Thousands of car owners over the next few days will find their insurance does not cover flood damage.
Usually, only comprehensive policy cover will pay for the repair or replacement of flood damaged vehicles, and there may be limits to that.
Drivers who ignored advice and tried to negotiate a flood which then overcame their vehicle may also find they get less, if any, payout from their insurer.
Lee Griffin, founder, and CEO at GoCompare gives advice to those affected by flooded and drowned cars.
“Storm Dennis wreaked havoc across the UK on the weekend, and while the immediate priority is to stay safe and, where necessary, find alternative accommodation, many will soon having to deal with making a claim on their car and home insurance.
“If your vehicle has suffered flood damage, call your insurer as soon as you can and follow their advice on what to do next. You’ll need a fully comprehensive policy to be able to claim for flood damage and even then, you’ll need to check your terms and conditions to see if you’re covered.
“Where flood damage is included, it will typically cover repairs to your car, including your stereo, upholstery, and carpets. Your other belongings in the car might also be covered. If they’re not, check your home insurance policy – they could be part of your personal possessions cover.
“If your car is submerged in floodwater, don’ttry to start it. Drain the water if you can and allow the vehicle to dry out as much as possible.
“For car insurance, unfortunately, you won’t find flood damage cover on a third party, fire, and theft policy, so it’s important for people with this level of cover to contact their insurer to check what’s advised.”