What To Do with my Flooded Car?

It has been estimated that Hurricane Harvey wrecked or destroyed as many as $1 million vehicles, and that Irma destroyed another $400,000, totaling $1.4 million vehicles destroyed.  

If you are one of the unfortunate people who owns a car that’s been flooded, you’re probably wondering what to do next.  Here are some tips to help you make the best decisions to move forward.

Is the Car Salvageable?

First and foremost, you’ll need to assess how damaged your vehicle actually is.  Look for a water mark inside the car. If the water mark is up to engine level, your vehicle may not be salvageable, and you should not attempt to start it; you could do even more damage. 

Mitigate Water Damage

If you’ve experienced a more minor flood event, your car may be completely salvageable and you should focus on immediate clean-up and maintenance steps. 

• Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove any standing water.
• Use towels to absorb water that may have soaked into the seats and cushions.
• Use dehumidifiers and fans, if possible.

Keep in mind that salt water is significantly worse for the life of your vehicle than fresh water, as it can lead to corrosion of any parts that it came into contact with.

Consider An Insurance Claim

You’ll need to contact your insurance company immediately in order to file a claim.  The possibility of obtaining insurance reimbursement is dependent upon what type of coverage you have.  Comprehensive auto insurance will pay for repairs or will pay the value of the vehicle if it’s totaled. Note that comprehensive claims have a deductible, which you can find on your insurance policy’s declaration page. 

Junk Your Car

If you have a vehicle that’s worth less than the cost of your insurance deductible, or don’t have comprehensive coverage to begin with, junking your car may be the smartest option. Even if your car isn’t salvageable, there could still be functioning parts inside that have retained their value, and the car itself has worth in the form of scrap metal. 

At Junk Car Traders, we specialize in buying junk cars and will pay top dollar for your water damaged vehicle. To learn more, give us a call at 855-959-1325 or email us at [email protected].