Airbag Protection Cover

Are airbags covered in your car insurance policy in the UAE?

Modern cars come with a host of safety features to safeguard the occupants in case of an accident. An airbag is one such feature that has been present in cars for a long time and is still very relevant.

But these airbags are very expensive and add significantly to the costs of repairs. So to ease the burden of repairs, an airbag protection cover is also included in the car insurance policy.

How do airbags work?

The official terms for airbags are supplemental inflatable restraint or supplemental restraint system. Now, as these terms suggest, airbags are a supplementary system that works in tandem with seat belts to protect you in case of any accidents.

Typically, airbags are nothing but nylon bags that are folded and put into a different place in the car. Now, in the event of an accident, the accelerometers in the car will detect the impact and trigger an explosive device that will fill these bags with nitrogen gas as they inflate to protect you.

Does insurance cover airbag(s)?

Usually, car insurance policies do not extend any coverage for the expenses of airbag restorations, specifically. Typically, the coverage is for any repair work due to the damages to the car. Now, in case your vehicle insurance plan does not extend such a cover, in that case, there are riders like airbag protection covers that you can opt for.

Now, a point to remember here is that insurance calculates depreciation on your vehicle, which only increases every year. So, that will also reflect on the amount of cover you will get for airbag restoration.

What are the applicable depreciation rates on cars? 

The depreciation rates apply to the replaced parts of the cars. They are as follows –

1. Parts made of glass draw zero deductions
2. Fiberglass components draw 30% depreciation on fiberglass
3. On parts made of plastic, rubber and nylon, one can expect a depreciation of 50%. These parts include batteries, airbags, tyres and tubes

But there is a solution to it. You can choose a zero depreciation cover, which is available from all vehicle insurance companies in the UAE, with your all-inclusive car insurance. As a result, you can get reimbursed for the complete damage or loss without any depreciation rate deduction for a period of up to 5 years.

Benefits of zero depreciation cover

Here are some notable advantages of zero depreciation cover –

• It lowers your out-of-pocket expenses almost to zero, as it does not factor in the depreciation while computing the reimbursement amount.
• This add-on policy adds value to your traditional car insurance plan.
• It safeguards your financial interests further against a nominal premium amount.

This policy is also called the nil-depreciation or bumper-to-bumper policy in the UAE.

To sum up, airbags are an imperative safety kit for a modern car, and vehicles must provide this facility to pass the crash test regulations. So, if you are purchasing a car, make sure you get one with multiple airbags. At the same time, when you are buying your car insurance policy, read through its terms to see if there are any mentions of airbag protection cover. If not, then get a rider offering this facility to protect your financial interest.