Will the insurance company compensate if the car is flooded in the rain?
3 Answers
Under the condition that the car is not restarted in water and the owner has purchased waterlogging insurance, the insurance company will provide certain compensation and cover the financial losses. The specific details are as follows: Waterlogging Insurance: Flooding of the car mainly involves engine waterlogging insurance. During the insurance period, if the insured vehicle suffers direct engine damage due to water ingress while in use, the insurer is responsible for compensation. Coverage of Waterlogging Insurance: The waterlogging insurance applies only if the insured vehicle's engine is damaged due to driving through waterlogged areas or being submerged in water. Waterlogging insurance only covers engine damage. Damage to other parts of the vehicle caused by water ingress will be compensated according to the terms of the vehicle damage insurance.
It depends on the specific insurance coverage you purchased. Last year, when my old Toyota got flooded in my residential basement, I immediately contacted the insurance adjuster for an on-site inspection. They mentioned that the current vehicle damage insurance includes water-related liabilities, but the key point is not to restart the engine. If you recklessly try to start the engine after it stalls and end up ruining it, that part of the damage will definitely not be covered. I took numerous photos of the flooded areas and obtained a proof letter from the property management, and in the end, the insurance covered all the repair and cleaning costs. I recommend moving your car to higher ground during heavy rain, not touching it after flooding, filing a claim within 48 hours, and keeping evidence like dashcam footage. If you've installed additional equipment like audio systems that weren't registered in the policy, the insurance might not cover those losses.
Last month during the typhoon, my car was parked on the roadside and got flooded. Here are some key lessons I learned from handling this situation: The most crucial factor is whether you have purchased auto damage insurance. After the 2020 reform, rainstorms and floods are already included in auto damage insurance, so you don't need to buy additional water-related coverage separately. When the water level rose above the tires, I immediately called my insurance company. They towed the car to a repair shop for disassembly and inspection, and found that the wiring harness connectors had water ingress requiring complete replacement. The staff specifically warned that for vehicles not submerged, don't attempt to start the engine rashly as it could easily damage the catalytic converter. During repairs, we discovered premature aging of rubber chassis components was also covered by the claim, which was a pleasant surprise. Out-of-pocket expenses mainly included towing fees and some aftermarket parts. If you only have compulsory traffic insurance, you'd be in big trouble - natural disasters are absolutely not covered. Don't try to save money by skimping on insurance coverage.
