Floods are the most common of all weather-related natural disasters. Flooding accounts for more loss of life and property than any other type of hazard or severe weather, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association. Every state in the U.S. is prone to flooding, even normally dry states.
If your car is partially or fully submerged in flood water and you don’t have the right type of car insurance, you could be stuck with costly repair bills or, worse, a total loss of the vehicle.
Here’s what to know about floods, cars and insurance.
What Should I Do if My Car is Caught in a Flood?
First and foremost, try to avoid flooded areas. If you see water on the road, turn around. It can be much deeper than it looks. The most common flood deaths happen when vehicles are driven into flood water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Flash floods are considered the most dangerous type of floods because of their speed and destructive power. They can happen within minutes of rainfall and with little warning.
Densely populated areas are at a high risk of flash floods because buildings, driveways, roadways and parking lots can cause water runoff. Storm drains and sewers become overwhelmed or clogged and then flood nearby roads.
As little as 6 inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Higher water will be even more dangerous. That’s because your tires can act as a flotation device in shallow water. Two feet of water is enough to float a 3,000 pound car (a 2019 Honda Civic Sedan weighs about 2,762 lbs).
If your car is caught in a flood, here are some tips from the San Antonio Fire Department:
- Leave your car immediately and seek higher ground.
- If your car is swept into the water and submerged, try not to panic. Stay calm and wait for the car to fill with water. Once the car is full, you’ll be able to open a door. (The water pressure needs to be equalized between the outside and inside of the car for the door to open.) Hold your breath and swim to the surface.
- If you are swept into fast moving flood water when you’re not in a vehicle, point your feet downstream. Always try to go over obstacles, like tree branches in the water, never under them.
- If you’re stranded on an object above the floodwater, like a building or tree, stay where you are and wait for rescue. Do not go into the flood water.
- When help arrives, remain calm and follow the directions of the rescue team.
What Should I Do With My Car After a Flood?
Attempt to get to your car only when the flood waters have receded and it is safe to do so. If necessary, have your car towed to higher ground. Here are some tips on dealing with a car that has been in water:
- Do not attempt to start a flooded car. If there is water in the engine, you could cause even more damage.
- Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove any standing water.
- Use towels to absorb water that may have soaked into the seats and cushions.
- Use dehumidifiers and fans, if possible.
- File a claim with your auto insurance company.
What Type of Car Insurance Do I Need for Flood Damage?
Comprehensive auto insurance will pay for repairs or will pay the value of the vehicle if it’s totaled. Note that comprehensive claims have a deductible, which is the amount deducted from an insurance check. Your auto insurance policy’s declarations page will list what your deductible is. You can change the amount.
Comprehensive insurance also covers other types of problems such as falling objects, hail, theft, vandalism, riots and collisions with animals.
The average cost for comprehensive insurance is about $160 per year, according to the most recent data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
If you have a big car loan you might also consider gap insurance. This covers the “gap” between the value of your car and what you still owe on a loan or lease.
If you recently purchased a new car, you may be able to add new car replacement insurance, depending on the insurance company. New car replacement will pay for a new car of the same make and model (minus your deductible) instead of paying only the depreciated value of the car.
Will FEMA Pay for Flooded Car Damage?
You may have heard of FEMA helping car owners for flood damage in the past, either through low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) or the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program.
But you shouldn’t rely on FEMA for help with flood-related car damage. That’s because there’s no guarantee of assistance and it may be limited to certain counties affected by severe storms and flooding.
You most likely won’t be able to apply for an SBA loan or ONA assistance for a problem like a flash flood, which is a common threat across the country.
Keep in mind, you have to pay back an SBA loan, and assistance from ONA might be in limited amounts. For example, in 2018, ONA provided assistance for eligible Florida residents affected by Hurricane Michael. However, the assistance was limited to $4,000 for flood-related damage for storms in. That might not be enough to pay for your car if it was totaled in a flood. You’re better off having comprehensive car insurance.
If You’re Buying a Used Car, Beware of Flood Damage
If you’re shopping for a used car, be wary of flood-damaged vehicles. There are more than 446,000 flood-damaged cars on the road in 2020, according to a Carfax data. And that number is expected to increase. For example, Hurricane Laura in August 2020 may have damaged an additional 5,000 cars.
While Texas leads the United States with the most flooded cars, Carfax warns that flood-damaged cars are showing up in other states where floods might not be on the minds of car shoppers.
“Con men can quickly clean up these cars, move them and resell them,” said Faisal Hasan, Carfax general manager of data, in a statement. “Once a car has been waterlogged, it will never be the same.”
Carfax offers a free Flood Check tool to show where flood-damaged cars may have ended up. Here are seven telltale signs of flood damage in a vehicle:
- A musty odor in the interior. A seller might try to cover this up with air freshener.
- Loose upholstery or carpeting, stains or upholstery that don’t seem to match.
- Damp carpets.
- Rust around doors, on the pedals, inside the hood, on trunk latches and under the dashboard.
- Mud or silt under the seats or in the glove compartment.
- Brittle wires under the dashboard.
- Fog or moisture beads in the exterior lights, interior lights or instrument panel.