Comprehensive Coverage Covers Flooding

Flooding can cause major damage to any vehicle, particularly the computer and electrical systems. If you’re riding on your state’s minimum liability coverage, it’s unlikely that you’ll be covered for repair or the value of your vehicle. If you have what’s known as comprehensive coverage, you’re probably covered.

Comprehensive coverage

When you think of car insurance, you think of damage caused by a collision with another vehicle. That’s either liability or collision coverage though. Comprehensive coverage insures you for damage to your vehicle that isn’t caused by a collision. Depending on the terms of your policy, comprehensive coverage can protect you for risks like theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters and even floods.

Comprehensive deductibles

Many insurers will let you choose the deductible that you’ll pay for comprehensive insurance. Of course, the higher the deductible, the lower the cost is for coverage. The deductible will be payable at the time of loss. Some insurers will even give you comprehensive coverage without any deductible at all.

Who needs comprehensive coverage?

Unless you’re driving a vehicle of only negligible value, you should have comprehensive insurance. Whether you’re in a single car crash avoiding a deer or flooded, you’re probably covered. If you have a loan on your car, or if you’re driving a leased vehicle, comprehensive insurance is probably going to be required. Note that comprehensive isn’t necessarily stand alone coverage. It often has to be bought with other forms of coverage like collision.

Storage coverage

If your vehicle is in storage for the winter, your comprehensive coverage might be used to cover it while it’s not on the road. To save money, you might even want to drop your collision coverage during that interim. Just be sure that you contact your agent before getting on the road again.

The cost of comprehensive insurance

Based on your claims history and the vehicle that you’re driving, comprehensive coverage is relatively inexpensive. It’s a great value, and it might save you thousands when you need it.
Don’t just ride on your state’s mandatory minimum liability insurance coverage. There’s too much to lose. Your vehicle could be rendered worthless by flooding. There’s a deductible plan available for your budget, so talk to your agent about getting comprehensive insurance. If a comprehensive claim arises, you’ll be happy that you had the coverage.