Why doesn’t basic insurance cover flood damage?
Basic car insurance plans, such as collision and liability, only cover incidents that involve your car hitting either another car or an inanimate object. Liability coverage only covers the other driver when you are at fault, while collision insurance covers both drivers. For the most part, these types of coverage do not carry flood insurance, so if your car suffers any water damage, the cost of repairs will not be covered by these basic insurance plans. (For more information, read our “Understanding The Cost Of Flood Insurance” and “Understanding Auto Insurance Coverage For Flood Damage“).
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Can comprehensive insurance help?
Comprehensive coverage can provide flood insurance for your car, as this type of insurance covers incidents that are out of your control, such as acts of nature, including water damage due to flooding. Areas prone to flooding tend to have more drivers who sign up for comprehensive coverage, as these events happen more often. Comprehensive coverage costs more than basic insurance plans, but it may be worth the extra money if you ever have to file a claim.
Homeowners insurance is in place to give you peace of mind in case your home or belongings suffer damage or loss due to a catastrophic event…
Most states do not require you to have comprehensive insurance on your policy, but if you plan on leasing or financing your car, you may be required to purchase it in order to get an auto loan. While you may not be required to have comprehensive coverage, having the right types of insurance coverage and the correct amounts can help to protect you and your vehicle.
What events are and aren’t covered by comprehensive insurance?
Hailstorms: Yes. If water damage is done to the interior of your car due to a hailstorm, comprehensive coverage may help cover the costs of repairing your vehicle.
Leaks: It depends. Heavy rains can cause water to get into your vehicle, even when you have done everything you can to keep the water out. This can be caused by improper sealing of your windows, doors, and even your sunroof. When this happens, comprehensive coverage can help pay for damages done. Comprehensive insurance will not help pay for damages that are done due to your vehicle being in poor condition. As a driver, you are responsible for the upkeep of your vehicle. So if your car sustains damages due to water leaking into it over time because of poor maintenance repairs, the water damage caused will most likely not be covered. Same goes for owner error. If you leave your windows down and rain gets in, your insurance company will not reimburse you for a comprehensive claim to get your car repaired.
Flooding: Yes. Because floods are out of the drivers control, if your car is damaged due to rising water caused by heavy rain, comprehensive auto insurance will help to protect you and your vehicle.
Hurricanes: It depends. When hurricanes are imminent, some drivers try to quickly sign up for comprehensive coverage in case something happens to their car. However, many companies put hurricane restrictions on people who try to sign up when a major storm is already on its way.
Auto insurance companies protect themselves from fraudulent claims from people who only pay for the coverage for a few days just to be able to file for a flood insurance claim. If you live in an area with reoccurring hurricanes or flooding, you may want to talk to an insurance agent about comprehensive car insurance long before an actual storm or incident happens. Then, if a hurricane does damage your car you can rest assured knowing your comprehensive insurance coverage will help to cover any repair costs due to property damage from flood water.
If you’re deciding whether or not to get flood insurance or having trouble figuring out which plans offer it, call us at [mapi-phone-link /] today and let us guide you through your search. Make sure to shop around and get insurance quotes from multiple companies so you can get the financial protection you need at an insurance rate you can afford.
Read more: Does Car Insurance Cover Interior Damage?