Does Your Car Insurance Policy Cover Vandalism?

It is a legal requirement in India, as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, to have a third-party liability car insurance for every car owner. However, besides being a legal requirement, car insurance policies also offer several benefits to the insured by means of offering financial protection against car damages. However, the benefits or coverage received under a car insurance policy depends on various factors such as the kind of policy purchased as well as what’s included and what’s not included under your car insurance plan and so on.

In most cases, a comprehensive car insurance plan cover risks like accidents, natural and man-made disasters, and so on. However, do you know if your car insurance covers vandalism? Let’s find out. But first let’s check the vandalism meaning, and why vehicle owners require cover against it?

What do you mean by Vandalism?

As mentioned above, Vandalism is an act of deliberate destruction of property and vehicles of other people. Vandalism occurs commonly at times of civil unrest like riots when people turn to roads and destroy public as well as private properties including shops, vehicles, houses etc.

Can you get Car Insurance against Vandalism?

Is vandalism covered by car insurance? This is one of the important questions that many people want to know. There are some plans that offer car vandalism insurance. However to understand if vandalism is covered under your car insurance plan, you need to comprehend your policy well along with knowing about different plans available.

For instance, there are different kinds of car insurance policies such as, third-party liability insurance plans and comprehensive car insurance plans.

Third-party Car Insurance

A third-party car insurance offers coverage against liabilities that arise out of any third-party damages and injuries. This plan also offers coverage in case of third party death and disability caused due to accidents. Thus, the third-party liabilities cover legal accountabilities that may arise due to third-party damages.

So, if your vehicle causes any damage to other people’s vehicle or injures someone, in that case your insurer would compensate for the damage/injury caused due to your fault. It also includes the death of third-party victims caused because of your car.

Comprehensive Car Insurance

On the other hand, a comprehensive policy is the other type of insurance plan that offers coverage against your own vehicle damages along with offering coverage against third-party liabilities.  Thus, it serves as a good option to suit the needs of both third-party and personal damages caused due to any mishap.

Since comprehensive plans cover both legal accountabilities and own damages, it offers coverage against natural calamities as well as man-made disasters including vandalism. So, if you buy a comprehensive car insurance plan, you can lower your expenses and enjoy more coverage. However, in this case the premium amount you pay would be enhanced too.

So, in general, comprehensive insurance policy covers two key things – third-party damages and Own Damage (OD), which is the damage done to your car. With this best car insurance policy, you can decrease your costs incurred on damages done to your own car.

What is the procedure to raise claims against vandalism?

If you want to raise a claim against vandalism, the first step to take is to inform your insurer against the mishap. Once you contact them, you would be guided by an insurance expert about the procedure that needs to be taken.

Moreover, one can also file a car vandalism insurance claim online by using an app or by visiting the insurer’s portal.  For this, you must have the following data handy:

• Your Car insurance policy number
• VIN or Vehicle Identification Number
• FIR or  First Information report
• Any other information like photographs or videos of the damaged car
• Any other added papers as per requested by the insurer etc.