Will your car insurance cover flood and water damage?

Your car insurance will cover flood damage to your vehicle if you have comprehensive coverage. This is typically the only way to protect your vehicle from flood damage, since most homeowners and flood insurance policies do not include coverage for cars.

Comprehensive coverage and flood damage

Comprehensive coverage is an optional insurance coverage that pays for damage to your car that are not related to a collision. This includes things like:

Natural disasters and storms
Fires
Theft
Vandalism
Damage caused by hitting an animal

Comprehensive coverage is not typically required for car insurance policies. However, you may be required to carry comprehensive coverage if you have a loan or lease.

Steps to filing a claim for flood damage

We know that filing any kind of car insurance claim can be stressful. Our unique claims services will simplify the process, getting you back on the road in no time.

File Your Claim. Please have your policy number ready. You can file a claim online or by contacting us directly.
Assignment and Tracking of the Claim. After you report your car insurance claim, you’ll receive a claim number to help track its progress. We’ll also assign you an experienced and friendly representative to answer any questions you may have.
Damage Evaluation. If your vehicle has damage and the applicable coverage applies, we offer these convenient options to get you back on the road as soon as possible:
- CarPics® Photo Appraisals: Eliminate the need to schedule a claims inspection and receive your estimate within hours. You may even get paid that same day.*
- Crashbusters® Mobile Claim Service: Have a representative meet you to appraise the damage at a time and place that’s convenient for you, oftentimes, issuing you a check on the spot.
- Door to Door Valet Claim Service®: Let us pick up your car and handle the repair process from start to finish. If you have rental coverage, we’ll even coordinate a rental car.
Receive Your Claim Settlement. Based on your situation, Plymouth Rock may pay your claim to the repair shop, or we may reimburse you directly. Your claim payment will be based on the terms and coverage in your car insurance policy.

Deductibles and flood damage coverage

Since flood damage is covered under your comprehensive coverage, you need to pay your deductible when you file a claim. A deductible is your share of the cost for an insurance claim. You can tailor your deductible to your own financial needs, but the industry standard is $500.

For example, say your comprehensive deductible is $500 and it costs $2,000 to fix your flood-damaged car. In this case, you would pay $500 and your insurance will cover the remaining cost.

Gap insurance and flood damage

A vehicle flooding can quickly cause enough damage that can total your car. This could be financially devastating if you just got that car and still owe money on it.

You can protect your investment with Loan/Lease Gap coverage. This coverage pays for the difference between what your car is worth and what you still owe on it. It can help free you from having to make payments on a car you can no longer drive.

New Car Replacement coverage from Plymouth Rock can also give you peace of mind when you have a new vehicle. If available, we will pay the cost to replace your vehicle with the same make, model and year of your car, if you owned the car and it was two model years old or less at the time of damage.

Please note, you can’t combine Loan/Lease Gap coverage with New Car Replacement coverage.

Preventative measures for flood protection

While floods may happen suddenly, there are still a few preventative measures to better protect your car from flood damage. Here are some tips to avoid water-related risks to your car.

Stay on top of weather alerts. If there’s a flood warning for your area, move your car to higher ground if possible.
Avoid parking near flood-prone areas, like riverbanks or bodies of water.
Never drive through floodwater.
- Water can be deceptively deep and dangerous, and just six inches is enough to make a car float. Water could also enter the intakes and flood your engine. Even if you have a lifted vehicle, it’s best to turn around and go another way.

Got questions? You're not alone.

Common questions about car insurance

Does car insurance cover water damage from rain?

Flooding doesn’t just mean water from below. Heavy rain and snow can also flood your car. Make sure the seals around your windows and doors are in good condition. The seals on older cars may become brittle and less effective over time, so have a trusted mechanic replace them if yours are worn.

Keep the rain channels and drainage holes on your car clear of debris. These help prevent water from pooling up and flooding into the cabin of your car. Typically, these are located by the bottom of the windshield and trunk opening.

Does car insurance cover natural disasters?

Your car insurance will cover damage to your car as a result of natural disasters if you carry comprehensive coverage.

How long does it take for water to damage a car?

Water damage may not be apparent immediately. It could take months or even years for corrosion to be noticeable. Electronics can be damaged relatively quickly when exposed to moisture.