How to avail of car insurance for damage caused by natural disasters

Car insurance for natural disasters: Why it’s a big deal

Natural disasters are defined as an adverse event resulting from things that occur naturally on our planet.

These include storms, earthquakes, floods, and of course, the most recent to hit the Philippines; volcanic eruption. Specifically, the eruption of Taal.

>>> Latest update: Number coding temporarily suspended due to Taal Ashfall and other related news

Taal volcano in the midst of spewing out ash

What’s worst is while tornadoes, storms, floods and to some extent even earthquakes can be measured and thus predicted, the effects of the volcanic eruption are much more complicated and thus can be hard to predict.

Being potent and as far from the “normal” climate as they are, natural disasters will have a tendency to harm and/or damage human life, disrupt normal day to day activities, and incur damage to property including of course our beloved cars.

In the case of Taal’s sporadic spewing of ash, cars are affected by way of anything relating to air supply. That includes air-conditioning, paint, cooling systems, and brakes.

Thick ash fall can even hinder visibility that will cause crashes and wet ash will become slippery thus robbing your vehicle of it’s needed traction.

Also, if enough ash has fallen, it can cover, trap and eventually destroy your entire car

>>> Check out: Deal with Taal ashfall - Keeping your car clean during a volcanic event

While you can say that you can prepare to spare your car from the wrath of nature, there are times that we do not have a choice or your preparations weren’t enough.

Nature after all, despite our advances in science, is still chaotic. So how do we protect our beloved cars when nature shows signs of throwing a fit? That’s where car insurance comes in.

Maybe you're bent on driving through the thick ash to deliver relief goods?

We’ve talked about car insurance before, but this time, we’re talking about the kind of insurance that covers “Acts of God” or “Acts of Nature.”

Do note though that not all car insurance will cover acts of god or will have a different set of parameters when it comes to car damage caused by natural disasters.

Here’s a list of natural disaster a car insurance policy with AOG can cover;

• Landslides
• Damage caused by animals
• Volcanic Eruption
• Typhoon and flood
• Hurricane
• Earthquake

Also note that not all car insurance packages will include AOG and if you want to add it to your current insurance policy, then you might have to pay an additional fee.

>>> Grab your attention: What insurance covers the damage of natural disasters and how does it work?

How to claim car insurance in the case of natural disasters

If your car’s insurance does happen to cover acts of God or acts of nature, then you can file a claim by completing these following requirements;

We highly advise you to give your insurance provider a call or better yet, a visit beforehand

• Photocopy of your driver’s license
• Photocopy of your car’s registration documents (OR and CR)
• Repair estimate – You can get this from your car brand’s casa or from a trusted mechanic
• Photos showing the extent of the damage
• Photo of your car’s plate number
• A police report or a notarized affidavit describing the incident
• A duly accomplished car insurance claim form

Remember that there are many insurance companies here in the Philippines and each might have their own requirements and their own process of claiming. As such, we highly advise you to give your insurance provider a call or better yet, a visit beforehand.

>>> Our recommendations: Which is the best car insurance company in the Philippines?

Why do I need a notarized affidavit and what is it?

A notarized affidavit is simply a legal document stating the facts involving, in this context, how nature did a number on your beloved car.

Once it is notarized (legalized by a notary), it’s as good as swearing under an oath which attests that all the facts within the said affidavit are indeed true.

Notary offices are easy to find here in the Philippines

While you can file for an affidavit, you can also get a police report. Police reports, however, will take sometime before being released (typically a day) whereas an affidavit will only take a few minutes of your time.

Apart from being used to claim insurance, a notarized affidavit can also be used in cases of hit and run which quite frankly, is sadly too common here in the Philippines.  

Other types of car insurance claims

Own Damage (OD) – This refers to a type of insurance claim when you get damaged due to crashing, fire, vandalism or when your car parts get stolen, and for when your entire car gets stolen.

Note though that some car insurance policies that cover OD may not cover aftermarket parts and will only cover original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.

>>> Make sure you know: 4 aftermarket parts that are not covered by car insurance​​​​​​​

Drove through his own garage and then wrecked both his truck and his Ferrari. Ouch

Items that were stolen that were stored inside the vehicle might not be covered. To be sure, check with your preferred car insurance company.

CTPL Claim

A CTPL or compulsory third-party liability is a claim that you can make whether you injured or killed someone as a result of an accident. This, however, doesn’t cover you (the driver) nor anyone riding the car nor does it cover the damage.

>>> FYI: 6 FAQs about Compulsory third-party liability (CTPL) insurance in the Philippines

A third-party property damage claim

This enables you to pay for the damages your car has caused on other cars as long as you can prove that you were driving legally. You can also you this to cover damages to property your car might have damaged like fences, buildings, structures, etc.

This enables you to pay for the damages your car has caused on other cars

RSMD claim

While it might sound strange and unusual, damage to vehicles caused by an angry mob does happen here in the Philippines from time to time. As such, an RSMD or a riot, strike, malicious damage, and civil disturbance insurance package is available.

Here's Tay-Tay demonstrating what malicious damage means

Claiming car insurance for natural disasters: Conclusion

Car insurance, while burgeoning the painful idea that your precious car might get damaged or even totaled someday, is a necessity, especially in our country.

The Philippines after all, like many countries, is host to several things that will definitely kill a car. Be it natural disasters, man-made accidents, and also TRAFFIC.

Be it natural disasters, man-made accidents, and also TRAFFIC

Note however that this guide is not exhaustive and as we’ve said, car insurance companies might have differing policies from one another. As such, we encourage you to ask questions and scour your insurance’s fine print from page to page.

For more guides like this one, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.