Will Insurance Cover a Car Flooded in Heavy Rain?
2 Answers
Yes. According to the relevant provisions of the insurance policy, vehicle damage caused by general "natural disasters" such as heavy rain, floods, landslides, and mudslides falls under the coverage of the commercial auto insurance's vehicle damage insurance, and the insurance company will compensate accordingly. Therefore, direct losses to the vehicle caused by flooding will be covered by the insurance company as stipulated in the insurance contract. Below are situations where vehicle damage insurance will not provide compensation: 1. If the engine stalls during water wading and is damaged due to forcibly restarting it, leading to water ingress, the insurance company may refuse to compensate. Hence, if the vehicle stalls while driving through water, do not attempt to restart it forcefully. 2. If the driver knowingly drives through severe flooding, resulting in engine damage, the insurance company will also not compensate.
Regarding the issue of whether insurance covers flood damage to a car, my understanding is that it mainly depends on your type of car insurance. Generally, if you have purchased the flood damage rider under your comprehensive car insurance, then losses caused by flooding are claimable, but only if the vehicle was submerged while stationary. If the engine is started after being submerged, causing further damage, the insurance company may only cover part of the repair costs and not the engine replacement expenses. Additionally, when filing a claim, it is essential to promptly contact the insurance company to report the incident and provide on-site photos and proof of the accident; otherwise, it may affect the payout. For example, a car owner I know had his car parked in an underground garage during last year’s major flood. He had full comprehensive coverage and eventually received 90% of the repair costs, but because he delayed reporting the incident, the reimbursement process became troublesome. Regular maintenance, such as installing waterproof seals, can also reduce risks. However, for safety reasons, never force-start a flooded car—towing it directly to a 4S dealership for assessment is the safest approach.
