What To Do If Your Car has Flood Damage

October 21, 2013 - Posted By mjones

Colorado’s massive flooding last month resulted in nearly $2 billion in property damage. Much of this estimated damage consisted of destroyed vehicles.

If your car was damaged in the Colorado floods or a similar natural disaster, you should check if your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage (an optional policy), which protects against flood damage. Be aware that mandatory liability insurance does not cover flood damage.

If your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage, contact your insurance agent to file a claim. Because of the high magnitude of damaged vehicles from flooding, chances are it will take longer than usual to get your claim processed. Be patient! Also, consider making repairs on the car and keeping it if the damage is not excessive.

If your car insurance policy does not include comprehensive coverage, a fantastic alternative to getting rid of it is donating it to charity. Research charities that include car donation in their fundraising channels. If you decide to donate your car directly to a charitable vehicle donation organization, make sure to do your research to find out if the charity is getting a bulk of the gross selling price of the car.

If you would like to donate your car on behalf of veterans, consider donating your vehicle to Vets Vehicles. We will sell your car to a salvage yard and donate all the proceeds to the nation’s top veterans charities. See our list of benefited charities.