Originally published by Jesse Toprak on LinkedIn: What You Need To Know If Your Car Is Damaged By A Flood

Natural disasters are an unfortunate reality of life. While we never know when to expect them, to some extent, we can prepare for them and mitigate their damage. Recent disaster-level flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, and Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy before that, have created hundreds of thousands of automotive flooding claims.

Experts responding to Hurricane Harvey say they expect to find upwards of 500,000 damaged or totaled vehicles in the region. Matt Stillwell, manager of governmental and regulatory communications at the Insurance Council of Texas, said there were already approximately 100,000 claims within the first week after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas's coastal regions, and that number will continue to climb dramatically as residents recover from the storm.

If your car was damaged in a flood -- whether from a hurricane, unusually heavy rains, or some other water disaster -- you might be wondering how to know whether it's safe to drive it, how to deal with the insurance company, and what to do when it's time to buy a new car.

What Do I Do With a Flooded Car?

Michal Brower, southeast regional spokesperson for State Farm Insurance, recommends that owners of a flooded vehicle "should immediately look it over to inspect for damage. We ideally tell customers not to start a vehicle until it has been thoroughly inspected by a mechanic. The worst thing you can do when the floodwaters go down is to get in and start it. That could take a slightly damaged car and increase the problems tenfold," she said.

State Farm Auto Insurance offers these tips to help you assess your vehicle's flood damage:

1. Survey potential damage. Note the depth of the floodwaters in relation to your car. Mud and debris usually leave a waterline on the car, inside as well as out. If the water didn't rise above bottom of the doors, your car will probably be fine. If your car has been immersed in water more than halfway up its wheels, don't try to start your car — this will cause more damage if there is water in the engine. A good way to tell is to check the air filter under the hood. If the paper filter is wet, do not try and start the car.

2. Call your auto insurance company as soon as you are able. Flood damage is generally covered by comprehensive (fire and theft) insurance. If you do have comprehensive insurance coverage, be patient; insurers like State Farm and Progressive report huge call volumes after a major storm or flood damage.

3. Act quickly. Submersion in salt water — which is more damaging than fresh water — makes the chances of corrosion much higher. 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.

4. Look under the hood. This is where you'll find clues as to how extensive the flood damage may be. Unless you're an auto expert, you may want to partner with a mechanic for the following tasks:

• Check the oil dipstick. Look for water droplets, which likely indicate that there is water in your engine. If that's the case, the cylinders, which are supposed to compress air instead of water, will be broken.

• Remove water-damaged cylinders and check for corroded spots.

• Change the oil and transmission fluid. You'll want to do this again after the car is drivable and you've gone several hundred miles.

5. Clean the interior. If floodwaters were more than a few feet deep, water probably made it to the inside of your car. Here's what to do next:

• Remove all moisture. Use a wet/dry vacuum to collect standing water, and cloth towels to absorb water that has soaked into the seats and carpet. Remove seats and seat cushions if possible, and use fans and dehumidifiers to accelerate the drying process.

• Check electrical components. Extensive flood damage could require a trip to the mechanic to get it replaced.

6. Check the fuel tank and line. Use a store-bought siphon pump to remove some fuel. If you note any water (which would naturally separate from the fuel), you'll want to empty the tank completely.

Will the Flood Damage be Covered by my Insurance?

For anyone whose car is damaged by floodwaters, it’s crucial to know that flood damage to a car is not covered by a person's homeowner's insurance, nor is it covered by flood insurance issued by the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood damage is covered only if your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage, and while nearly every state requires motorists to carry liability insurance, comprehensive coverage is optional.

Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your vehicle in the event of all kinds of unexpected, non-collision types of accidents, including (but not limited to!) weather damage, theft, and fire. Even if you already have comprehensive coverage, it's important that you understand the fine print (or call your agent and discuss it with them).

According to Mark Hanna, spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas, in an article at Consumer Reports, https://www.consumerreports.org/car-insurance/why-flooded-out-cars-are-likely-total-losses/ “Many owners are covered with comprehensive insurance, but there are many without it.” In Texas, he says, 15 percent of motorists have no car insurance, and of those who do, 75 percent have comprehensive insurance. That leaves approximately 35 percent of Texas car owners without any flood-related protection.

If water got into the engine compartment or inside the cabin of the car, you must be prepared for the worst-case scenario regardless of whether you are insured for that loss.

If you have comprehensive insurance and your car is declared a total loss, you should expect to receive a payment based on replacement value minus depreciation and your deductible. Rachael Rissinger, spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance, says many states have guidelines for when a vehicle must be considered a total loss. That assessment is generally a calculation of the car's value and the expected cost of repair.

“All we know now is that there are thousands of submerged vehicles,” said Hanna, when asked about the damages caused by Hurricane Harvey. And it's going to take some time to process all those claims. Lynne McChristian, a representative with the Insurance Information Institute points out that Hurricane Harvey may see new technology, such as drones, to help expedite the claims process.

“This is the first natural disaster where we will see the use of drones in the claims process," says McChristian. "If you can’t get to your vehicle, ask your insurer if they are using drones and perhaps they will be able to take an aerial picture of its location as initial documentation of the loss.”

What Do I Do Next?

From a claims perspective," Brower recommends you "document the damage with a smartphone camera, showing the highest level of water on your flooded vehicle."

Take pictures of the damage, and if possible, of your car submerged. If possible, take a photo of the license plate on the car to support your claim.

“If we determine the vehicle is a total loss . . . then we will work with the owner to essentially complete the purchase of their property by issuing payment, minus the deductible, in exchange for the vehicle and vehicle title,” Rissinger explains.

What if you can’t locate your car because it floated away? The insurance company can deal with that, too. “We won’t go look in the bottom of the ocean, but if your car floated away, it’s something that’s going to be totaled out anyway,” says State Farm spokesperson Holly Anderson.

What if I Want to Keep my Car?

“Flooded cars are not always totaled,” according to Nicole Alley, a USAA spokeswoman. “It depends on the water level and type of water -- salt, brackish or clean water.” Cars with minimal damage can be fixed, if they are dried out properly. Even if only fresh rainwater got inside the car, mold will grow quickly. If your car was damaged by salty ocean water or dirty sewage-contaminated water, expect it to start stinking as well. Start by opening the doors and windows and putting towels on the floor and seats to soak up water. If you can, you might even want to remove the seats from the vehicle entirely to help them dry. You should plan to replace anything that got wet, including carpets, floor mats, door panels, seat padding, and upholstery.

Check the air cleaner, oil, and other fluids. According to Aaron Gold at ThoughtCo.com, https://www.thoughtco.com/car-caught-in-flood-532542? if you see droplets of water on the dipstick or the level of the oil is high, or if the air filter has water in it, do not attempt to start the engine. Have it towed to a mechanic to have the water cleared and the fluids changed. Even though fuel systems on late-model cars are usually sealed, older cars may need to have their fuel systems drained. Brake, clutch, power steering, and coolant reservoirs should be checked for contamination.

According to Gold, if the engine looks okay to start, your next step is to check all of the electrical systems, including the headlights, turn signals, air conditioning, stereo, and interior lights, as well as the power locks, windows, and seats. If you note anything even slightly amiss -- including the way the car runs or the transmission shifts -- that could be a sign of electrical trouble.

Flooded Cars Carry Their Own Risks

Many cars that are totaled due to flooding are simply cleaned up and re-sold. The real trouble comes later, if cars that have been totaled or have been refurbished after flooding go back on the market without the proper disclosure. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is warning the nation’s consumers that vehicles flooded by Hurricane Harvey may soon be appearing for sale around the nation.

After a disaster, NICB works with its member companies, law enforcement, and auto auction companies to identify the vehicles that have had an insurance claim filed and to process them for sale. All of the cars deemed to be a total loss, will be retitled with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the new title will indicate the fact that the vehicle has been flood damaged. Most of the vehicles are sold to parts companies who will dismantle them and re-sell usable parts that were not damaged by the flooding.

While many of those water-damaged vehicles are condemned to salvage yards, some of the flooded vehicles may be purchased at bargain prices, cleaned up, and then taken out of state where the VIN is switched and the car is retitled with no indication it has been damaged.

NICB warns that buyers be particularly careful in the coming weeks and months as thousands of Harvey-damaged vehicles may reappear for sale in their areas. Vehicles that were not insured may be cleaned up and put up for sale by the owner or an unscrupulous dealer with no disclosure of the flood damage.

Mark Hanna, Insurance Council of Texas spokesman says there are many indicators to look for when a vehicle has water-damage, and potential pre-owned automobile shoppers need to keep an eye out for them.

“They should look inside for any type of possible rust, mold or mildew,” he says. “If any vehicle has been submerged there is going to be water in the engine, throughout the vehicle and upholstery and the electrical system — that’s why insurance companies total a vehicle.”

Allstate Insurance spokeswoman Kristen Freis said shoppers for a pre-owned vehicle should have a vehicle inspected by a mechanic before purchasing it, and recommends checking a vehicle’s history using services like CarFax or NICB VINCheck service, which will show if a car has been damaged in a flood, stolen, or declared as salvaged.

Keeping damaged cars out of the hands of unsuspecting buyers is a major focus of the insurance industry. Before buying a used car, be sure to check the title for red-flag words like "salvage" and "flood damage." NICB’s VINCheck allows car buyers to see whether a vehicle has ever been declared as “salvage” or a total loss by an NICB member that participates in the program. Insurers representing about 88 percent of the personal auto insurance market provide their salvage data to the program. VINCheck is a free public service available at: www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck/vincheck .

Lastly, if you are located in a flood-impacted area, on behalf of the entire CarHub.com team, please accept our hopes for your healing and renewal. We will make ourselves available, to the best of our ability, to help you with any auto related questions you may have –whether it’s about filing your claim or getting a new vehicle. Please send your questions to info@carhub.com and we will do our very best to get back to you as quickly as we can.

Stay strong; we are all one.

Jesse Toprak