Does Your Car Insurance Cover Damage from Floods?
Your car insurance will pay for flood damage if you have comprehensive coverage on your policy.
Comprehensive costs $19 per month, on average, for coverage with a $500 deductible. If you have a state minimum or liability-only policy, your car insurance won't pay for flood damage. Rental car coverage can be a good idea, too, in case you need a car to drive while yours is being repaired.
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Does car insurance cover flood damage?
For car insurance to cover flooding and other water damage, you need to have comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage, sometimes called "other than collision coverage," pays for damage from things like water, hail and hitting an animal. It's often paired with collision coverage as part of a "full coverage policy." But you don't have to have collision coverage to buy comprehensive.
Comprehensive coverage includes a deductible, which is the amount you have to pay before your insurance starts paying for car repairs. If you choose a $500 deductible, comprehensive coverage costs an average of $19 per month. But you'd have to pay for the first $500 of flood damage yourself.
Comprehensive insurance doesn't add too much to the total cost of your car insurance. You might be able to afford a lower deductible, since the coverage isn't that expensive in the first place.
A lower deductible makes your rates higher, but it might not be as much as you think. A $1,000 deductible only saves you $5 each month. And if you have flood damage on your car, you'd have to pay $1,000 yourself before your insurance kicked in.
It's worth it for most people to have a lower comprehensive deductible. You can save more money by increasing your collision deductible, as long as you can afford it, and taking advantage of discounts.
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Comprehensive coverage probably won't pay for water damage that's caused by lack of maintenance. For example, if you leave your windows down or your sunroof open and it rains, your car insurance likely won't pay for the repairs.
You should also have comprehensive insurance all the time if you're worried about flood damage. Don't wait until a storm is on the way to call your insurance company to add coverage. Some companies will put a stop on adding comprehensive coverage before a flood is possible, to stop people from just adding the coverage and removing it after their claim is paid.
How do floods damage cars?
If the flood waters don't reach your car's floor, you might not have any damage, or it might only be minimal. But if the flood waters rise above your tires, your car will likely have more damage. The engine, electrical system, fluids and interior could all be damaged. You might have mold, mildew and rust to deal with, too.
The type of water that floods your car could mean more damage, too. Floods from salt water can be a lot more damaging since the salt makes metal rust faster.
Other coverage that can help after a flood
While comprehensive insurance pays for the damage to your car caused by a flood, there are a few other optional coverages that can come in handy if one happens.
- Rental car coverage: This pays for a rental car if you can't drive yours after a flood or other types of damage. The most common coverage includes $30 per day for a rental, up to $900 total. But if you need or want a bigger rental car, you can buy more coverage.
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Gap insurance: This can be helpful if your car is totaled. If you have a loan or lease, the value of your car might not be enough to pay off the bank. Gap coverage pays the difference between what your car is worth and what you still owe.
How to file a car insurance claim after a flood
To file a claim for flood damage, you'll need to call your insurance company or start the claim online.
Usually, your insurance ID card will have a phone number or website to file a claim. If you have a local agent, you can also call them.
You should file a claim as soon as you know your car is damaged, unless you plan on paying for it yourself. The longer you wait, the more damage your car might have, since mold, mildew and rust can set in. Plus, floods can cause a large number of claims when they occur. This can slow insurance companies down. The sooner you file a claim, the sooner your file can be worked on.
It's also a good idea to take photos of the flood damage and get an estimate for repairs. You can ask your insurance company if they have preferred body shops, which might make the claims process faster.
What to do after a flood damages your car
If your car was caught in a flood, you should take a few steps to minimize the damage.
- Do not start your car. If water got into your car's engine, starting it could make it worse and might make it unrepairable.
- Disconnect the battery. If you can do this before a flood, you should. But if your car's engine got wet, do it as soon as possible after. Water can interact with the electrical current of your battery and damage your car's electronics.
- Try to dry the interior out. Roll down your car's windows, open the doors to release any water and sop up any water you can with towels.
- Talk to a mechanic. Depending on how high the flood waters got, you may need to change your car's fluids, remove and change spark plugs, and siphon water out of your gas tank. Some people may feel comfortable doing these things on their own. But a mechanic is usually a better option, since they can make sure that everything is done correctly and doesn't cause further damage.
What if a flood totals my car?
If your insurance company finds that the cost to repair your car is more than what the car is worth, your car is usually considered a "total loss".
Different states have different rules about what a total loss means, and your claims adjuster can walk you through those. If your car is totaled, you have a few options.
You can let your insurance company take the car. This is the option that most people take when their car is totaled. You'll be paid for the value of the car, and you'll have to sign the title over to your insurance company. If you have a loan or lease, some or all of the money will need to go to the bank to pay it off.
You can choose to keep the vehicle. If you want to keep your totaled car, your insurance company will still pay you, but probably not as much. But you'll have to take comprehensive and collision coverage off your policy. That's because your insurance company has already paid you for the value of the car; they won't pay you again if it's damaged in the future. You'll probably need to retitle your car with a "salvage title," which shows that it's been badly damaged. Not all states will allow you to keep a totaled car.
How to protect your car from flood damage
Floods can be widespread and devastating, and there's not always a way to avoid damage. But you can lower your car's risk for flood damage by taking a few steps.
First, if you're driving during severe weather, never drive through flooded roads. It can be hard to judge the depth of water until you're in it. It only takes about a foot of water to float a car. You can quickly find yourself in a life-threatening situation, so it's always better to turn around.
- Park in a garage. If you can, get your car inside an enclosed garage. Garages are usually higher than the street, which means it takes flood waters longer to reach them.
- Move your car to higher ground. If you're in a low-lying area or a place that tends to flood, move your car to a less risky spot, if you can.
- Don't park under power lines or trees. If they fall and land on your car during a storm, you may have more than just flood damage.
- Surround your car with sandbags. This might not help if flood waters get too high, but it can help keep your car dry if the flood isn't bad.
Frequently asked questions
What type of insurance would be used for damage to a car from a flood?
You need to have comprehensive coverage on your policy to be covered for flood damage. Comprehensive is sometimes called "other than collision coverage," and it covers things like theft, vandalism, hitting an animal and storm damage,including damage from floods.
How high does water have to be to flood a car?
It depends on how big your car is. If water doesn't reach your car's floor, you probably don't have much damage, although you should still have your car looked at. SUVs and trucks are probably less likely to get damaged than sedans and coupes, since they are higher up.
What is considered a flooded car?
Your car is considered flooded if it was partially or totally submerged in water. Rain coming in from an open sunroof or windows isn't considered a flood. A true flood happens when ground that is normally dry is underwater, usually from heavy rains or bodies of water overflowing.
Methodology and sources
ValuePenguin gathered rates for nine insurance companies for both a $500 and $1,000 comprehensive deductible. Our experts used these quotes to determine the average monthly cost for comprehensive coverage. Rates come from Quadrant Information Services and are from publicly available insurance rate filings. These rates are averages and for comparison only. Your rates will depend on your specific situation.
Kelley Blue Book was used for information about how floods damage cars.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.