How Does Insurance Compensate for a Flooded Car?
2 Answers
If the car has comprehensive insurance and is flooded while parked, the insurance will fully cover the repair costs. If the car has comprehensive insurance but stalls and gets flooded while driving, the insurance will cover the compensation if it includes water damage coverage. Without water damage coverage, only the parts other than the engine will be compensated. If the car is flooded and the engine is damaged due to forced starting, the insurance will not cover the claim. In case of flooding, take photos as evidence and call the insurance company to report the incident.
Last year, my car was caught in a flood, with water reaching up to the seats—it was terrible. I immediately took photos to document the situation and called my insurance company to file a claim. The insurer sent an adjuster to inspect the damage, confirming it was caused by a natural disaster and covered under my comprehensive car insurance. They thoroughly checked the engine bay, interior, and electrical systems, finding severe damage to some components. After negotiations, they covered most of the repair costs, but the engine damage from restarting after water immersion wasn’t fully covered since it wasn’t directly due to flooding. The entire claims process took about two weeks. I’d advise everyone to avoid driving through floodwaters during heavy rains and consider adding flood coverage if necessary. After repairs, the car runs fine, but make sure to have electrical work done by a reputable repair shop to avoid future issues.