The Ultimate Guide To Insurance Claims For Flood-Damaged Cars

Natural calamities come without a prior notice. Let’s take a look at how Insurance with adequate natural calamity cover makes it easier to tackle the losses suffered. Here’s your quick guide to claiming insurance for your flood-damaged car.

The continuing heavy flood in Godavari river has already affected over 74,000 people in parts of East and West Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh. Once the flood waters recede, there will still be widespread devastation that the floods will have left behind.

For those who need help with claiming insurance for flood-damaged cars, here’s a quick guide. It’s a checklist of things to remember just so that your insurance claim is not rejected.

Additional Reading: Top 5 Reasons Why Millennials Need Insurance

The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has brought days of heavy rain and resulted in flooding of the Godavari river causing widespread destruction. For those living close to the coastline, your best defense against such damages caused by storms and hurricanes is to make sure you have the proper Home Insurance and Life Insurance coverage.

Additional Reading: Cyclone Fani: How to File Insurance Claims

Here is your guide to dealing with a car damaged in a flood. Read on to find out some important things to remember if you want to make sure you are eligible to claim insurance for flood damage to your car.

But before that, here are a few useful tips to follow to deal with a car that has been affected by the floods:

• If your car is stuck in water, do not turn on the ignition of the car or attempt to push-start your car.

• When you are in a flooded area, avoid cranking the engine even after the water subsides.

• It would be a good idea to disconnect the battery and get your car towed to a garage.

• At the garage, you should ask the mechanics to rust-proof the car.

• You must check the brakes of the car for complete functionality. The brakes can be affected if the flood water enters the brake lines, discs, or pads.

• Check that the radiator fan motor is working satisfactorily.

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What to do if water enters your car 

If you find that water has entered your car, do not turn on the ignition. This could cause a short circuit in the electrical system. A short circuit can occur even if the engine is not cranked.

Hydrostatic Lock. The most common reason for car damage.

Hydrostatic lock occurs when water enters the engine and causes it to stall. This is the most common reason for car damage among claims filed during monsoons.

Additional Reading: Settle Your Car Insurance Claims In Less Than An Hour With Video Proof

How to register a Car Insurance Claim

If you need help to register a Car Insurance Claim, read this step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Call the Toll Free / Landline Number given on your Car Insurance policy.

Step 2: Provide all the information to the insurance company personnel. You will need to tell them basic information such as where the car was parked, whether or not the car was being driven when it broke down and so on.

Step 3: After your discussion, you will be given a Claim Registration Number. This is a unique number. You should quote this number in all interactions with the insurance company.

Step 4: Get your vehicle towed. This is generally covered in your insurance policy and they will arrange a pick up at a scheduled time.

Step 5: Interaction with the surveyor. The insurance company will assign a surveyor to assess the total damage of your vehicle. After consulting the garage service team, you will be informed about the amount payable by the insurance company towards the cost of repairs and the amount that you have to bear. You will have to ensure that the approval of this claim should be as per the coverage parameters/scope of your insurance policy. If you feel that there is an issue, you may check with the surveyor. If admissible, he will consider your concerns and confirm the final amount. 

Step 6: Sign the claim approval sheet given by the surveyor/garage service team. Please retain one copy that is meant for you.

Step 7: Seek a tentative timeline from the garage service team for the completion of the repairs on your car.

Step 8: Seek a status update. If required, at any point of time you may call the garage and check on the status of the work.

Step 9: Once your car is repaired, you should check the repair work as per the work order checklist given to you on commencement of the repairs. If you are satisfied, pay the differential amount of the service charges after settlement by the insurance company to the garage. Sign the final set of papers.

Step 10: Take delivery of your car and remember to buy a comprehensive insurance policy with all the necessary add-ons.

Additional Reading: 7 Amazing Tips For A Better Car Insurance Claim-Settlement Process

Contact details of insurance companies to register the Car Insurance Claim 

Add-ons to Your Car Insurance that You Could Consider

If your car is prone to flood damage, your regular Car Insurance will not be enough to safeguard your car. Here are a few additional benefits you should consider looking for when renewing your Car Insurance or getting a new policy.

• 24×7 Roadside Assistance

In case your car is stuck in flood waters, 24×7 roadside assistance could help to tow the vehicle to a garage. Roadside Assistance covers befits ranging from tyre replacement to minor repairs on your car.

• Zero Depreciation Cover

Zero Depreciation Cover allows you to claim the full cost of the repairs of your car’s spare parts.

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• Engine Protection

Engine Protection will cover the costs of repairing the engine in case of damage. This is a good idea if you have a high-end car.