Can a car be scrapped if the water reaches the dashboard?
2 Answers
A car submerged to the dashboard is considered a fully flooded vehicle and is generally eligible for scrapping. As long as it meets the scrapping criteria and the repair costs are excessively high, the owner and the insurance company can negotiate a compensation agreement before applying for vehicle scrapping. After the vehicle is scrapped according to regulations, the original license plate can be retained for a second time. Flooded vehicles are categorized into three scenarios: water level above the exhaust pipe but below half-wheel height, water level exactly at half-wheel height, and water level above half-wheel height. Generally, water reaching half-wheel height can already affect the car. Below is a detailed explanation: 1. Water above the exhaust pipe: If the water only covers the exhaust pipe, promptly moving the car away is sufficient. Water in the exhaust pipe will not be sucked back into the engine, and engine stalling is primarily due to water entering the engine's intake system, unrelated to the exhaust pipe being submerged. 2. Water at half-wheel height: If the water reaches exactly half-wheel height, the car typically won’t leak water. However, prolonged soaking or aging seals may cause leaks. In such cases, drive the car to a 4S shop, remove the interior, clean, and dry it. 3. Water above half-wheel height: If the water exceeds half-wheel height, the engine may take in water, and the interior may leak. Never start the engine in this situation to avoid damage to the engine or electronic components. Additionally, if the car is flooded and starting it causes damage, the insurance company will not cover the costs.
I've seen quite a few cases of flooded cars where the water level reached the height of the dashboard. To be honest, the problems are significant, mainly because there are a lot of electronic devices in the car. Behind the dashboard, there are wiring and control modules that can short-circuit and burn out when soaked in water. Repairing them is not only troublesome but also expensive. Insurance companies often treat such cases as total losses, directly writing them off to avoid a series of potential hazards later on, such as unstable engine operation after water ingress, which can lead to sudden breakdowns while driving—scary stuff. I've personally handled several similar cars, and the repair costs often exceed tens of thousands, sometimes even more than the car itself. It's really not worth it. It's better to let the insurance company assess the situation and pay out for a write-off. Remember, when selling a flood-damaged car as a used vehicle, its value plummets, and buyers are generally reluctant to take it.
