Will insurance cover a car that stalls in water and fails to restart on the second attempt?
3 Answers
Most insurance companies follow the practice of not covering or partially exempting claims for vehicles that stall in water and are restarted a second time. The reason is that stalling in water is highly likely due to engine water ingress, and a second restart is considered human-caused damage. Below is an introduction to water-damaged vehicles: 1. Overview of water-damaged vehicles: A water-damaged vehicle refers to a car that has been submerged in water, typically involving the engine and transmission being soaked, with water depth exceeding the wheels and body seats. These are vehicles whose underbody components have been in prolonged contact with water, posing significant risks, such as short circuits and potential fires in the electrical system. 2. Hazards of water-damaged vehicles: Components are prone to damage; the engine may suddenly stall; airbags may fail to deploy in critical moments or deploy unexpectedly; they are highly likely to cause rusting of body components, shortening the vehicle's lifespan and reducing safety performance.
I learned this the hard way last summer! During a heavy downpour, water submerged half of my tires. After the engine stalled, I foolishly turned the key again in a panic, which resulted in the engine being completely ruined. When I argued with the insurance company, they informed me: the vehicle damage insurance only covers losses when the car is stationary and submerged. Any engine damage caused by a secondary start is considered human-induced aggravation of damage, and it's clearly stated that they won't cover it. In the end, I had to fork out 80,000 to replace the engine. A painful lesson, folks—if your car stalls in water, don't touch the ignition key! Call a tow truck immediately; at least you can preserve the engine for insurance claims. Remember to take photos as evidence and report the incident to your insurer right away, then leave the rest to the professionals.
You need to carefully review the insurance policy terms. After the 2020 auto insurance reform, water damage coverage was merged into the comprehensive car insurance. While it appears that water submersion is covered, there's a critical exclusion clause: any damage caused by restarting the engine after water ingress is completely exempt from compensation. I've handled over a dozen similar cases - even if you turned the key for just half a second, as long as the vehicle's computer shows a restart record, all engine-related damages will be denied during the claims assessment. I recommend immediately disconnecting the battery to prevent accidental restarting, while simultaneously calling your insurer's emergency hotline. Remember to preserve video or photo evidence of the water submersion incident - the waterline position outside the windows is particularly crucial evidence.
