Will the insurance cover the total loss if the car is flooded?
2 Answers
According to the relevant provisions of China's motor vehicle insurance clauses, vehicle losses caused by natural disasters such as heavy rain and floods fall under the insurance liability of the vehicle damage insurance in commercial auto insurance. Therefore, expenses such as rescue costs, cleaning costs, electrical losses, and interior damage incurred after the vehicle is flooded are all covered by the vehicle damage insurance, and the insurance company should provide compensation. Below is the relevant introduction: 1. You must have purchased vehicle damage insurance under commercial auto insurance to be eligible for compensation. 2. The scope of compensation under vehicle damage insurance includes rescue costs, cleaning costs, and electrical or interior damage, while engine damage caused by flooding or driving through water is generally excluded from coverage. 3. For engine damage caused by flooding or secondary startup, you need to purchase a specialized "water ingress insurance."
I once experienced a situation where my car was submerged after a heavy rainstorm. Whether insurance covers the total loss entirely depends on whether you've purchased the right coverage. For example, auto damage insurance typically covers natural disasters. If the damage is caused by flooding, the insurance company will compensate, but if you haven't additionally purchased water ingress coverage, some losses might not be covered. As for total loss claims, it generally depends on the car's actual value. If the repair costs exceed about 70% of the car's value, the insurance company will usually handle it as a total loss to avoid complications. The most crucial thing after water submersion is to avoid restarting the engine, as this could exacerbate the damage, and insurance won't cover it. It's recommended to tow the car to a repair shop immediately and have the claims adjuster take photos and assess the damage. Remember, report the incident to the insurance company right away for documentation—don't delay, as evidence might be lost over time, affecting the claim process.
