If you have a relevant coverage included in your auto insurance policy, a flood insurance claim can provide you the financial support you need in case your suffer monetary loss and your vehicle gets damaged because of such natural disasters. You will be able to make up for the losses incurred and get your car repaired using the money you receive through such claims.

In some cases, you may even claim for a new car in replacement if the insured vehicle gets damaged so severely that it is beyond repair. Following is a brief rundown on some of the basic steps that you need to follow in order to settle car insurance claims due to a flood.

Tips To Settle A Car Insurance Claim Due To A Flood

Understand Your Comprehensive Coverage

If your car gets damaged due to animal strike, vandalism, theft, hail, fire or due to any falling object, the comprehensive coverage included in your car insurance policy gives you the right to claim for such losses. Though most insurance companies these days also include protection against loss caused by flood in comprehensive coverage, some companies are still out there that require you to buy a specific flood insurance coverage additionally. Therefore, it is very important for you to read your policy documents thoroughly and understand if you are covered for such losses or not.

Get A Thorough Estimate Of The Loss

Before you file a car insurance claim for the loss caused by a flood, you must first get a thorough estimate of the total amount of loss. It is not just the exterior of a vehicle that gets damaged during a natural disaster like flood, but even the interior parts, such as the transmission system, steering and the engine of the car may also get damaged severely. There can be various unseen damages. So, make sure you check all the parts. It is always better to get your car thoroughly checked-up by an expert automobile mechanic.

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Contact Your Insurance Provider

If your car has been damaged so much that you cannot drive it and you have rental coverage included in your car insurance policy, you should give a call to your insurance provider immediately and request them to set you up with a substitute car. However, to be on a safer side, you are advised to make this request in writing, if possible. Sometimes, the flood attack is so serious that you have to take shelter at another place while abandoning everything behind, including your car. In such cases, you can ask your insurance provider to make arrangements for the car to be towed to a repair agency.

If the estimated cost of repair exceeds 75% of the current market value of the car, insurance providers usually prefer to total it by paying you the current value of the vehicle in cash. Therefore, it is also important for you to do extensive research in this regard, especially when it comes to calculating the market value of your car. You can do this by researching the market price of similar vehicles in your locality, within a radius of 100 miles.

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