Will insurance cover vehicles damaged by natural disasters like flooding?
2 Answers
During the insurance period, losses incurred by insured motor vehicles due to natural disasters such as heavy rain or floods will be compensated by the insurance company as agreed. Here is relevant information: 1. Requirements for water damage insurance claims: When a vehicle is submerged while parked roadside or in underground parking (without attempting to start the engine in water), such cases can be claimed under vehicle damage insurance, covering expenses like vehicle cleaning and wiring harness inspection. 2. Never restart the engine after water immersion: If a vehicle is flooded, never attempt to restart it - especially when water levels exceed tire height. Insurance won't cover damage caused by restarting the engine in such situations. Shift the transmission to neutral position instead.
Last time my neighbor's car was submerged half a meter high during a typhoon, and the insurance company actually paid for it, but only because he had purchased comprehensive car insurance. I specifically checked his policy - natural disasters are covered under comprehensive insurance, but if you only have compulsory traffic insurance, there's no chance. I remember how crucial it was for him to take photos and videos as evidence, and he even called the insurance company to report the procedure before towing. However, if the water reaches above the dashboard, many companies will treat it as a total loss, where the compensation is much more cost-effective than repairs, given that flood-damaged cars tend to have numerous issues later. The exact payout depends on the car's age and policy terms - after deducting the salvage value and deductible, my neighbor eventually got back 70% of the car's value.
