What does the 'Engine Water Damage Exclusion Clause' mean?
2 Answers
The Engine Water Damage Exclusion Clause is a type of exemption agreement. For insured vehicles covered under this clause, the insurance company will not be responsible for compensating any direct damage to the engine caused by water ingress during use. Since this clause exempts the insurance company from certain liabilities it would otherwise bear, the premium is correspondingly cheaper. Additional Information: 1. Applicability: This insurance may be considered for purchase if the vehicle is frequently used in desert areas or regions with minimal rainfall, but it is not recommended for other areas. 2. Coverage Services: After the auto insurance reform, the coverage for water damage has been integrated into the vehicle damage insurance. As long as vehicle damage insurance is purchased, compensation for engine water damage is also available. However, it is important to note that the cutoff date for the auto insurance reform is September 20, 2020. Auto insurance policies purchased or renewed on or after this date include water damage coverage under vehicle damage insurance, while policies before this date still follow the previous implementation methods.
I remember last rainy season when I drove through deep water, my engine got flooded and was completely totaled. When I called the insurance company, they told me it wasn't covered because of that 'engine water damage exclusion clause'—basically, standard insurance excludes this type of damage. Simply put, unless you specifically purchase wading insurance or a similar add-on, the insurer won't cover any engine issues caused by water exposure. This is usually because water ingress can lead to internal corrosion or hydrostatic lock in the engine, with repair costs often running into thousands—a hefty expense. I learned this the hard way by not reading the fine print carefully. Now, every time it rains heavily, I avoid flooded areas altogether. I also advise friends to proactively clarify additional clauses when buying car insurance to avoid major losses like I suffered. Checking the vehicle's drainage system before the rainy season helps a lot too.
