What is Water Damage Insurance for Vehicles?
3 Answers
Water damage insurance is a type of commercial auto insurance, typically offered as an add-on to vehicle damage insurance. Vehicle Damage Insurance, referred to as The-vehicle-damage-insurance in English, covers losses to the insured vehicle caused by natural disasters (excluding earthquakes) or accidents within the scope of insurance liability. Below is an introduction to vehicle insurance: 1. Compulsory Traffic Insurance: This is a mandatory insurance required by the state. If not purchased, traffic police can impose fines. It provides limited compensation, mainly covering third parties, not the policyholder's own vehicle. 2. Third-party Liability Insurance: This compensates for bodily injury or death of a third party caused by the vehicle owner. It is essential for both the owner's and others' protection. 3. Vehicle Damage Insurance: Covers losses to the vehicle itself due to natural disasters and accidents. It is recommended for new drivers. 4. No-deductible Insurance: An add-on that transfers the policyholder's liability to the insurance company, reducing the owner's losses. It is advisable to purchase this if both Vehicle Damage Insurance and Third-party Liability Insurance are bought.
"Che Shui Xian" is actually the colloquial term for water wading insurance, which is an additional coverage under auto insurance. Having driven for over a decade and experienced numerous rainy seasons, I particularly understand its importance. It specifically covers engine damage caused by water ingress during vehicle submersion, such as when driving through deep water during heavy rain leading to immediate engine failure, or secondary damage from mistakenly restarting a flooded car. Standard collision insurance typically doesn't cover engine water damage, making water wading insurance essential to fill this gap. The annual premium is only a few hundred yuan, whereas engine repairs can cost tens of thousands. My advice is that it's a must-have for rainy southern cities, especially in areas with poor drainage. A small reminder: never attempt to restart a flooded vehicle, as this may void your insurance claim.
The so-called 'engine water damage insurance' is actually an additional clause to commercial auto insurance, which can only be purchased after acquiring vehicle damage insurance. Its core function is to cover repair costs caused by engine water ingress, including damages from both intentional wading and secondary startup after passive submersion. The key difference from standard vehicle damage insurance is that the latter only covers non-engine water damage. If you reside in low-lying areas or regions prone to heavy rainfall, this insurance offers excellent value—providing substantial protection against tens of thousands in repair costs at relatively low premiums. When purchasing, pay attention to policy details; some insurers may cover static water damage, but natural floods are typically excluded from coverage.
