Do you know what to do if your vehicle gets damaged by water, flooded or swept away by a flood? Do you know what your car insurance covers and what it does not? In this article, we’ll discuss this and other issues relating to water damage to vehicles.
Water damage that car insurance covers
Comprehensive car insurance covers loss or damage form theft, hijacking, accidents, floods and hail. Be sure to check your policy documents to see what is covered and what isn’t.
With regards to floods, if the water reaches only to the bumper level, the damage may be minimal and therefore can be fixed by a qualified mechanic without having to claim from your car insurance. But things take a different turn when your vehicle is covered by water up to the dashboard or roof. In such cases, you would have to let your insurer know about the damage as soon as possible.
If the cost of repairing the vehicle to its original roadworthy state is higher than the vehicle’s insured value, your insurer may write it off. By so doing, they will pay out the insured value of the vehicle in cash, minus the excess. Read more about vehicle write off state here.
Water damage that car insurance may not cover
As a vehicle owner, you have the responsibility to care for your vehicle and keep it out of harm’s way. Here are instances where car insurance may not cover you for water damage:
- Blatant negligence: If you decide to leave your vehicle with the windows or sunroof open during a storm and the vehicle is damaged by water.
- Deliberate damage: If you deliberately drive into a flooded area.
What to do if your vehicle is flooded or damaged by floods
- If the water level is higher than the vehicle’s bumper, don’t start the vehicle as this might damage the engine of your vehicle.
- Take photos and videos of the vehicle in the water.
- If the vehicle is driveable, meaning the water level is below the bumper and it appears safe to drive, move it to safety and contact a qualified mechanic to assess it as soon as possible.
- Contact your car insurer regarding the incident to find out if you can claim for any of the repairs needed. They may also provide you with a rental vehicle during the time your vehicle will be getting repaired if your policy includes this benefit.
Help@OUT
We’re constantly looking for ways to add value to the lives of our clients. One of the ways we do so is through the OUTsurance app. Clients with comprehensive car insurance cover can request 24/7 Help@OUT directly on the OUTsurance app.
Not an OUTsurance car insurance client yet? Get a car insurance quote now to see how little you could be paying for quality comprehensive car insurance.