Does Car Submersion Qualify for Insurance Claims?
3 Answers
Insurance companies do not compensate for car submersion. Below is relevant information about insurance claims: 1. Basic Introduction: Articles 22 and 23 of the Insurance Law stipulate that when requesting the insurer to compensate or pay insurance benefits according to the insurance contract after an insured event occurs, the policyholder, insured, or beneficiary shall provide the insurer with all the evidence and materials they can obtain related to confirming the nature, cause, and extent of loss of the insured event. 2. Claim Methods: After an insured event occurs, insurance companies settle claims with policyholders in two ways according to the insurance contract: indemnity and payment. Indemnity corresponds to property insurance, referring to the compensation made by the insurance company based on the damage to the insured property at the time of the insured event, on the basis of the insured amount, for the loss suffered by the insured. Insurance indemnity is compensatory in nature, meaning it only compensates for the actual loss, at most equivalent to the value of the damaged property, and never more than its value.
I encountered this situation last time during a heavy rainstorm—my car got flooded in the garage. Regular auto damage insurance does cover stationary flooding, and the insurance company compensated me for the repair costs, but you need to pay special attention to the engine part. Only the water ingress insurance covers situations where water enters while driving. If the car gets flooded while moving, as long as you don’t attempt to restart the engine, there might still be hope. Remember to call the insurance company immediately to report the incident and take photos of the waterline at the scene with your phone. If the flood washes the car away and it can’t be found, you’ll need to get a certificate from the police station to file a total loss claim. It’s best to add water ingress insurance when purchasing coverage, especially since extreme weather events are becoming more frequent these days.
From my experience, whether a flooded vehicle can be claimed depends on the specific situation. If you have comprehensive car insurance, damages to the exterior and interior caused by flooding while parked are generally covered, but engine damage depends on whether you have additional wading insurance. Important tip: if the engine stalls due to water ingress while driving, never attempt to restart it—this is considered a deliberate aggravation of damage and is excluded by all insurance companies. It's recommended to call for a tow truck to take the car directly to a 4S shop after reporting the incident, as their inspections are more professional. After wading through water, remember to have the entire electrical system checked, as water-damaged wiring is prone to failure within three years. Finally, keep all repair receipts.
