What is the PICC's scrapping standard for flood-damaged vehicles?

[Philip]

There is no separate scrapping standard for flood-damaged vehicles. Here are some methods to identify flood-damaged vehicles: Smell the interior: Check for a musty odor inside the car. Flood-damaged vehicles often have a musty smell in hidden areas such as the floor mats, trunk mats, and under the seats, which is difficult to remove and usually leaves evidence. If you detect a musty smell, be cautious. Also, be wary if the car smells overly fragrant, as this might be an attempt to mask the musty odor. Inspect hidden parts of the vehicle: Look for rust or signs of replacement on hidden screws; pull out the seats to check for rust or sand in the tracks; pull the seatbelt all the way out to see if there are water stains or dirt at the end.

[VonAdam]

I've been repairing cars for nearly thirty years and have seen many cases of flood-damaged vehicles. The write-off standard for PICC is generally when the water level rises above the dashboard or the car has been submerged for more than twenty-four hours—it's basically a total loss. If water reaches the dashboard, the engine and electronic systems are completely ruined, and the repair costs are exorbitantly high, often exceeding the price of a new car. Additionally, if the repair costs exceed half of the vehicle's residual value, insurance companies tend to opt for a write-off. A common misconception is that owners think lightly flooded cars are still usable, but water intrusion into the wiring poses major risks, potentially causing short circuits or even fires. My advice is not to start the car after flooding and to report it to the insurance company immediately to avoid further damage. For regular maintenance, always park on higher ground—don't wait until it rains to regret it.

[VonTaylor]

Last year my car was flooded, and I only understood the write-off criteria after checking PICC's regulations. The key factors are water depth and duration: if the water level exceeds the hood or seat height and the soaking lasts over a full day, it's classified as severe damage and usually requires write-off. This is based on safety risks—flooded electronic components may malfunction, making driving hazardous. Write-offs aren't arbitrarily decided; PICC evaluates repair costs exceeding 60% of the car's current value. For example, my flood-damaged car had repair quotes over 30,000 yuan when its original value was just 40,000, so it was directly written off with compensation. Saltwater exposure is worse—it corrodes the frame, mandating write-off. Always avoid waterlogged areas during rainstorms and never risk driving through puddles.

[MasonFitz]

As a car owner, I'm concerned about the safe handling of flood-damaged vehicles. Simply put, PICC's total loss standard means the insurer will declare the car a write-off when the water level is too high or the soaking duration makes the vehicle unsafe. For instance, if water reaches above half of the wheels, or the car is submerged for over 20 hours causing electronic system damage with prohibitively expensive repairs. A common scenario is water damage to wiring under seats after cabin intrusion, leading to operational failures. I've noticed many friends overlook insurance policy details, so I recommend owners study flood claim guidelines in advance. Driving a flood-damaged car doubles the risks - getting compensated for a total loss and purchasing a new vehicle is far more worry-free.