How Long Does It Take for a Flooded Vehicle to Be Considered Totaled?

[StBradley]

How long it takes for a flooded vehicle to be considered totaled depends on whether the flooding has caused engine damage. If water has submerged the engine, the vehicle will be totaled immediately. Below is an introduction to driving through water: Driving in a low gear: Use a low gear (for automatic transmission vehicles, you can shift into the hill-climbing gear) and slowly drive through the flooded area at a steady speed while maintaining control of the steering wheel. Be aware of any potholes or gaps in the road beneath the water. Do not restart the engine after stalling: If the vehicle stalls in a flooded area, do not attempt to restart the engine. Engine stalling indicates that water has entered the cylinders. Restarting the engine can cause severe damage to the piston connecting rod components due to the incompressibility of water, and in severe cases, it may lead to the complete destruction of the engine.

[VanGenesis]

There is no fixed duration for a vehicle to be considered totaled after being submerged in water; the key factor is the water level. For example, if the water only reaches the tire level, the car might still be salvageable after a few hours of submersion—cleaning the chassis and drying it out could make it usable again. However, if the water rises to the engine or interior seat level, even just 30 minutes can damage the electrical systems and headlights. Mud or saltwater in the flood accelerates corrosion, making repairs costly and risky, often leading to a write-off after assessment. I’ve seen a friend’s car submerged up to the roof turn into scrap metal within days, with the insurance paying out the full loss. So, avoid parking in low-lying areas, and if a flood is imminent, move the car to higher ground immediately.

[ConnorLee]

Regarding vehicle water submersion and scrapping, I believe it depends on the specific scenario. For example, if the car is submerged in shallow water for half a day, it can still be dried and repaired. However, if the water level rises above the dashboard for more than about an hour, causing the electronic circuits and engine to short-circuit due to water ingress, the repair costs may far exceed the vehicle's value, necessitating scrapping. I recall that insurance companies often use the water submersion height as a standard, with water reaching the seats considered high risk. A friend's car was submerged in a flood for 3 hours, and the repair estimate was 30,000, while the car was only worth 20,000, so it was scrapped. It's best to avoid parking near rivers and not to start the car after submersion.

[LaRemington]

There is no specific time for a car to be scrapped after being flooded. It mainly depends on the water level: if the water only reaches the tires, it might be okay for a short while; but if it reaches the interior seats, it becomes dangerous as water can corrode electronic modules and the engine, potentially causing the car to be totaled quickly. If the repair costs are too high, it's safer to just replace the car.