Will Car Insurance Pay for Flood Damage?

Last Updated on December 28, 2025

After hurricanes, tropical storms, and heavy rain events, it’s unfortunately common to see cars sitting in rising water—or fully submerged. If you’re dealing with water in (or around) your vehicle, the big question is simple: Will car insurance cover flood damage?

Flooding is handled very differently under auto insurance than it is under homeowners insurance. Standard homeowners and renters policies typically exclude flood damage unless you buy a separate flood policy (you can see that explained here: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buying flood insurance).

Auto insurance is different: flood damage to a vehicle is usually covered if you carry comprehensive coverage (sometimes called “other-than-collision”).

Key Takeaways

• Car flood damage is usually covered under comprehensive (other-than-collision) coverage, minus your comprehensive deductible.
• Minimum/liability-only auto insurance won’t pay to repair or replace your car after a flood—comprehensive is the key coverage to have in place before the storm.
• Water damage may be denied or disputed if it’s tied to poor maintenance, long-term leaks, or preventable negligence (like leaving windows open during a storm).
• Insurers often impose “binding restrictions” ahead of hurricanes, so you may not be able to add comprehensive coverage at the last minute once warnings are issued.

Does Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage?

In most cases, yes—but only if your policy includes comprehensive coverage. Flooding is typically treated as a comprehensive claim, which means:

• You’ll pay your comprehensive deductible.
• Your insurer will pay for covered repairs or declare the vehicle a total loss and pay the car’s actual cash value (ACV) (minus your deductible).

Comprehensive coverage is optional for many drivers. When you combine comprehensive + collision (and carry liability), people often refer to that as full coverage—even though “full coverage” isn’t a single, official policy type.

Flooding and Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage is designed for vehicle damage that isn’t caused by a crash. Flooding fits that definition, which is why comprehensive is the key coverage for storm surge, flash floods, rising water, and similar events.

That said, comprehensive is not “everything” coverage. It won’t pay for normal wear and tear, mechanical breakdown, or damage that happens gradually over time.

What Else Comprehensive Usually Covers

Flood damage is just one of many common claims handled under comprehensive. Depending on your policy terms and state rules, comprehensive commonly applies to:

• Theft (including attempted theft in many cases)
• Fire damage (including wildfire-related losses)
• Hail damage
• Hitting an animal (like a deer)
• Rodent damage (in many situations)
• Glass damage (depending on your policy and whether you added extra glass coverage)

What Types of Water Damage Are Covered?

Flooding usually means rising water from a sudden event—like heavy rainfall, storm surge, or overflow. In other words, the kind of “outside water” scenario you often see after natural disasters.

Comprehensive coverage commonly applies when:

• Your car is parked and water rises into the engine, interior, or electrical systems.
• Your car is damaged by wind-driven rain after a storm breaks a window.
• Hail breaks your windows or windshield and water pours in. In many cases, both the glass damage and the water intrusion are part of the same comprehensive claim (learn more about windshield replacement coverage).

One important note: If you drive into water and the vehicle is damaged, it’s often still handled as a comprehensive loss—but every claim depends on the specific facts. If you hit something hidden under the water (like a curb or debris) and that impact causes damage, collision coverage may be involved.

When Water Damage Might Not Be Covered

Insurance is meant for sudden, accidental losses—not problems that build up over time or happen because a vehicle wasn’t cared for. Two issues that can complicate water-damage claims are maintenance and negligence.

Maintenance Issues and Slow Leaks

If water enters your car over a long period due to a known leak, failed seal, or neglected repairs, your insurer may argue it’s not a covered comprehensive event. Staying on top of regular and routine maintenance helps avoid coverage disputes and prevents avoidable damage.

Negligence and Preventable Damage

Negligence can mean failing to take reasonable steps to prevent damage—like leaving windows open during a storm or ignoring a problem that’s been getting worse. In some situations, that can lead to a claim denial or a dispute over what portion of damage is covered.

If you’re trying to understand a specific scenario, this guide on car insurance and water damage breaks down how insurers often look at different types of losses.

Hurricanes, Storm Surge, and “Binding Restrictions”

Hurricanes can damage cars through floodwater, storm surge, heavy rain, falling debris, and wind-driven impacts. The flood part is typically treated the same as any other flood: comprehensive coverage is the main protection.

Here’s the catch: because hurricanes often come with advance warning, insurers may place temporary binding restrictions (sometimes called a moratorium) that limit new policies or coverage changes in the projected impact area. In plain terms, you usually can’t wait until the last minute to add comprehensive coverage after warnings are posted.

If you’re reviewing coverages ahead of storm season, this is also a good time to revisit whether it still makes sense to carry certain protections—here’s a practical guide on when you should (or shouldn’t) drop collision and comprehensive.

Is Comprehensive Coverage Required?

Comprehensive coverage is not required by state law. Most states only require some form of minimum coverage auto insurance, which is centered on liability coverage to protect other people if you cause a crash.

However, comprehensive coverage is often required by your lender or leasing company. If you have a financed vehicle or you’re trying to understand leased car insurance, you’ll usually find that lenders require you to carry full coverage until the loan or lease is satisfied.

Even when it’s optional, comprehensive is often less expensive than collision coverage, and it covers a wide range of losses (including floods). For many drivers, the price is worth it—especially if replacing the vehicle out of pocket would be a financial strain.

On the other hand, if you have an older vehicle and you could comfortably replace it without insurance money, dropping comprehensive may be reasonable. The decision usually comes down to your car’s value, your deductible, and your ability to self-insure a total loss.

What to Do If Your Car Is Flooded

If your vehicle has been in floodwater, act quickly—but safely. A few steps can make the claims process smoother and help prevent additional damage.

• Don’t start the engine. Starting a flooded car can cause more damage (especially to the engine and electronics) and can complicate the claim.
• Document the damage. Take photos and video of the water line inside and outside the vehicle, the surrounding area, and any visible debris or impact damage.
• Contact your insurer and ask about towing. Many policies offer towing/labor coverage (or the claim itself may include necessary towing) and the insurer can tell you where to take the vehicle.
• Remove personal items. Auto insurance typically doesn’t cover personal belongings inside the car; those may fall under homeowners/renters coverage instead.
• Ask about rental reimbursement. If you carry rental coverage, you may have a rental car while repairs or total-loss evaluation happens.

FAQs on Car Insurance and Flood Damage

Bottom Line on Car Insurance and Flood Damage

Flood damage is usually covered by car insurance if you have comprehensive coverage. Liability-only policies won’t pay to repair or replace your vehicle after flooding, and waiting until a hurricane is imminent to add coverage may not work due to insurer binding restrictions.

If you’re unsure what you currently have, check your declarations page for comprehensive coverage and your deductible, then call your insurer to confirm how they handle flood and water-damage claims in your state.