Will the water damage insurance cover the cost if the engine is restarted after being submerged?
3 Answers
If the engine is restarted after being submerged in water, causing further damage to the engine, the insurance company will not cover the cost. The regulations regarding restarting the engine are relatively consistent among various auto insurance companies. After a vehicle is submerged in water and the engine stalls, it is necessary to immediately call the police and contact the insurance company. Restarting the engine after being submerged can cause significant damage to the engine. Below is relevant information about insurance compensation: 1. If you have comprehensive car insurance and the car is flooded while parked, the insurance will cover the full cost of repairs. 2. If you have comprehensive car insurance but the car stalls and is submerged while driving through water, the insurance will cover the cost if you have water damage insurance. If you do not have water damage insurance, only the parts other than the engine will be covered. 3. If the car stalls after being submerged in water and is restarted, the insurance will not cover any costs.
After restarting the engine post-water crossing, the waterlogging insurance typically won't cover the costs. I recall a similar situation from my younger driving days during heavy rain—my car stalled in a puddle, and in a panic, I restarted the engine, only to flood it, resulting in hefty repair bills. The insurance company later deemed it driver error, clarifying that waterlogging insurance only covers natural water damage during crossing, like submerged circuits, but explicitly excludes damages from secondary ignition attempts. Since then, I've learned my lesson: if the car stalls after water exposure, never turn the key again—push it to safety first and wait for professional inspection. Remember, this is serious; mishandling can total the engine at your own expense. Always read the fine print—waterlogging insurance has clear exclusions, and mistakes like secondary operations leave you footing the bill. Safety first—avoid regrets.
As a young person who just bought a car, I accidentally drove through a waterlogged section during the rainy season. After the car stopped, I panicked and tried to start it again, resulting in the malfunction light turning on. I called my insurance friend, and he said that in such cases, the water ingress insurance usually doesn't cover the cost of a second ignition. The reason is that water ingress insurance is designed to cover damages caused by natural disasters, such as electrical system failures due to flooding, but a second ignition due to human error is considered improper operation and falls under personal responsibility. So, I had to spend over a thousand yuan to replace the parts myself, and it also wasted my time. Now I understand that after driving through water, I should stay calm and not impulsively start the engine. It's advisable to check the insurance manual to confirm the exclusions. This way, I'll be more careful in the future to protect my car and save money. The benefits of water ingress insurance are limited, so don't let mistakes add to the trouble.
