Your car is at risk of damage not only when you’re driving it. Sometimes, damage can happen while your car is stationary – flood damage, damage due to a landslide, or even damage due to a volcano eruption (in places where that is a reality). But did you know that the typical comprehensive car coverage does not cover these types of damages to your car?
The types of damages mentioned earlier are essentially convulsions of nature (or natural disasters). And to get your car protected from these types of damages, you will need Special Perils coverage. It is a type of additional coverage that you will have to add on top of the usual comprehensive car coverage.
If you’re already familiar with third-party-only and comprehensive coverage, you would already know that comprehensive car coverage is the more complete protection package. However, it is important to note that even with comprehensive car coverage, certain types of damages are still not covered. And unfortunately, “damage caused by convulsions of nature” is one of them.
Just for your information, the items listed below are not covered by the typical comprehensive car coverage:
- Consequential loss
- Loss of use
- Depreciation
- Breakdown or malfunction of parts
- Damage to tyre(s)
- Convulsions of Nature
- Excess
Yes, most of them are pretty obvious to the experienced motorist, but some of us are still unaware of what is and what is not covered by our respective car coverages – Natural disasters being one of them. When the type of damage is not covered by your car coverage, you will have to fork out your own money to fix the damages. And not all of us are privileged enough to be able to afford that.
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With the addition of special perils coverage, your car will be covered for loss, damage, or liability caused by:
- Flood
- Typhoon
- Hurricane
- Storm
- Tempest
- Volcanic eruption
- Earthquake
- Landslide
- Landslip
- Subsidence or sinking of the soil/earth
…and or other convulsions of nature.
While we Malaysians are blessed to be living in a country with minimal natural disasters, we are still at risk of events like floods and landslides. And thus, it would make sense to add special perils coverage to our normal car coverage. It usually doesn’t even cost that much.
It is important to note that special perils coverage is different from a flood damage allowance that some coverage providers offer. With a flood damage allowance, you will be given a fixed allowance (in the event of flood damage) and it only serves to lessen the cost burden of dealing with the flood damage. With special perils coverage, your car is insured on its current market value, should it be damaged due to natural disasters.
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So, let’s say you already have special perils coverage for your car. How do you claim your special perils coverage? Well, here are a few simple steps for you to follow
- Take pictures of your damaged car and its surroundings
- Lodge a police report
- Contact your car coverage provider
The first thing you’ll have to do is to take pictures of your damaged car and its surroundings as proof. Although no crimes were involved, you will have to lodge a police report in order for you to proceed with making your claims. And when that is done, you’ll have to contact your coverage provider to proceed with the claims.
Since the most likely natural disaster for Malaysian motorists is flood, remember to not start your car after it has been flood damaged, as that would only make things worse and could void your claims.
Haven’t added special perils coverage to your car just yet? Why not do so with MotorTakaful.com by Etiqa?
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