You’re questioning if automobile insurance coverage covers flood harm to your automobile. And, like most questions associated to auto insurance coverage, the reply is considerably difficult. It will depend on the kind of coverage you purchase.
At present, our workforce of licensed insurance coverage brokers is right here to clarify when flood harm and water harm are coated by an auto insurance coverage coverage.
In case you’re in a rush, know {that a} full protection auto coverage WILL nearly all the time cowl flood harm. And a liability-only coverage WILL NOT cowl flood harm.
In fact, there are extra particular factors and nuances to this query, so let’s dig into it a bit deeper. Beneath, we’ll talk about factors like:
A Legal responsibility-Solely Coverage Will By no means Cowl Flood Harm
No liability-only coverage — the “naked minimal” coverage required by your state — will cowl any sort of flood or water harm. Some of these auto insurance policies solely exist to guard you financially from harm you would possibly trigger to different individuals or their property.
Relying in your state, you would possibly hear these insurance policies described as:
- Legal responsibility-only insurance policies
- PLPD insurance policies
- Minimal auto insurance coverage insurance policies
They assist to pay for harm you would possibly trigger to different autos, constructions, fences, individuals and animals. However they may NOT pay for:
- Rain or hail harm to parked automobile
- Falling timber or tree limbs
- Regional flooding related to hurricanes or tropical storms
So, which sort of automobile insurance coverage do you want if you want for flood harm to be a coated peril? You want a full protection coverage, which incorporates complete insurance coverage.
What’s Complete Protection?
Complete protection protects your automobile from perils aside from collision.
As an illustration, complete protection will assist pay for damages brought on by:
- Hail
- Lightning strike
- Heavy rain
- Regional flooding
- Falling timber
- Theft
- A storage that burns down
Collision protection is totally different. It pays for damages to your automobile brought on by any sort of collision — or crash — whether or not you collide with a construction, one other automobile, or one thing else.
Now, let’s discover a number of methods your auto insurance coverage would possibly come into play when flooding or water harm are a difficulty.
Does Automotive Insurance coverage Cowl Harm Attributable to Regional Flooding?
A full protection coverage, one that features complete protection, will cowl harm brought on by regional flooding. Points like tropical storms, hurricane flooding, thunderstorms and lightning strikes are all coated.
Ought to I Purchase a Full Protection Auto Insurance coverage Coverage if I’m Involved About Flood Harm?
In case you dwell in a flood zone, or if you happen to’re fearful about flood harm to your automobile, you’ll in all probability sleep higher at night time with a full protection coverage.
As an illustration, if you happen to dwell in Jacksonville, FL you face an annual hurricane season. It’s clever to take care of a full protection auto insurance coverage coverage, even if you happen to personal your automobile outright and don’t make a automobile cost. You’ll relaxation simple figuring out your automobile is roofed in case of a flood or different harm brought on by hurricane winds, fallen tree limbs, flying particles or torrential rainfall.
Additionally, know that your lienholder could require you to take care of a full protection auto coverage whilst you’re making funds in your automobile. This protects the financial institution, credit score union or different monetary establishment from harm brought on by hurricanes, floods, theft and so forth. In fact, you’ll nonetheless be required to pay a deductible when making a declare.
Understanding Water Harm Automotive Insurance coverage Claims
We’ll use a number of tales right here as an example water harm automobile insurance coverage claims. First, let’s think about a younger, married man named Darryl. He lives in Miami, FL and owns a number of autos.
Darryl and the Hurricane Flood Harm
Darryl’s each day driver is an older Honda Accord, valued at $3,000, which he owns outright. And he makes funds on a brand-new minivan for the household, he nonetheless owes about $20,000 on the van, but it surely’s value about $30,000.
Darryl has full protection insurance policies for each autos, with a deductible of $1,000 on every coverage.
An enormous hurricane strikes Miami. Darryl’s total neighborhood is flooded with two toes of water. Each autos are soaked by way of. The inside of each autos is ruined, and all of the computer systems and fantastic know-how within the new minivan is trashed.
Darryl contacts his auto insurance coverage supplier to put a declare for each autos. We’ll think about it’s a serious insurance coverage firm, Farmers Insurance coverage.
Farmers Insurance coverage is conscious of the hurricane, they’ve been taking claims calls all day. They ask Darryl for some info, reminiscent of:
- The coverage numbers
- Car Identification Numbers (VINs) for each autos
- Mobile phone pictures and descriptions of the harm
Inside a number of days, a claims adjuster visits Darryl to entry the harm. The adjuster decides that each autos have to be “totaled.” In different phrases, it will price extra to repair the autos than what they’re value. Each autos are towed away to a junk yard.
The insurance coverage claims adjuster will now write a number of checks. First, he writes a verify for the outdated Accord, for $2,000. (That’s the worth of the automobile much less the $1,000 deductible.)
Then, Farmers Insurance coverage pays off the $20,000 steadiness on the minivan and cuts one other verify for Darryl of $9,000. (That’s what’s as a result of Darryl, after his $1,000 deductible is paid.)
Because of his insurance coverage insurance policies, Darryl now has $11,000 to spend as he sees match. He can put that cash down on a brand new automobile, purchase some used automobiles, or lease a automobile.
Subsequent, let’s take into consideration Darryl’s neighbor, Stacey.
Stacey Has a Legal responsibility-Solely Coverage
Stacey is nineteen, and lives along with her dad and mom, subsequent door to Darryl. Her 1997 Toyota Corolla is parked within the driveway when the hurricane strikes. The Toyota is valued at about $900, and since this automobile isn’t value a lot, Stacey has legal responsibility protection solely.
When the flood strikes, her automobile can also be ruined. However Stacey can’t get any funds from her insurance coverage firm, as a result of she didn’t have full protection. Stacey might want to pay a tow firm to return retrieve the automobile and take it to a junkyard.
Nonetheless, Stacey has saved cash with a PLPD coverage. Full protection would have price her greater than the automobile was value yearly, and the payout (much less a deductible) for her totaled automobile wouldn’t be value a lot in any respect.
Now, let’s think about one other state of affairs down the highway, when a legal responsibility coverage would possibly pay for water harm.
Saul Has an Accident on I-95
One other neighbor, Saul, is driving house from work when the hurricane hits Miami. He drives an costly Lexus value $100,000. He owns this automobile outright and maintains full protection insurance coverage on it, with a $1,000 deductible.
Saul cautiously pulls over on Interstate 95 to attend out the storm. However one other driver on I-95 is driving too quick for the circumstances, loses management and strikes the Lexus, which flips into the ditch. The ditch is rapidly filling with water, however fortunately, Saul is unhurt and in a position to exit the automobile rapidly.
This water harm declare shall be extra difficult. Saul’s insurance coverage firm will seemingly whole out the Lexus after which sue the opposite driver’s insurance coverage in a course of known as subrogation. Saul walks away with a verify for $99,000.
Now that we’ve coated some doable conditions the place automobile insurance coverage covers flood or water harm, let’s reply the commonest questions we get requested about insurance coverage and water harm.
Is There a Particular Flood Coverage for Autos?
No. As of 2023, there isn’t a particular flood insurance coverage coverage for autos in any US state. When you have complete insurance coverage, typically known as a “new automobile” bundle, or a “full protection coverage,” water harm is roofed. This does embrace water harm from rain, hurricanes, tropical storms and so forth.
The great portion of your auto coverage can even cowl issues like fallen tree limbs, flying trash cans, or different wind-driven particles.
When you have a legal responsibility coverage, nevertheless, your insurance coverage is not going to cowl flood, rain, or touring trash cans.
Does Automotive Insurance coverage Cowl Minor Water Harm?
It would, however it’s possible you’ll be clever to keep away from making a declare.
Let’s think about one other widespread, however difficult, scenario. You personal a 2020 Mazda 3. You’re nonetheless making funds on this automobile, and your financial institution requires you to maintain full protection auto insurance coverage with a $1,000 deductible.
You’re flying out of city for a enterprise assembly, and also you park your Mazda within the airport car parking zone for 3 days. However you overlook to roll the home windows up, and a thunderstorm rolls into city.
While you get again out of your journey, you uncover your seats are soaking moist. There’s additionally a robust musty, mildew odor in your Mazda. All of the know-how appears to work, and also you drive your automobile house.
Your full protection coverage ought to cowl this water harm. Nonetheless, skilled cleansing and restoration of your automobile will seemingly price lower than your deductible.
On this case, it makes extra sense to pay for skilled restoration out of pocket and go away the insurer out of it. In any other case, you’ll create a claims historical past together with your insurer, and it solely takes a number of claims for an insurer to lift your charges. In any case, you’ll find yourself paying for the cleansing service both manner, as a result of your deductible is $1,000.
Even when the restoration price is a little more than your deductible, say $1,200, it’d make sense to pay for these repairs by yourself. That is very true if you have already got claims or accidents in your report.
Your greatest plan of action is to get a quote for water harm restoration first after which determine from there if it’s value contacting your insurer.
Does Automotive Insurance coverage Cowl Water Harm Attributable to Driving By means of Water?
There is no such thing as a simple reply to this query. Your auto insurance coverage firm expects you to behave as an inexpensive driver. In different phrases, if you realize a hurricane is coming your manner, it’s best to keep away from driving. And in case your space has endured main, unprecedented flooding, it’s clever to keep away from flooded streets.
Flood harm will wreak havoc in your automobile.
In 2023, California endured uncommon atmospheric rivers, unprecedented precipitation and unimaginable flooding, which got here after 10 years of drought. Many CA drivers had little expertise driving in these circumstances, and lots of made poor decisions about driving by way of operating water or flooded streets.
Costly auto accidents occurred, individuals suffered private accidents and bodily hurt, and auto insurance coverage suppliers are left paying the payments.
Then, different drivers made the reckless option to exit and discover flooded areas and abuse their autos on goal.
So, will your auto insurance coverage coverage pay for water harm to your automobile if you’re driving irresponsibly by way of flooded streets? That will depend on your coverage, your state and native legal guidelines, your claims historical past and your insurance coverage firm. Our recommendation? Don’t threat it!
Do You Want Auto Insurance coverage? We Can Assist
At Einsurance.com, our mission is to match customers with the insurance coverage insurance policies they want. In case you want auto insurance coverage, whether or not it’s a liability-only coverage, a quote for insurance coverage on a brand new automobile, or conventional full protection, we may help.
Collect the next paperwork and discover our web site for quick quotes on reasonably priced insurance coverage.
- VIN info
- Driver’s license quantity
- Garaging handle
- Common annual mileage and odometer readings
- Authorized names and birthdates of any drivers in your family
And keep in mind, if you happen to’re fearful about flood harm, water harm or related perils, be sure you point out it when getting your quotes.
And whilst you’re at it, be sure you take into consideration saving cash on property insurance coverage, renters insurance coverage, time period life insurance coverage insurance policies and extra. Now we have all of it, and we’re right here for you.
