Does Car Insurance Cover Your Vehicle Airbags?

What are Airbags?

Airbags are like big balloons that are designed to deploy when a collision accident occurs. These airbags are placed in spots like the dashboard, steering wheel and seats.  Additionally, there will be sensors in cars that will have an impact when a collision occurs. When these sensors detect a crash, they trigger these airbags and protect the people inside by not hitting the hard part of the car. The airbag pops out within a few seconds, at the right time during the crash and keeps everyone safe, preventing major injuries.

 

How Do Airbags in Cars Work?

Airbags are designed to keep you safe during a crash or rollover accident and prevent you from slamming against the windshield or the steering wheel. They are designed to deploy at a pre-set threshold value. The threshold value for different car models differs, but it is usually set to a value equivalent to a vehicle crashing into a solid wall at 13-23 km/h.
 

The deployment of airbags occurs when a sensor in the vehicle detects the front-end crash. The sensor tends to send an electric signal that starts a chemical reaction which fills the airbags with nitrogen gas. The gas is usually harmless, and all the sensors work in a fraction of a second, and the airbags open up.
 

The airbags deflate immediately after the accident, and the smoke that comes out with the airbag is the talc or non-toxic starch that prevents the bags from sticking together. Car airbags are usually made of nylon that is a thin fabric and saves space when fitted in the dashboard.

 

Does Your Car Insurance Policy Cover Airbags?

Yes, Shriram's Car Insurance policy covers for airbags. Comprehensive Car Insurance will cover collision damage, third-party liability, theft and natural and man-made calamities along with airbags damaged in an accident. Third-Party Insurance, on the other hand, only covers damages caused to third parties by the insured vehicle. It does not cover the insured person’s vehicle. For better coverage, opt for Comprehensive Insurance. 

Benefits of Add-Ons

Add-ons provide additional coverage to your basic policy and help cater to individual needs. However, these add-ons are only applicable for Comprehensive Insurance and not Third-Party Insurance.

Some common add-ons that can help customise your needs are Zero Depreciation Cover, Engine Protector Cover, Consumables Cover and Road Side Assistance Cover. These add-ons help complete your coverage and cater according to an individual’s requirement.

 

How Does Depreciation Affect Your Claim?

Depreciation is defined as the loss of a value of the vehicle over time. When a claim is filed, the compensation amount is usually lesser than the vehicle’s value. This is because of the depreciation value of the car and the older the car, the deductions will be higher. The age of the car is calculated from the date of registration.

 

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) determines the car's depreciation value. The depreciation table is listed below.

 

Vehicle age	Depreciation percentage (%)
Not exceeding 6 months	Nil
Exceeding 6 months	5%
Exceeding 1 year but not exceeding 2 years	10%
Exceeding 2 years but not exceeding 3 years	15%
Exceeding 3 years but not exceeding 4 years	25%
Exceeding 4 years but not exceeding 5 years	35%
Exceeding 5 years but not exceeding 10 years	40%
Exceeding 10 years	50%

 

Read more: How Does Depreciation Affect Your Car Insurance Claims?

 

Zero Depreciation Cover and Its Benefits?

Zero Depreciation Cover, also known as Nil Depreciation Cover, compensates the total cost of the car without calculating the vehicle's depreciation value. It also includes coverage for replacing airbags. So it is recommended to purchase Zero Depreciation for the following scenarios.

 

Sports Car

People who own a sports car can benefit from this cover. Sports cars are usually expensive, and their parts are also expensive to replace. So, it is recommended that sports car owners opt for Zero Depreciation Cover.

 

New Car 

Zero Depreciation Cover is available for new cars up to 5 years old. Comprehensive Car Insurance with Zero Depreciation add-on cover will benefit new car owners. In case of repair and replacement of car parts, claims would be settled without the depreciation value.  

 

Luxury Car 

Luxury car parts are usually expensive, as are repair costs. Therefore, it is recommended that people with luxury cars opt for Zero-Depreciation covers.

 

Conclusion

Airbags are an invention of technological advancement. The primary aim of airbag deployment is to prevent major injuries to the people inside the vehicle. Additionally, the government has reinforced that a minimum number of airbags is mandatory for the safety of the people inside the vehicle.

 

Shriram General Insurance provides Comprehensive Insurance for cars and bikes at affordable premiums. Additionally, the you can the cater the Comprehensive Insurance with add-ons like Zero Depreciation Cover, Engine Protector Cover, Consumables Cover and Road Side Assistance Cover.

 

FAQs

1. Is It Necessary to Replace Airbags After an Accident?

The airbags would pop out during an accident, preventing people inside the car from major injuries. If the airbag pops out, it cannot be replaced and should be taken to the repair garage to replace it with a new one.

 

2. Can I Replace My Airbag by Myself?

Removing the airbags after deployment requires special skills. A technician should be able to remove the entire airbag and replace it with a new one.

 

3. Do Airbags Need Maintenance?

Like all other mechanical components, airbags also require maintenance to deploy reliably at the right time.