AC insurance protects against various types of damage, most often also those resulting from flooding. It is worth remembering, however, that several important factors will influence whether we will receive compensation and in what amount. What to do to receive compensation after a flood?
Flooding a car due to flooding or heavy rainfall often has very serious consequences. Both individual parts of the vehicle and the entire structure can be destroyed. In contact with water, the upholstery and electrical system will suffer the first damage, but in more serious flooding, the gearbox and engine may also be damaged.
In such situations, voluntary auto insurance will be helpful, protecting against damages that have occurred, among others, as a result of natural forces. It is worth emphasizing that the scope of AC can be selected voluntarily, so the offers of insurers will differ significantly.
AC – what policies do insurers offer?
When looking through insurance offers, you may notice that companies most often offer the following types of auto insurance:
- all risk – the widest scope of protection covering most damages
- the elements – the policy protects against damage to the vehicle as a result of, for example, hurricanes, fires, hail or floods
- mini – most often covers compensation for car theft or total loss, and often also damage caused by the elements
What's more, the above-mentioned types of AC may have different variants of damage settlement. The first one, i.e. the method workshopusually more beneficial for the owner, allows for the preparation of a cost estimate and then the repair of the car by a designated car repair shop.
The second option is cost estimate variant consists of a valuation prepared by the insurer based on an expert's inspection. It is worth remembering that the company may underestimate, among other things, the costs of labor or some parts, which is why it is considered to be a less favorable solution for the car owner.
How much compensation am I entitled to for a flooded car?
The amount of compensation paid by the insurer will depend on two factors, i.e. the degree of flooding of the vehicle and the total value of the vehicle, which was determined when concluding the auto insurance contract.
After reporting the damage, the insurer may decide to cover the costs of repairing individual elements or rule total lossThe second solution concerns the situation when the repair cost exceeds 70 percent of the car value indicated in the contract.
Importantly, in the case of a total loss, the insurer first values ​​the wreck and then deducts its value from the value of the vehicle before reporting the loss. This means that the driver will receive the wreck and compensation reduced by the value of the damaged car.
The damaged car can then be sold or repaired. Insurers often overestimate the value of the wreck, but in the case of unsuccessful attempts to sell it at the price quoted by the company, this fact can be argued and the insurer's decision challenged.
How do I report damage after a vehicle is flooded?
After flooding your car, you should contact your insurer as soon as possible to report the damage. If the owner of the vehicle exceeds the deadline specified in the regulations, the company may reduce their compensation or even refuse to pay the money.
You should not try to start a flooded car yourself, as this may damage the engine, which the insurer will consider as a reason to refuse to pay out.
To report a loss, you must prepare:
- photos documenting the damaged vehicle,
- description of the event,
- policy number,
- owner details,
- vehicle registration number.
The insurer will have about a week to take the next steps regarding the damaged vehicle and appoint a claims manager.
When will an insurer refuse to pay compensation?
The insurance company may refuse to pay if the vehicle was not used for its intended purpose or the damage was reported after the deadline.
AC also does not cover damages that occurred as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol or warfare. It also often happens that a given event is not covered by the policy, which the vehicle owner did not read about when concluding the contract. It is therefore important to thoroughly verify the scope of protection before purchasing auto casco.
Main image source: PAP/Michał Meissner