Quick Facts About Cars Damaged in Floods
- If your car insurance includes comprehensive coverage, you’ll be covered. If not, FEMA may potentially cover your vehicle.
- Never drive a flooded electric car. Leave it where it is and call your insurer.
- In most states, selling cars damaged in floods is illegal without proper disclosure.
- Be wary of buying a car with flood damage. Some vehicles get sold across state lines before being registered as damaged goods.
Catastrophic rain events, hurricanes, tropical storms, and the resulting flooding can damage and destroy vehicles, sometimes beyond repair. Do not attempt to start the vehicle when it is swamped by a flood; you could cause more damage. Electric vehicles (EVs) also need special care. Use this resource to guide you through the process so you can start to recover and get a new or used vehicle.
Remember, the process to replace your vehicle takes time and patience. Looking for a comparable vehicle could prove difficult in today’s market conditions. Car shoppers, even those searching beyond the affected regions, must be careful to avoid purchasing flood-damaged vehicles from unscrupulous parties. These vehicles could pose safety risks and costly hidden problems, like electrical issues and rust, could show up later.
Whatever your circumstance, you’ll find essential resources and information on identifying damage, understanding insurance types, assessing whether repairs can be done, and navigating the car-buying process.
Affected Vehicle Owners: Here’s What to Do
Read on for the frequently asked questions about flood vehicles.
- Does Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage?
- Will FEMA Pay for My Flooded Car?
- What Happens if I Don’t Have Car Insurance?
- Can a Flooded Car Be Fixed?
- Is It Illegal to Sell a Flood-Damaged Car?
- How to Tell if a Car Has Been Flooded
- What Happens If a Leased Car Is Flooded?
- Should I Keep Making My Monthly Car Payment?
- What Should I Know About Hybrid and Electric Cars Damaged by a Flood?
- I Don’t Live Anywhere Near Flooded Areas; Do I Need to Be Concerned?
Does Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage?
Yes, it typically will if your car insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage. Take photos and call your car insurance company to determine your next steps.
MORE: What to Do if Your Car Is Flooded: 8 Steps You Must Take
Will FEMA Pay for My Flooded Car?
Potentially. According to FEMA, “Federal disaster assistance may help fill the gaps for those whose coverage does not pay for any or all storm-related damage costs.” If FEMA doesn’t cover the damage, your other options include getting help from the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program or applying for a low-interest loan from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).
What Happens if I Don’t Have Car Insurance?
If you didn’t purchase comprehensive car insurance, consider the FEMA, ONA, and SBA options. If nothing comes of it, or you live outside the declared disaster area, you’ll likely need to assess the cost of repairing the damage on your own.
Services like Alliance Inspection Management’s AiM Certify, owned by Kelley Blue Book parent Cox Automotive, help you assess damage and will come to your location to inspect a vehicle. Costs range from $149 to $399, depending on the level of service inspection you choose. Once you know how the flooding affected your car, you can move forward with getting your vehicle repaired or replaced.
If nothing else, it can’t hurt to open the doors and windows (if you can), give the interior a thorough going-over with a wet vacuum, and perhaps even pull up the carpet to help dry out the car and prevent mold growth.
Can a Flooded Car Be Fixed?
It depends. According to State Farm, “Submersion of a vehicle in salt water, which is more damaging than fresh water, increases the chances of corrosion. Start drying out your vehicle as quickly as possible, and contact a towing service to get it back to higher ground. Oil, transmission fluid, and lube may need draining before a tow.”
Other insurers like Progressive say that “minor flooding that’s quickly drained can often be repaired.” However, many insurance companies consider a car a total loss if the water level reaches the dashboard and the electronic components. Also, if a vehicle sits in water for extended periods, the insurance company will consider it totaled. In Florida, electric cars began catching on fire after a hurricane in 2022 caused them to be sitting in floodwaters. Read more on that below.
When weighing the financials, a significant factor to remember is that a car’s resale value can be severely reduced by any sign of flood damage, whether or not the car’s title or vehicle history report reflects it.
RELATED: How to Get a Car Title Replacement
If you don’t have insurance and find yourself paying the bill after exhausting all other options, it would be wise to get an inspection. A certified mechanic can tell you if the vehicle is repairable. If the car is beyond repair, find out how much a dismantler will pay you for the car. Remove your license plates from the vehicle before letting your car go.
If you can get the car fixed, shop around for several quotes and ask how long it will take, since some car parts may still be in short supply.
Is It Illegal to Sell a Flood-Damaged Car?
It depends. In most states, selling cars damaged in floods is illegal without proper disclosure. However, some vehicles are sold across state lines before being registered as damaged goods.
How to Tell if a Car Has Been Flooded
To find out if a car received flood damage, check the vehicle history report from AutoCheck or Carfax. They offer free flood-risk checks using the vehicle identification number (VIN). You can also visually inspect a vehicle and look for tell-tale signs like foggy headlights or rust. If you can’t tell or are unsure, consider getting a professional vehicle inspection. Knowing the vehicle’s actual condition and history helps ease your mind.
RELATED: How to Spot and Avoid Flood-Damaged Cars
What Happens if a Leased Car Is Flooded?
If you leased a car, comprehensive insurance would likely cover your vehicle. You can go through the same process of calling your insurer and filling any gaps with FEMA and other federal programs, if available to you. Check your lease agreement to find out the exact specifications.
Should I Keep Making My Monthly Car Payment?
Yes, with an asterisk. Talk with your vehicle finance company. Many manufacturer-related financing arms, like Ford Credit, GM Financial, Toyota Financial Services, and Kia Motors Finance, could offer affected owners payment relief or flexible terms during hardship events.
What Should I Know About Hybrid and Electric Cars Damaged by a Flood?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website, “batteries in hybrid and electric vehicles are highly corrosive and should not be exposed to standing water.” NHTSA also says batteries could short-circuit and catch fire, even weeks after battery damage occurs. After Hurricane Ian in 2022, Florida officials reported that electric cars spontaneously caught fire.
If you suspect saltwater battery damage to your car, unplug the vehicle and talk to your insurance company to determine the next steps.
Used Car Shoppers in Affected Areas (and Beyond)
Generally speaking, we recommend steering clear of any vehicle involved in a flood. Given the likelihood of future problems and the eventual resale value implications, the chances of finding a diamond in the rough seem pretty slim.
I Don’t Live Anywhere Near Flooded Areas; Do I Need to Be Concerned?
Yes. Unscrupulous parties can obtain a flood-damaged car cheaply, “clean” the title by registering it in a different state, and then sell it in another state for full value by passing it off as an unaffected vehicle.
Shopping for a New Car
Dealerships in affected regions may take time to reopen. You may need to expand your dealership search area. In addition, the challenging car marketplace means you’ll likely pay more for your vehicle. New car prices are at staggering highs. The challenging supply of used cars has pushed up those prices, too. For shoppers who must finance a purchase, higher interest rates can make vehicles less affordable. Although the new car loan interest rate deduction may help some, provided the vehicle they want has a final assembly in the United States, and is less impacted by tariffs. Use the negotiation tips in our car buying guide before you set out.
Use these other guides to help you with your search:
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for accuracy since it was initially published.