Will insurance cover water damage without water wading coverage?
2 Answers
For car owners without water wading coverage but with vehicle damage insurance, water damage to the car will be covered by insurance. However, if there is no vehicle damage insurance, it will not be covered. Auto insurance reform: For vehicle damage insurance purchased before the auto insurance reform, water wading coverage must be additionally purchased to cover engine damage caused by water submersion. Other damages can still be claimed under the vehicle damage insurance. For auto insurance purchased after the reform, vehicle damage insurance already includes water wading coverage, so car owners do not need to purchase it separately. Both water damage to the car and engine damage caused by water submersion will be covered by insurance. Important notes: Before the auto insurance reform, water wading coverage could only be added as an endorsement after purchasing vehicle damage insurance.
As a car owner who has experienced several flood incidents during the rainy season, I'll give you the hard truth: Not having water damage coverage is really troublesome. If your car gets flooded while parked, your comprehensive insurance can still cover damages other than the engine, like soaked seats or electrical systems. But if your engine stalls while driving through water and you recklessly try to restart it, you'll be on the hook for repair costs that could run into hundreds of thousands. My advice: Immediately call a tow truck, turn on your hazard lights, and take photos of the waterline. You must file a claim within 48 hours for insurance assessment. Just two days ago, my neighbor got denied coverage because he didn't document the water level - that's a costly lesson learned.
