Can Water-Damaged Vehicles Be Covered by Insurance?
2 Answers
According to insurance professionals, although typhoons and heavy rain are irresistible natural disasters, the resulting vehicle losses will be compensated by insurance companies. However, the prerequisite is that the car owner must have purchased the vehicle damage insurance under commercial auto insurance. Below is a partial introduction to auto insurance: Compulsory Traffic Insurance: Compulsory traffic insurance is mandatory. Commercial Insurance: It is divided into basic insurance and additional insurance. Currently, about 90% of car owners purchase the basic insurance under commercial auto insurance. The included vehicle damage insurance can compensate for parts of water-damaged vehicles other than the engine, such as electrical components, interior, and instrument panels.
Of course, water-damaged cars can be claimed for insurance. I've personally experienced this before. That time, during heavy rain, my car was parked in a low-lying area and got flooded up to the doors. I immediately called the insurance company's customer service. The claim process was actually quite simple: they asked me to take a few photos as proof of the flooding and then get an assessment at a 4S shop. The key is to have comprehensive insurance or flood insurance—just having compulsory traffic insurance won't cover it. After filing the claim, the insurance company sent someone to inspect the damage, confirmed it was caused by natural reasons, and quickly paid out. However, I must remind you that water-damaged cars need to be dealt with promptly. Delaying repairs can lead to worse corrosion in the electrical system and higher repair costs. If the flooding is too deep and the engine gets submerged, the car might be totaled, and the insurance payout will depend on the extent of the damage. In short, when buying insurance, read the terms carefully—don’t just go for the cheapest option to save money. Comprehensive insurance might be more expensive, but it saves a lot of hassle. If this happens, don’t delay—contact your insurance company immediately.
