What Are Consumables In Car Insurance

Your comprehensive car insurance would be able to cover repairs, personal insurance as well as third party car insurance. However, is your comprehensive car insurance truly comprehensive? In all probability, the consumable parts of your four wheeler wouldn’t be covered by it. Therefore including the coverage consumables in car insurance policy would be required to cover the consumable parts of your vehicle.

Firstly let us understand what are consumables?

Consumables are those commodities which have a specific use for a limited period. Once these items are used, they may not be used again in the future. These items are required to be replaced regularly due to wear and tear. Some examples of such items are engine oil, ball bearings, nuts, bolts, washers, brake oil, screws, grease, AC refrigerant etc.

You must have realised by now that the list of consumables is a long one. Each individual item may seem to be of little importance but they all are integral to the functioning of a car.

Now let us understand about a consumable cover

Your comprehensive car insurance policy wouldn’t provide cover for the cost of consumables. Therefore you would have to pay from your pocket for replacing the consumables at the time of claims. However, a consumable cover is an add-on cover that will pay the cost of consumables in case of replacing or refiling it due to an accident.

What will it cover?

A consumable cover would cover the following:

Engine oil, Gearbox oil, Nuts and bolts, Grease, Washers, Oil Filters, Lubricants, Power steering oil, AC gas oil, radiator coolant and all similar items except fuel.

Will consumable cover cost extra?

Yes, cost of consumables in car insurance is extra. This is because it isn’t a part of a comprehensive car insurance policy. Also it is important to note that the consumable add on cover would differ from one car model to another.

Before choosing consumables in car insurance, it is important to consider the following:

One can file a claim under this add on cover only if it is accepted under the ‘own damage’ section of one’s comprehensive car insurance policy. This would mean that the cost of consumables in car insurance of a third party vehicle isn’t eligible for a claim.

For one’s claim to be valid, the car consumables have to be repaired within three days from the date of the accident. Therefore one must immediately inform the insurer once the accident takes place.

This add on is usually valid for cars which aren’t older than 5 years.

What are the exclusions in a consumables cover?

• You were driving without a valid licence
• You were driving under influence of alcohol or drugs
• You were driving a private vehicle for commercial purpose
• Any mechanical or electrical breakdown isn’t covered by this policy
• You delayed in informing the insurance company
• Wear and tear of the vehicle parts

How does a consumable cover work?

Imagine that you were going on a drive.

Unfortunately your car met with an accident and needs repairs. The cost of the repairs is worth Rs 15,000. The ‘own damage’ component of the comprehensive car insurance policy that you own covers repairs worth Rs 13,000. The remaining Rs 2,000 needs to be paid for repairing or refiling various consumables such as engine oil, nuts and bolts.

If you have a consumable cover, the entire bill of Rs 15,000 would be covered and you wouldn’t need to spend a rupee from your pocket. Therefore a consumable add-on augments your comprehensive car insurance policy.

What are the documents which are required for claiming consumable cover?

Firstly, you must submit the receipts and bills charged for repairs. It is preferable that the repairs are made in a garage which is a part of your insurer’s network. If you get your car repaired at a non-network garage or don’t intimate the insurer beforehand, then it is possible that your claim might be denied.

You need not worry about the policy or car details as your insurer would already have them.