subject: Flood Damage And Your Texas Auto Insurance [print this page] When thinking about all the reasons you should carry good car insurance, protections against flooding and damage caused by a flood is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Living in Texas, where torrential rainfall often causes flash flooding and where you can often find yourself in the path of a hurricane or other natural disaster, looking into flood coverage for your insurance is smart and important.
Risks involved with flooding - Most people don't know that over 90% of natural disasters involve flooding. From torrential rainfall in extreme thunderstorms to storm surge in the event of a hurricane, living in a state with such extreme weather as Texas you and your vehicle are likely to encounter some type of flooding.
Flooding can cause more damage to your vehicle than you think. When flood waters rise around your car they can impact not only the body of your vehicle, causing damage to the exterior look of your car, but a flood will also cause catastrophic problems with the wiring and electric aspects of your cars engine.
Be careful to never leave your windows or sunroof open when your car is parked. If a flash flood happens and water seeps into your vehicles interior through those or some other means, chances are high that your car will be what insurance companies call a "total loss." This means that your vehicle is unsalvageable and it will need to be replaced.
Avoiding Risk - You can take preventative steps to lower your chances of suffering flood damage, especially when you live where extreme weather is known to cause flooding - it happens in all 50 States, so you may be at risk for flooding and not even know it.
Always keep your windows, sun roof and trunk shut when you park and exit your car. Taking steps to keep water from getting inside your car helps avoid costly interior damage often caused by flooding. If you hear reports of a storm coming, move your car to high ground. If you park in a garage install a pump system to help get any extra water out of the garage in a flood.
If you have to drive in extreme weather don't take any unnecessary risks. The best plan is to not drive at all, but if you get caught in a storm, pull over or onto high ground to ride it out. If there is flash flooding stay off the roads. Never try and drive through a flooding street or a dip in the road that may have filled with water. Standing water on the road can be much deeper than it appears and cause serious damage to your vehicle if you attempt to drive through it.
Get covered - The best way to be sure that you are protected from flood damage is to add comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage means just that; you are totally covered from all potential problems your vehicle might encounter in the world, including natural disasters and flooding.
Liability only insurance coverage, coverage that is mandated by the State, is not enough to protect your car from flood damage. The best policy in life is to be smart and be prepared. As soon as you can call your Texas auto insurance company and inquire about your coverage limits and how you can get covered and protected from flood damage. On average drivers pay 100-$200 extra per year when they add comprehensive coverage to their auto insurance policy.
It is also important to know that most insurance companies restrict your ability to purchase insurance when there is an approaching storm. Don't wait until the last minute, contact your Texas auto insurance company now and make sure you are covered.
If you are involved in a flood make sure that you contact your Texas auto insurance company as soon as possible. Time is of the utmost importance in a flood claim and you want to be first in line when your insurance company gets adjusters out to look at the damage. Be sure to take pictures and keep records of all the damage caused and to get your vehicle dried out as soon as possible.
by: Jamie Jackson
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