Does Vehicle Damage Insurance Cover Water Damage When the Car is Parked?
2 Answers
Vehicle Damage Insurance does cover water damage when the car is parked. Below are specific details about Vehicle Damage Insurance: 1. Definition: Vehicle Damage Insurance is a type of commercial auto insurance where the insurer compensates for damages to the insured vehicle caused by an insured accident while the vehicle is being used by the policyholder or an authorized driver, within reasonable limits. 2. Coverage: Vehicle Damage Insurance and Third-Party Liability Insurance are the basic types of auto insurance, primarily covering losses to the insured vehicle and damages caused by the insured vehicle to third parties during use. 3. Coverage Amount Determination: The coverage amount can be determined based on the new car purchase price; the actual value at the time of insurance purchase; or through negotiation between the policyholder and the insurance company.
To be honest, the claims process for flood-damaged vehicles is quite complicated. I went through this myself last year when my car was submerged in the underground parking lot of my residential complex. The key factors are whether you purchased water-related damage insurance and the coverage scope of your vehicle damage insurance. After the 2020 auto insurance reform, engine damage caused by water ingress is now included in standard vehicle damage insurance. However, if your engine stalls due to water ingress while driving and you attempt to restart it, the insurance company will absolutely deny the claim. If the water level exceeds the dashboard, the vehicle is essentially totaled, and the insurer will declare it a total loss. I remember the claims adjuster gave me some tips: never start the engine after water exposure, first take photos of the scene, and have the car towed directly to a 4S shop for disassembly and damage assessment to avoid disputes.
