Is a car directly totaled if water reaches the dashboard?
1 Answers
Generally, it is directly totaled. A car submerged to the dashboard level is considered a fully flooded vehicle, and the owner can usually apply for a total loss. As long as the vehicle meets the total loss criteria with excessively high repair costs, the owner and the insurance company can negotiate a compensation agreement before applying for the vehicle's total loss. After the vehicle is officially totaled, the original license plate can be retained for a second time. Flooded vehicles are categorized into three scenarios: water level just above the exhaust pipe but below half the wheel height, water level exactly at half the wheel height, and water level above half the wheel height. Generally, water reaching half the wheel height can already affect the car. Below is a detailed explanation: 1. Water above the exhaust pipe: If the water only covers the exhaust pipe, promptly moving the car away is sufficient. Submerged exhaust pipes won't cause water to be sucked into the engine, and engine stalling is primarily due to water entering the engine's intake system, unrelated to the exhaust pipe being submerged. 2. Water exactly at half the wheel height: If the water reaches exactly half the wheel height, the car usually won't leak. However, prolonged soaking may cause aging of the sealing strips, leading to potential leaks. In such cases, drive the car to a 4S shop, remove the interior parts, clean, and dry them. 3. Water above half the wheel height: If the water exceeds half the wheel height, the engine may take in water, and the interior may leak. Never start the engine in this situation to avoid damaging the engine or electronic components. Additionally, if the car is flooded and starting it causes damage, the insurance company will not cover the costs.
