Will Insurance Cover Cars Flooded in Heavy Rain?

[DiStephanie]

Insurance will cover the damages, but only if the commercial auto insurance includes vehicle damage coverage. If the policyholder has purchased vehicle damage insurance, they can receive compensation for damages to parts of the car other than the engine after the vehicle is flooded by heavy rain. If the policyholder has both vehicle damage insurance and water ingress insurance, the insurance company will cover all damages caused by the vehicle being submerged in water due to heavy rain, including engine damage. Below are some precautions for driving in rainy weather: Reduce speed and drive cautiously: Regardless of the road width or surface conditions, always drive slowly in the rain, keep an eye on the distance between vehicles ahead and behind, and be mentally prepared to take emergency measures. Visibility is low in rainy conditions, and the vehicle's braking distance and other emergency performance metrics are reduced, so it's essential to slow down in advance, allowing enough time and space to handle any situation safely. Maintain a safe distance: Rainy weather obstructs visibility, so it's crucial to keep a safe distance from other vehicles, constantly monitor the distance to vehicles ahead and behind, and increase the following distance. Especially stay away from large vehicles: first, they can block your view; second, puddles that large vehicles can pass through may not be passable for smaller cars, and large vehicles tend to splash water, which can interfere with smaller cars' driving.

[AnthonyFitz]

I remember last year during the heavy rainstorm, my car got flooded when parked in a low-lying area of the neighborhood, with water nearly reaching the windows. I had comprehensive insurance that included vehicle damage coverage, and the insurance company quickly sent someone to handle it after I contacted them. The claims adjuster told me not to touch the car key, warning that a secondary start could cause engine damage and lead to claim denial. They towed the car to a 4S shop for disassembly and cleaning, eventually repairing the electrical system and drying out the seats—all covered by insurance. Now, after the new auto insurance reform, water damage coverage is included in the vehicle damage insurance, but the key is to check the policy date—older policies may require a separate purchase. I recommend taking photos of the waterline immediately in similar situations and disconnecting the battery to prevent short circuits.

[OmarDella]

From the perspective of auto insurance professionals, whether a waterlogged vehicle due to heavy rain can be claimed depends on two main factors: first, the vehicle's condition—if it stalled while driving without secondary ignition, or was submerged while parked, both are considered natural disaster liabilities; second, insurance coverage—new auto damage insurance now includes water-related liabilities by default, while older policies issued before September 2020 need to check if they have additional water damage coverage. During the claims process, we examine the waterline position to assess the extent of vehicle damage. Special attention is given to the fact that intentional damage caused by igniting the engine after water ingress is absolutely not covered, as this type of dispute is the most common. During the damage assessment phase, it's necessary to dismantle and inspect the entire vehicle's seats and carpets to check the wiring harness, making the repair cycle much longer than that of ordinary accidents.

[DiBrooklyn]

Flooded car claims depend on insurance! If you purchased the auto damage insurance after September 2020 (new version), it directly covers water submersion liability. First, don't start the engine - immediately call your insurer to file a claim. Their system will automatically locate and dispatch a tow truck. Best practice is photographing your license plate and waterline position with your phone to help the claims adjuster assess damage levels. Both garage flooding and stalling on roads are covered, but attempting to restart the engine voids coverage. The repair process is grueling - seats must be removed, carpets dried, and water-damaged circuit boards often cause persistent issues. Always verify policy terms during annual renewal.