Does Insurance Cover Water Damage to Cars?
2 Answers
If a car is parked on the roadside or in a garage and gets flooded due to heavy rain, and the engine is not started after the flooding, the insurance company should cover the claim. Here are the details about insurance compensation: 1. Only purchased car damage insurance: If the owner only has car damage insurance, they can only receive 85% of the compensation. This means if the owner only has car damage insurance without any supplementary coverage, the insurance company will cover 85% of the compensation, and the remaining amount must be borne by the owner. 2. Purchased car damage insurance and no-deductible coverage: If the owner has both car damage insurance and no-deductible coverage, they can receive full compensation. However, if the owner only has compulsory traffic insurance, they cannot claim compensation for hail damage.
Over the years of driving, I've encountered several instances of vehicles being submerged during heavy rains. Simply put, if your car is normally parked and not driven through water, then gets flooded by heavy rain, the vehicle damage insurance will generally cover it. But you must act promptly: immediately call the insurance company to report the claim without delay, and don't move the vehicle or attempt to start it—especially electric cars, as powering them after submersion can cause serious issues. Take photos from multiple angles for evidence, recording the water level. Then wait for the insurance adjuster to assess the damage. The key factors are whether the policy is valid and if vehicle damage insurance was purchased. If you drove into a water-filled pit causing the submersion, that's usually not covered as it's considered driver error. Also, be aware that flood-damaged cars often develop minor electrical issues after repairs, like rust or short circuits, so regular check-ups are advisable.
