Does Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage? How Protective Policies Can Help

In the UK, having coverage for any flood damage that happens to your car can be a lifesaver. Most car insurance policies, especially fully comprehensive ones, usually cover flood damage, but they can have restrictions and limitations. If your car is rendered a total loss due to flood damage, extra policies such as GAP insurance can help bridge the financial gap between your car insurance provider’s payout and the original price of the vehicle (depending on the policy you have).

Our guide will explore the damage flooding can do to a vehicle, whether or not standard car insurance covers flood damage, and if there are any situations where a car insurance company won’t pay out. We will also highlight what you can do if flood damage isn’t covered in your car insurance.

What Damage Can Flooding Do to Your Car?

Flooding can cause serious, often irreversible damage to your vehicle. Whether where you park your car has been flooded or you’ve driven through water, food water can often render your vehicle a total loss.

If your car hasn’t been swept away, flood water can cause:

• Fluid contamination, affecting the fuel tank and transmission lines
• Corrosion of the braking system
• Engine Control Unit (ECU) damage
• Failure of components such as lights, power windows and starter motors
• Exhaust and suspension failure
• Mold, mildew, corrosion and rust

Most seriously, cars can often experience hydrolock, where the engine sucks water into the cylinders and instantly destroys the motor. If your car has experienced flooding, do not attempt to start it, as this could cause further damage.

Your first action should be to get yourself to a safe place (if you are out on the road) and call emergency services. If you are parked or at home, you should call your car insurance as soon as possible.

Does Standard Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage?

You will be covered for flood damage, but only if you have fully comprehensive coverage. Third-party or third-party, fire and theft policies do not cover water damage. Even with comprehensive cover, insurers will evaluate the circumstances surrounding the flooding before paying out.

Components covered include:

• Mechanical and electrical components
• Vehicle replacement, at its current value
• Interior restoration, such as drying out seats and carpets, replacing them if necessary
• Personal possessions on some policies

If your car insurance does cover flood damage and your car is declared a total loss, you may still be at a financial loss if your car has depreciated in cost. Policies such as GAP insurance can bridge the gap between what your car insurer pays out and the original invoice price of the vehicle, depending on the policy you choose.

You can find out more about our GAP insurance policies here.

Are There Any Situations Where Car Insurance Won’t Cover Flood Damage?

Yes, third-party and third-party, fire and theft policies won’t cover flood damage. If you have fully comprehensive car insurance, there are instances where your provider won’t pay out. These include:

• Avoidable damage: if you intentionally drive through a flooded area or ignore warning signs of a flood, your insurer usually won’t pay out, as this is classed as negligence on your part. If your car is parked in its usual spot or in a public car park and it is damaged by flooding, your car insurer will usually pay out. This includes if you live in an area that has a high risk of flooding.
• Starting a flooded engine: it is incredibly important that, if your car has been flooded, you don’t try and start the engine. This act can cause hydrolock, and can result in a denied claim.
• Not taking reasonable precautions: you have a responsibility to look after your vehicle as best you can. If a severe storm is forecast and you live in a high-risk area, not moving the car to higher ground (if possible), leaving your windows down, or failure to close the sunroof can result in claims being denied.

To protect your claim, leave your car alone if it has been submerged, don’t attempt to dry it yourself, and gather any necessary evidence to support your claim.

If Flood Damage Isn’t Covered, What Can I Do?

If your car insurance doesn’t cover flood damage, you will have to cover the damage yourself. You can check your home insurance policy documents if your car is damaged at home, or you can look for “away from home” cover if you were on the road at the time.

The best policy to have in place if your insurance doesn’t cover flood damage is breakdown cover. Breakdown cover can help with mechanical and electrical faults if your car isn’t declared a total loss, with policies either offering to repair your vehicle at the roadside or tow it to a garage. Most policies, however, won’t come to repair or tow your car if it is still stuck in flood water, so you may have to wait until the water has cleared.

You can find out more about our breakdown policies here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of car insurance do I need to be protected against floods?

You will need fully comprehensive car insurance to be protected against flooding; third-party and third-party, fire and theft won’t pay out in cases of flooding.

How do I know if my car insurance covers flood damage?

You can check your policy documents to look for the inclusions and restrictions, but most comprehensive car insurance providers will cover flooding unless you have been negligent.

What steps should I take if my car suffers flood damage?

• Get yourself into a safe space, and call emergency services if you are stranded
• Do not attempt to start/restart the engine
• Take photos for evidence
• Call for professional recovery
• Contact your insurance company

Will claiming for flood damage affect my car insurance premium?

Yes, claiming for flood damage will increase future premiums, as insurers treat flooding as an “at-fault” claim. You will lose your no-claims discount and may be viewed as a risk in the future, especially if your car was flooded at your home address.

What documents do I need to provide to claim for flood damage on my car insurance

You will need your insurance policy number, vehicle registration number, make and model, the time, location and date of the flooding and any photos or videos as evidence.

Are electric cars covered for flood damage under regular car insurance?

Electric and hybrid vehicles are covered for flood damage, but only if they are insured on a fully comprehensive policy.