Towing Your Car After A Flood: What Do You Need To Know?
Towing after a flood is a necessity when your car is waterlogged. It should not be driven until the engine is examined and cleaned in-depth, otherwise, you’ll have even more expensive damages on your hands.
Take a look at these guidelines on how to handle a flood disaster, limit the damage to your vehicle and file an insurance claim after the fact.
Prevent a Flooded Vehicle
If a flood warning is forecast in your area, stay home. Motorists may believe they can keep up with their daily activities and that a warning is just that: a warning. Err on the side of caution. Floods can not only ruin your car, they could take your life. Evacuate flood regions and observe driving limitations and regulations instituted by the local authorities.
What to Do if You are Unsafe
Never drive through standing water, especially if you are unsure how deep it is. If a flood hits while you are in your vehicle, don’t panic. Unbuckle your seat belt, roll down the windows and attempt to abandon your car for higher ground. If you are unable to swim and the torrent is too strong, call 911 and wait in your car for help.
How Water Damages Your Car
Water is a forceful enemy of your vehicle’s engine. When it enters fuel lines and fluid tanks and soaks engine parts, many times the damage is so extensive it is beyond repair. Modern vehicles are constructed with sensitive electrical systems. Water damage leads to corrosion of the electrical sensors and can cause malfunctions for years to come, even when the engine is completely dried out.
The first step in assessing the damage from a flood is to find the waterline. If the car was submerged up to the dashboard, it’s likely that you will never be able to fully repair it. If it was exposed to salt water, it is most likely totaled. Either way, never try to start the vehicle’s engine after a flood. You will only exacerbate the damage.
Will Your Insurance Cover the Repairs?
Most comprehensive car insurance policies cover flood damage. Call your insurance provider right away to file a claim. Take pictures of the flooded vehicle, but then immediately begin drying out the car. While you may want to let a mechanic drain and replace engine fluids and take care of other mechanical intricacies, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to clean the interior upholstery and eliminate mold and musty odors.
Don’t wait too long — towing after a flood affects your vehicle and should be done as soon as possible. Corrosion and rust will set in immediately. Call Stauffer’s Towing and arrange transport of your vehicle to the nearest mechanic experienced with assessing and repairing flood-damaged cars.
