At Karl Flammer Ford, our Florida auto repair and maintenance shop is no stranger to flood damage. When it comes to storm surge, a lot depends on how much water your vehicle has encountered, and for how long! If your car has been caught in a flood, don’t make any big moves before you read our guide. We’re here to help you get through this ordeal without inadvertently causing more damage to your vehicle!
Key Takeaways
- Storm surge can wreak all sorts of havoc on your vehicle, from flooding your engine to infecting your seat cushions with mildew.
- If your car was caught in a flood, don’t try to turn it on until a mechanic tells you it’s safe to do so.
- A very specific type of car insurance covers flood damages: comprehensive insurance.
- It’s easy to file a claim with your insurance company; simply call your carrier or file a claim via their official website or smartphone app.
- Depending on your unique situation, it might be possible to repair your flood-damaged vehicle.
- An EV battery that’s been exposed to floodwaters can burst into flames, even while the vehicle is turned off. Tow such a vehicle somewhere far from anything combustible.
What does a flood do to a car?
Flooding can cause catastrophic damage to your car. In addition to major mechanical and electrical failure your vehicle may be subject to mold and rust damage. Saltwater storm surge can be especially problematic, causing your vehicle to corrode over time. However, depending on your unique situation, it’s still possible to rescue your flooded vehicle!
Whether or not you can repair your car after a flood will depend on the severity of weather conditions and subsequent damages. Realistically, if you were forced to leave your vehicle sitting in floodwaters for days on end, you should brace yourself for the worst. On the other hand, if you briefly encountered floodwaters and they quickly drained from your vehicle, your situation may be much more salvageable.
My car was caught in a flood — now what?
Don’t try to turn on your car. If your engine has been flooded and there’s water still lurking where it shouldn’t be, firing up your engine could make matters worse. Your next moves may vary, depending on whether you want to file an insurance claim or head straight to your trusted mechanic. If you plan to file a claim, you should do so as soon as possible! Either way, if your car needs to be moved, call a tow truck.
Does car insurance cover flood damage?
Typically, only a very specific type of car insurance covers flood damage! Comprehensive coverage takes on the cost of damages due to flood, fire, explosion, theft or vandalism. Since liability coverage is the minimum required by law in many states (Florida also requires personal injury protection), many drivers opt out of comprehensive coverage. On the other hand, for those who are leasing or financing a vehicle, lenders often require drivers to maintain comprehensive coverage.
If you’re not sure what your insurance covers, contact your carrier to learn whether you have comprehensive coverage and how much the deductible is. These days, most insurance companies also offer a website and smartphone app, both of which make it easy to review your coverage.
How do I file a claim if my car was flooded?
Contact your car insurance company to file a claim! Big insurance companies, like Geico or Progressive, even let you file a claim via smartphone app. Either way, it’s an easy process. After you file, your insurance carrier will send an insurance adjuster to inspect your car. Sometimes, an adjuster can inspect your car remotely, via a video chat service like Zoom or FaceTime. The adjuster will determine whether your car should be fixed or — if repairs would cost more than your vehicle is currently worth — totaled.
Can I repair a flooded car?
That depends. A major flood can total your car, but damages from a minor one can often be repaired. Before you have your flood-damaged vehicle towed to your local mechanic, it’s best to contact your insurance company to see if you can file a claim. An insurance agent will inspect your vehicle and determine whether it should be repaired or totaled.
On the other hand, if you don’t have comprehensive insurance coverage, a mechanic can help you figure out whether your car is worth salvaging. Simply put, if the cost of any necessary repairs exceeds the current worth of your car, it’s probably time to get a new car.
Why do EVs catch fire after a flood?
Typically, EV fires account for only a small portion of all car fires. However, exposing your EV’s lithium ion battery cells to saltwater can be extremely hazardous! Because salt conducts electricity, salt buildup on your battery can create a connection between positive and negative battery cell terminals, creating a short circuit. A short-circuiting EV battery cell can heat up very quickly and catch fire.
Depending on the model, an EV’s battery can be made up of hundreds or thousands of battery cells. With enough heat coming from one cell, a chain reaction can begin, quickly igniting cells further along the EV battery and spreading the fire (a process called thermal runaway).
Because EV battery fires present unique issues, firefighters don’t yet have an efficient way of dealing with them. For instance, once on fire, metal oxides in these batteries release oxygen, sustaining the fire. Plus, EV fires burn incredibly hot, at about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. (A fire in a gas-powered ICE vehicle, by comparison, reaches average temperatures of 1,500 F.) If firefighters need 2,000 gallons of water to put out an ICE vehicle fire, they may require about 20,000 gallons to deal with thermal runaway!
As an EV owner, it’s best to take action before a storm. Move your vehicle to higher ground, away from potential flood zones.
If your EV battery (which lies along the underside of your vehicle) has been exposed to floodwaters, have the vehicle towed at least 50 feet away from anything combustible. Before you can turn it on again, you’ll need to have the battery inspected by a mechanic. Use extreme caution, because an EV battery that’s been submerged in floodwaters may combust at any time, even if you haven’t turned it on.