Does my auto insurance cover damage caused by a flood or hurricane?

Understanding the different types of auto insurance coverage can help you navigate topics like auto insurance coverage for damage caused by a flood or hurricane. Well, auto insurance coverage for natural disaster damage is critical for vehicle owners in areas prone to these occurrences.

In this article, we’ll discuss whether you’re covered against flood and hurricane damages, the role of comprehensive coverage, and the availability of federal assistance programs for storm-related damages to your car — which insurance might not pay.

Standard Auto Insurance Doesn’t Cover Flood and Hurricane Damage

By default, standard auto insurance policies usually don’t cover your car against flood and hurricane damage. However, comprehensive coverage does provide protection against these natural catastrophes.

If you have comprehensive coverage, this tends to fall under “Acts of God.” Depending on your policy terms and conditions, it will likely cover any damages caused by floods or hurricanes. But again, this is subject to your policy agreement.

It is important to know whether auto insurance covers hurricane damage. You should also understand that comprehensive coverage can have its limitations. For example, it may not cover all damage costs associated with repairing or replacing your vehicle after these natural disasters.

Remember also that policies have deductibles you must pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company covers the remaining costs. So, as a priority, you should be prepared to handle that.

However, in some cases, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide financial assistance for storm-related vehicle damage when a major disaster is declared.

This assistance can help cover costs not covered by your insurance policy, such as expenses exceeding policy limits or even your deductible.

Check Your Auto Policy for Flood and Hurricane Coverage

To determine if your insurance covers flood and hurricane damage to your car, you should read over your policy, specifically looking through your comprehensive coverage section — as this is the one that would cover your damage costs.

If you’re still unsure about affordable full coverage auto insurance, contact your insurance agent for help or a better understanding of whether your auto policy covers flood and hurricane damage.

Your agent would be able to point you in the right direction and provide concrete answers to your question of how to know if you chose the right coverage.

Preparing Yourself and Your Car for Floods and Hurricanes

If you’re in a disaster-prone area, while it’s not always possible to prepare for a flood or hurricane, you should plan ahead — if at all possible. Understand the likelihood of those phenomena in your area, and make informed decisions about your insurance coverage.

Being prepared for floods and hurricanes can help minimize damage to your vehicle and ensure a smoother recovery process. According to FEMA, you should consider the following:

• Keep track of local news and weather warnings — by following advice from your authorities.
• Keep your car in good working condition. Ensure your tires, brakes, and other important parts are well-maintained.
• Know your evacuation routes to reach higher ground or a safe location. A well-planned route can help avoid getting stranded during a flood or hurricane.
• Create an emergency kit for your vehicle. Include items like bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, blankets, etc.
• Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full when a hurricane or flood is expected. Gas stations will be packed before — and may be closed or without power during a natural disaster.
• Do not attempt to drive through flooded streets. Floodwaters can be deeper than they look, and your car might stall or even submerge under what you thought was a shallow puddle.

If you don’t have flood or hurricane coverage, you may need to switch policies before one of these disasters occurs. If a storm is approaching, some companies won’t change your existing policy until afterward. With all this in mind, contact your insurance company to speak with an agent about your policy.

Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a natural disaster if I only have liability coverage?