Having flood insurance in NJ is a great way to protect your home in the event of a flood, but your insurance policy doesn’t usually extend as far as your car. So what should you do if your car is affected by your flood?
First, check to see the extent of the damage. It may just be that your carpets may be damaged, or there may be more serious damage such as to your dashboard or your engine. If you think that there may be water in your engine, don’t start your car, as this can make the problem worse.
Instead, arrange to have a mechanic look at your car to see whether it can be salvaged. If the flooding is fresh water rather than salt water, while you can’t claim on your flood insurance you may be able to make a damage claim on your car insurance policy if you have that level of cover.
If you do need to buy a new car after a flood, be careful when doing so, as stories of unscrupulous agents attempting to sell flood-damaged cars abound. Only ever buy from reputable dealers, and be wary of any car prices that seem too good to be true.
Of course, prevention is better than cure, so if you suspect that a flood is coming, take your car to high ground if there is time for you to do so safely.