Does car insurance cover flood damage?
A comprehensive (own-damage) car policy generally covers flood damage to your vehicle — but engine damage from water is the big exception. If water enters the engine and you try to restart it (hydrostatic lock), that consequential engine damage is often excluded unless you have an engine protect add-on. Third-party-only policies do not cover your own car at all.
What is and isn't covered
- Covered under comprehensive: damage to the car body, interiors and electricals from flooding or waterlogging, subject to IDV, deductible and depreciation.
- Often excluded: engine or gearbox damage caused by water ingress — especially if you restart a stalled car in water. This is where an engine protect add-on matters.
- Not covered: anything on your own car if you only hold third-party liability insurance.
What to do in a flood
If your car stalls in water, do not restart it — call for a tow and inform your insurer. Restarting is the single most common way a claimable situation becomes an excluded engine claim.
See motor add-ons (engine protect, roadside assistance) and own damage vs third-party.