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recently, domestic coastal areas have frequently encountered typhoons, while inland areas have also been affected by typhoons, with severe weather such as heavy rains, flooding, strong winds, etc.

how to distinguish when heavy rain and typhoon cause vehicles to be soaked in waterhow serious is the water damage? how to deal with the water damage? how to claim insurance?these issues may confuse car owners who have just experienced extreme weather. let’s talk about them in detail below.

how to define the severity of a car being flooded?

a quick search on the internet will reveal a dizzying amount of information on flooded cars, but how do we define the severity of flooding? there are different opinions, but we will refer to the four definitions of the degree of flooding of cars by tüv rheinland in germany.

type 1 flooded car: water only reaches the floor

normally, the floor will only have some wiring harnesses and a few control modules, such as the body control module (bcm). the repair cost of these parts is not high, and the vehicle can continue to be used after simple repairs. there is no need to worry too much, but it will definitely affect the price of used cars in the future.

if the floor is only slightly soaked in water, it is best to remove the carpet, felt pads and other accessories immediately, and place them outdoors in the sun or bake them after cleaning, otherwise they will easily become moldy and produce odors.

type 2 flooded cars: water reaches the seat cushions

if the water reaches the seat cushion, it is a class 2 flooded car, which is relatively serious. the seat cushion is neither high nor low, but many control units and electrical equipment are only this high. compared with class 1 flooded cars, the repair cost of class 2 flooded cars is much higher.

the position of the engine is higher than the seat cushion, so the second type of flooded car does not need to be disassembled for repair, and the starter can only be replaced at most. however, the engine is fine, which does not mean that the powertrain is fine. for example, the clutch unit of the dry dual-clutch transmission will rust after water enters, but the fault will not be immediately manifested.

type 3 flooded cars: water flooded to the dashboard

when the water reaches the dashboard, it belongs to the third category of water-damaged vehicles. there is little point in repairing it. it is very expensive to repair and the car body has many defects and serious rust in hidden parts.

when water covers the dashboard, most electrical equipment is soaked, such as the instrument panel, central control screen, airbags, and various control units, etc. electrical equipment is most afraid of water, unless all are replaced, the fault cannot be cured. however, there are also some unscrupulous repair shops and merchants who will clean the car and sell it at a low price.

category 4 flooded cars: water floods over the roof

when the water reaches the roof of the car, it belongs to the fourth category of water-damaged cars, which is also the most serious water-damaged car. this kind of car will basically not be repaired because the repair cost is higher than the residual value of the car.

how to claim insurance for a flooded car?

scope of claims for water insurance

the amount of compensation for a flooded car will be determined based on the insurance company's inspection and damage assessment results. we have talked about the definition of a flooded car before. if it is a class 1 flooded car and the water only reaches the floor, the insurance company may only compensate for the repair costs rather than paying the full amount based on the depreciated price of the vehicle.

if it is a class 3 water-damaged car and the water has reached the dashboard, then the repair cost plus the residual value of the car may be greater than the depreciation premium given to the vehicle by the insurance company when it was originally insured, that is, the vehicle damage insurance coverage. at this time, the insurance company will consider it unnecessary to repair and will directly pay the full amount.

if your car is not soaked in water during a rainstorm, but is hit by a roadside tree, electric pole, or billboard, will the insurance company pay for it? the answer is yes, as such accidents are also considered natural disasters, and the insurance company will pay for them after inspecting and assessing the damage.

losses caused by natural disasters and force majeure

will the insurance company compensate?

after the reform of auto insurance, earthquakes were also included in natural disasters.compensation is provided for almost all natural disasters.

does water damage an electric car?

as we all know, electric vehicles have strong wading capabilities, and the motor, electronic control, and battery are all waterproof and dustproof. does this mean that electric vehicles are not afraid of being soaked in water? the answer is no.

generally, the batteries of electric vehicles meet the corresponding waterproof and dustproof levels. for example, ip67 means that the battery pack will not get wet if it is immersed in 1m of water for 0.5h. however, if the immersion time exceeds 0.5h, or the water depth exceeds 1m, the waterproof effect cannot be guaranteed.

electric vehicles have a very high working voltage, and leakage can cause great danger. water damage poses many uncertain risks to electric vehicles, and car companies are also strict in dealing with the issue of electric vehicles being damaged by water.

according to the requirements of some car companies, electric vehicles should be parked for 48 hours after being soaked in water. if there is no smoke, high temperature, electric sparks, burning smell, etc., the car can be transported back to the workshop for repair and handled by maintenance personnel who have received professional training and hold low-voltage electrician operation certificates. in short, electric vehicles cannot be driven after being soaked in water, and they must be parked for a period of time to see how the battery reacts.

final thoughts

typhoons and rainstorms often come suddenly. when using a car in such conditions, you should always ensure your personal safety first. do not rashly pass through unfamiliar flooded sections of road. in an emergency, you should first save yourself rather than the car, and abandon the car decisively.