Does Car Insurance Cover Damage Caused by Rats?

Types of Rat-Related Damage in Cars

Before getting into more details about rat bite car insurance, let’s take a look at how these rodents pose a threat to your car. Rats, despite their small size, can wreak havoc. Here are some common types of damage due to rat bite in car:

Wire malfunction

Rats get inside your car and chew on electrical wires, causing malfunctions and failures in the electronic system.

Insulation damage

They also chew on the insulation material within the car as well as seats, seat belts and carpets, which are quite expensive to fix and replace.

Fuel line damage

Rats commonly chew on fuel and brake lines, which not only leads to hefty repair bills but also increases accident risks.

Engine malfunction

Rats can even chew essential engine components like engine belts, which can cause performance issues and breakdowns.

Others

Rat droppings and urine inside vehicles lead to corrosion, foul smell, and health risks. They also build nests in air ventilation systems and filters, creating clogging and interrupting air flow.

Is Rat Damage Covered Under a Car Insurance Policy?

The answer to the popular question, “Is rat bite covered in car insurance?” is yes. Specific types of rat bite damage can be covered under car insurance, such as electrical malfunction as a result of rat bites in the car’s electrical wiring. Also, note that the rat bite cover in car insurance is usually only available with the comprehensive plan. So, you can’t get this cover with a third-party liability-only cover.

The own damage (OD) component under comprehensive car insurance covers various types of damage to the vehicle, such as damage/loss due to natural calamities, accidental external means, man-made hazards and theft. Damages to the electrical wiring due to rat bite in car typically fall under this category.

However, not all insurers may offer this rat bite cover in car insurance. So, it is essential to check whether rodent bite car insurance is included or not in the fine print of the policy papers. Get deals on the best car insurance plans from top providers in India on Jio Insurance Broking.

How to Claim Insurance for Rat Damage in Your Car?

Filing a claim under the rodent cover in car insurance is pretty straightforward. Although it may vary from insurer to insurer, here is a general outline:

Check for damage

Once you notice signs of rat infestation in your car or garage, thoroughly check for rodent bite damage, such as chewed electrical wiring. Take photos and videos of these damages.

Notify insurer

Contact the provider of your car insurance and report the damage due to rodent bites. The insurer will send a surveyor to inspect the damage and make an assessment. If the damages are within the scope of the rodent cover in car insurance, you can move forward with the claim.

Complete paperwork

Fill out the car insurance claim form and submit it alongside the necessary supporting documents, repair estimates and evidence of damages in photos/videos.

Await approval

Upon review, if the insurer approves the claim, you will receive the compensation for the necessary repairs/replacements.

Tips to Prevent Rat Damage to Your Vehicle

While the rat bite cover in car insurance can secure your vehicle against specific rat bite-related damages, precautionary measures can prevent this problem from happening in the first place. Here are some great ways to prevent rat damage to your car:

Keep the car clean

Regularly clean your car, from both inside and outside. Use a portable vacuum cleaner and get rid of leftover food crumbs. Also, inspect inside the hood and trunk to look for signs of rat nests. If found, make sure to safely get rid of it.

Don’t eat inside the car

The best way to avoid rodents in your car is to not eat or keep any food inside the vehicle at all. Food attracts rodents, so it is better to avoid leaving any inside. Also, try not to keep any food items inside the garage.

Maintain overall cleanliness

Frequent cleaning of the garage and the house prevents infestation of rodents and other pests. If you have a rodent-free home and property, then you are less likely to experience damage due to rat bite in car.

Move the car frequently

Use your car frequently instead of keeping it parked for long periods. A stationary car is an ideal choice for rats to build nests, while a moving car is not.

Park inside

Instead of parking your car outdoors, consider parking it inside a garage or a designated, well-lit, indoor parking spot. Parking in such places reduces the risk of intrusion of rats.

Use repellents

As a precautionary measure, utilise safe and practical rodent repellents to keep rats at bay. Mothballs, peppermint oil and camphor are often considered popular remedies for rat intrusion. (Note: Do not put flammable items, like mothballs, directly in the engine bay or any place where it gets too much heat.)

Close-up entry points

If your car is parked inside the garage, identify open spaces, such as windows and small openings near the floor, and seal them off. This will cut access for rats to enter the garage from outside.

Contact pest control

If you see signs of rodents or pests in your house and can’t seem to get rid of them, contact pest control as soon as possible. They will adopt methods to get rid of the rat infestation.

Key Takeaways

Rats pose a great threat to your car’s electrical wiring. Thankfully, under the own damage component of the comprehensive car insurance, you can get coverage for such damages caused by rat bites. However, not all insurance companies may include coverage for rat bite damage in their car insurance plan.

So, it is vital to check the policy wording for details on rat bite cover in car insurance before purchase. Also, precautionary measures like keeping your car and garage clean, using rodent repellents and parking indoors can significantly minimise the risk of rat bite damage to your car.

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