from unforeseen damages, you can opt for some add-on covers with your car insurance. This article highlights some essential car care tips for monsoon you can follow to prepare yourself and your car for any downpour.

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6 Car Insurance Add-ons to Save Your Car During Monsoon

Comprehensive car insurance covers the damages and losses to your insured car due to natural calamities, man-made disasters, theft, accidents, fire, etc. However, it does not cover damages caused due to water clogging or flooding like engine failure.

Therefore, you can make your car monsoon-ready by having the right add-on covers with your comprehensive car insurance plan. Here is a list of important add-on covers that you can consider buying-

1. Engine Protection Cover

   Engine Protection add-on cover can be purchased with your comprehensive car insurance plan. In India, during monsoon, the cars with lower ground clearance get damaged on water-clogged roads.
   Damages in your car engine can be due to water ingression. It can harm the car engine's components causing engine oil leakage or causing damage to the gearbox. Having an engine protection add-on cover compensates for the repair or replacement of your car's engine parts in case of damage caused due to water-clogged roads. It will cover the cost of repairing or replacement of the engine parts.

2. Return to Invoice Cover

   Another important add-on cover that you can opt for with your car insurance is Return to Invoice cover. Your standard car insurance compensates you with the IDV or the approximate market value of the car.
   If the damages are beyond repair or your car is a total loss, the RIT cover will pay the amount that is mentioned in the car's invoice or bill, including the car registration charges and road tax.
   Flooding can cause severe damage to your car during the monsoon season. In the worst-case scenario, these damages can be beyond repair. Therefore, the Return to Invoice add-on cover will compensate you in such circumstances.

3. Consumables Cover

   Your comprehensive car insurance policy does not provide any coverage for the cost of consumable items like screws, engine and gearbox oil, air filter, oil filter, distilled water, nuts & bolts, bearings, etc. Also, you will have to pay for these expenses from your own pocket while settling the bill.
   If your car gets damaged in a flood, storm, or cyclone, you do not have to bear the cost of consumable items by having the Consumables add-on cover. Ultimately, this will reduce your financial stress.

4. Roadside Assistance Cover

   During monsoon, if you are stuck in an emergency like an accident or a car breakdown, your comprehensive insurance plan alone cannot help you with this. Hence, you must have roadside assistance cover to enhance your comprehensive car insurance coverage.
   By opting for this add-on cover, you can also avail of benefits like fuel support, battery assistance, towing, etc.

5. Outstation Emergency Cover

   During the rainy season, if your car breaks down or meets with an accident outside the 100 Km radius of your residence, things become grimy. You may be stranded in the middle of the road and require assistance until your car is fixed.
   In such a situation, the outstation emergency cover comes to rescue you by providing all types of outstation roadside assistance.

6. Zero Depreciation Cover

   While settling your claims, depreciation of the car parts is considered. However, having a zero depreciation cover, your insurer will compensate you for the cost of the repair without considering the depreciated car parts.
   During the monsoon, you can drive through the water-logged roads, due to which your motor parts can be damaged. If the car part is damaged due to water logging, you can ignore the depreciation factor and get fully compensated for the repair bill with the help of Zero Dep cover.

Important Car Care Tips for Monsoon

Here are some essential tips to protect your car during monsoon-

1. Check Wiper Blades

   Maintain a regular check on your car's wipers, even in summer, as they can wear out and become hard. Replace them if they're not functioning properly. Moreover, keep your wiper fluid full and direct the AC flow onto the windshield to get rid of fog.

2. Fix Headlights and Taillights

   In the monsoon season, visibility can be poor, so ensure your car's headlights, taillights, fog lamps, and brake lights are in good condition. Check for cracks on lights and fix them to prevent water from entering and causing blown fuses.

3. Go for Anti-Rust Coating

   If your car is getting older, consider having an anti-corrosion treatment to protect your car's chassis from rust. You can use an anti-rust spray or apply an anti-rust coating under your car. Also, you can put anti-corrosion grease on the battery terminals to prevent rusting.

4. Check the Braking System

   Usually, in the rainy season, you might hear squealing and grinding noise while applying the brakes. In such a case, it is advised to get your brakes checked as early as possible.

5. Avoid Starting Your Car if Submerged

   Another significant tip is to never force to start your car when its engine is submerged in the water. There are chances that your car might pull a hydrostatic lock, and this will damage the car's engine.

6. Ensure the Right Tyre Pressure

   Your car needs good traction and correct air pressure while running on wet roads. Therefore, it is advised to check your car's tyres before going out. Moreover, you must keep a spare tyre in your car.

7. Keep the Car Cabin Fresh and the AC Clean

   Your car's cabin air filter helps block dust & pollutants to ensure clean air for you to breathe. Hence, before the monsoon arrives, it is a good idea to get the filter checked and replaced if required.

   Additionally, your car's AC reduces humidity and prevents foggy windows. Hence, ensure your car's air conditioning system is clean and disinfected to prevent the growth of mould and fungus. You can also consider using an AC disinfectant and cleaning the AC ducts.