How does the insurance company compensate for a water-damaged car?
2 Answers
You should file a claim under the vehicle damage insurance. If it meets the claim conditions, the insurance company will compensate within the agreed limit. If the vehicle is totaled, the insurance company will pay the full amount of the vehicle damage insurance, but the salvage value of the vehicle will be deducted. If it can be repaired after timely cleaning, the insurance company will compensate based on the actual repair costs incurred.
The claim for a water-damaged car depends on the insurance you purchased. First, report to the traffic police to obtain a certificate proving the accident's time and location. Then immediately call your insurance company to report the incident, stating that the vehicle was submerged. Do not start the engine at this point—I've seen many cases where owners started the engine, causing water to enter it, leading to the insurance company outright denying the claim. After the claims adjuster arrives to take photos and assess the damage, the car will be towed to a repair shop for disassembly and inspection. If you have comprehensive insurance, the repair costs are generally fully covered; if the water damage is severe enough to meet the total loss criteria, you'll be compensated according to the insured amount under the comprehensive insurance. Note that there's a deductible clause in the policy, such as a 10% absolute deductible rate, so the actual payout will deduct this portion. Throughout the process, remember to keep all repair invoices and towing receipts.
