A week ago, we talked about recovering from flood damage. Something we did not address in the post was what one should do when a car has been damaged by flood waters. has put together some useful information on this subject in a recent news release.

One thing that flood victims should be sure to do is call their insurance carrier to find out what exactly their comprehensive insurance covers. Most of the time, comprehensive coverage, “will reimburse drivers for loss due to damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, catastrophic storms, vandalism, or contact with animals such as birds or deer. This includes flooding.”

If you find yourself needing to deal with a flood damaged car, the most important thing to do is be prepared. You should also do the following:

¢ Report damage as soon as possible. If your car is not drivable, your agent or claims center may be able to save you time and money by having the car towed directly to the repair facility instead of to a temporary storage facility. In addition, arrangements may be made immediately to provide you with a replacement rental car, if your policy includes this coverage.

¢ Know what your deductible is and any other additional charges before authorizing work. Expect your insurance adjuster, claims representative or repair facility appraiser to review the damage with you and explain the repair process, including the use of original or generic auto parts. Before authorizing repairs, know what your deductible is, as well as any additional charges you will be expected to pay once repairs are complete.

¢ Ask about warranties on repairs. Ask whether your insurer has a repair facility referral program that offers a written limited or lifetime repair warranty backed both by the repairer and insurer for as long as you own your vehicle.

¢ Do business only with a reputable company. Obtain insurance from companies, independent brokers or direct marketers that have a proven track record of handling auto insurance claims effectively. Before signing a contract or making a purchasing decision, you can check out businesses with BBB at www.bbb.org. You can also get a referral or contact your State Department of Insurance for information.

For more information on this subject,