Will Insurance Cover Secondary Engine Start After Vehicle Water Immersion?
2 Answers
Insurance will not cover secondary engine start after vehicle water immersion. The vehicle damage insurance covers losses to parts other than the engine after water immersion. Only with the purchase of water immersion insurance can the engine's losses be separately compensated. The prerequisite for obtaining a claim is still not to restart the engine a second time. There are two scenarios of water immersion: one is driving the car into water or accidents like pipe bursts inside buildings. Without water immersion insurance, the insurance company will not compensate. The other scenario involves force majeure factors such as typhoons, heavy rain, or floods, where the insurance company will provide compensation. In cases of water immersion, the insurance company generally only needs to cover the costs of engine cleaning, interior cleaning or partial changes, circuit inspections, or the replacement of a few short-circuited parts, with the total amount not being very high. However, if the engine is started a second time, it can easily cause severe internal damage to the engine. These are losses expanded due to improper human operation, so the insurance company will not cover the cost of engine repairs. The insurance company should, however, compensate for the costs related to the interior, circuits, and rescue operations.
As an enthusiast who frequently deals with auto insurance, I’ve learned from personal experience that insurers typically won’t cover damages if you attempt a secondary start after your vehicle has been submerged. Most insurance policies explicitly state that if the damage worsens due to driver error—such as trying to restart the engine after stalling in water, which can lead to hydro-lock or engine block cracks—the insurer will classify it as an avoidable human mistake, voiding your claim. They usually only compensate for the initial water damage, like submerged dashboards or other static destruction. I recall a client last year who restarted their car just once, resulting in tens of thousands in repair costs, with zero coverage from insurance. My advice: if your car stalls in water, stop immediately, turn off the engine, avoid touching the ignition, and contact roadside assistance or your insurer right away. This protects both your vehicle and your finances. Always review your policy details to understand what’s covered—and resist the urge to act impulsively in critical moments.
