Does Car Insurance Cover Natural Disaster Flood Damage?

[StReed]

Whether car insurance covers flood damage depends on whether the policyholder has purchased vehicle damage insurance. If not purchased, the insurance will not cover the damage. If purchased, the insurance can provide compensation within the liability limit of the vehicle damage insurance, usually based on the actual loss of the vehicle. Below are relevant details: 1. Waterlogging insurance: After the 2020 auto insurance reform, waterlogging insurance was bundled with vehicle damage insurance for sale. Therefore, for vehicle damage insurance purchased after the 2020 reform, if a car is flooded, the vehicle damage insurance can also cover the loss caused by engine water damage. 2. Secondary ignition: If the engine stalls during water driving and is damaged due to forced secondary ignition causing water ingress, the insurance company may refuse to compensate. Therefore, if the vehicle stalls during water driving, never attempt to restart the engine forcibly.

[Braylen]

As someone who has experienced a flooded car firsthand, when my engine compartment took in water and stalled during last year's heavy rain, I didn't dare to restart it. Only after calling the insurance customer service did I learn that a separate vehicle damage insurance is required for flood damage compensation. When it was towed to the 4S dealership and taken apart, we saw that even the connecting rods were bent. Fortunately, I had comprehensive coverage, otherwise, I would have had to pay the 80,000 yuan repair bill out of pocket. It's important to note that if your car is washed away by floodwaters and can't be found, you must first contact the police to obtain a certificate before filing for a total loss claim with the insurance company. With frequent typhoons lately, never attempt to drive through deep water in underpasses. I always keep a life-saving hammer in my car now.

[DiBrandon]

Last month, the insurance claim process for my Sagitar being flooded was quite straightforward. First, I called 122 to report the incident and obtained a police receipt. Then, I contacted the insurance company to report the license plate number and the water immersion location. The claims adjuster arrived, took photos to document the waterline, and had me sign a document voluntarily relinquishing the vehicle's disposal rights. Three days later, the loss assessor declared it a total loss and directly transferred 110,000 yuan to my bank card, which was more cost-effective than selling it as a used car. However, electronic components are prone to corrosion, and within six months, all the car's cameras gradually malfunctioned. Now, I always park my car near the overpass.