Has there been a flood in your neighborhood? Has your car went through flood damage? Are you thinking of handing it over to the trash collector? If your answer to these questions is yes, then before taking any extreme step, consider a few other options which might be available to you. There may actually be many choices available for you to deal with a flood-damaged vehicle. What you need to do is figure out which one works best in your situation.



Does your insurance cover flooding?

Check your insurance policy. Find the sections which deal with vehicles or personal property. In situations such as Hurricane Katrina, where flood damage affects a large area, insurance assessors on their own compensate for all cars in the area. This is much easier for them than if they go out to check each and every individual car. Your damages may have already been compensated. So forget about your saving your old car from flood damage and buy a brand new one.

Can you fix the damages?

If you are not lucky enough to be granted a compensation for your flood damage on your car, then see if the car can be fixed.

You can fix the car yourself. If only minor repairs can do the job, go ahead and use your hands and skills to get your car running again.

Mostly the mechanical components or the interiors of the car get damaged due to flood water. However, any area which is permeable can hold water. This can lead to the formation of mold and mildew which will later cause diseases and lead to problems in the smooth running of the car. It may also be possible that the car may have rusted in parts. In such cases, it may be difficult for you to fix the car on your own.

So if you think that minor repairs will not do the job, then hire an expert mechanic. This can prove to be very costly. However, if you do not want to let the car go because you feel it is irreplaceable, then hiring a mechanic will be worth it.

Is there a salvage yard nearby?

Salvage yards are places where they assess the condition of your car and its components. They take out the components which are still working and pay you for them. Or they might just buy the whole car and pay you for it. They may not pay you much but it is better than throwing it away as trash where you get nothing. So take your car from the perils of flood damage to a salvage yard and see if you can get a good deal on it.

Can you sell it on your own?

If you think that you will be better off selling the car on your own than to a salvage yard, then go ahead. Do make sure that you inform any potential buyer that the car has been damaged by flood water. This will help you avoid any legal battle or other hassles at a later point. However, be careful while making any transactions, if your car loan has still not been paid.

The best way to deal with flood-damaged cars is get a good insurance policy that insures you against flood damages, especially if you stay in an area which faces frequent floods. So don't wait for the next time that floods destroy your vehicle. Go and get your car insured against flood damage.