It's that time again, as the martens are on the move this time of year. The small predators love the tight space under the hood because it's a cozy cave for feeling comfortable. But just the smell of a supposed competitor leaving its scent marks can dampen their comfort. And at that moment, biting attacks are preprogrammed.
Car owners with street garages must expect, according to the legal experts at Huk-Coburg, that martens might, for example, gnaw on the spark plug cables or the brake and cooling water hoses. And that could be expensive.
On average 600 euros in damageLast year, the small predators bit more
than 54,000 times at the cars of their insured customers, according to the legal experts. Fixing the attacks cost on average nearly 600 euros. In peak cases, even repairs of more than 3,500 euros were necessary. Overall, the regulation costs for the Upper Franconian insurer amounted to just under 26 million euros.
But a marten bite can not only be expensive but also dangerous. Often the damages go undetected, as the sharp, small teeth of the predators leave only pinhead-sized punctures. According to the legal experts, consequential damage can quickly occur during the drive, for example, to the engine. A look at the temperature gauge of
the cooling water then helps, because if the needle goes into the red area, a look under the hood is essential.
Insurance protection against animal bite damageOne consolation is that marten damages are often, though not always, co-insured in the partial coverage insurance. Ideally, insurance protection covers not only marten but also general animal bite damage.
Important for insurance protection is that it covers not only the immediate damages, meaning the bitten hoses. The consequential damages, when the engine or brakes are affected, are often the most expensive, according to the experts. It's important that these damages are fully insured without any limit. A conversation with
one's car insurer often brings clarity.
Prevention is better than repairAccording to the legal experts, there is no miracle solution that keeps martens away from the engine compartment. However, car owners who wish to avoid the hassle of breakdowns and repair can make it more difficult for the martens to bite. Effective and inexpensive solutions include sturdy cable covers for vulnerable parts available from specialty retailers. Additionally, special devices for sealing off the engine compartment can spoil the small predator's fun with cables, insulation mats, and water hoses. Occasional engine washes also help, as they remove all scent traces from the engine compartment that could attract
