Does Insurance Cover a Flooded Car?

Flooding is one of the most dangerous (and most costly) natural disasters, and can impact your life in more ways than one. Cars are particularly vulnerable to flooding because they are often parked on streets and in driveways where they have little protection from the elements. But will your auto insurance cover a flooded car?

Comprehensive Car Insurance

The only way insurance will cover a flooded car is if the owner has comprehensive car insurance. Comprehensive coverage, according to CarInsurance.com, protects the customer from perils such as fire, theft and flooding, and will often cover the full cost of the damage or the value of a totaled vehicle. However, no other form of auto insurance will cover a flooded car unless it is specifically added as an addendum.

Of course, all this depends on the circumstances. Some car insurance companies exclude certain situations from coverage. For example, if flooding was caused by your error and not by an Act of God, insurance might refuse to pay. This isn't a common situation, but it happens.

Car Insurance Exclusions

In some cases, car insurance companies will exclude certain perils from your policy. A flooded car will be covered by comprehensive insurance unless it is specifically named as an exclusion. This can happen in areas where flooding is a common occurrence because insurance companies don't want to pay out for all those damages.

If you are worried about dealing with a flooded car, ask your insurance agent why it is a named exclusion on your policy. You might be able to pay an extra premium to reinstate it on your policy so it will be covered in the event of a flood.

Types of Insurance

Car insurance might not be the only type of coverage to handle a flooded car. For example, if your vehicle is parked in your garage when the flood occurs, you homeowner's or renter's insurance might cover it instead. Different insurance companies have been known to wage battles over who owes what, so in this type of situation it might take time for a decision to be made.

Read the Fine Print

The easiest way to learn whether car insurance will cover a flooded car is to ask your insurance agent directly or read your policy documents. Every insurance policy is different, and coverage types often vary depending on where you live or which company you choose.

If flooding is not covered, you might want to switch insurance companies or ask about adding it as an addendum or rider to your policy.