Why Flooded-Out Cars Are Likely Total Losses

I worked for Mercury Insurance for five years. I also spent 15 years working in the body shop industry doing Insurance Company accounts. Normally, if the water reaches the lowest part of the dash, the car is a total loss!

If the car was being driven through deep water and it swallows water, it is often common that the water will put a crack in the with a thrown rod in the engine block. It's called hydrolock because you can't compress a liquid. Another issue is some people buy these total losses and some states may still have a way to take a car that was a total loss and change the title to make it not look like a total. So you may buy a car that you think is okay but later it gets involved in an accident and you find out that it was appraised by another insurance company has a loss and now your car is considered a salvage title and worth even less. Some states like Mississippi used to have loopholes were you could re register the car with a clean title. Not sure if this is still the case but buyer beware if the price is too low! I guess with Carfax and other car services you can run the VIN and see if the car has been involved in any insurance claims. A small accident does not make the car a salvage title.

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LTC Eugene Chu
Car owners whose vehicle gets swept up by hurricane will face two hard facts: Their car is almost certainly totaled, if it was swamped. And how the owners will be compensated depends on their car insurance coverage.

"Flood insurance is covered under the comprehensive portion of a car insurance policy," explains Loretta L. Worters, vice president at the Insurance Information Institute. "Comprehensive coverage is generally optional, although your lender may require it if you have an auto loan." She points out that about three-quarters of people carry comprehensive coverage.

LTC Eugene Chu I Rather Like My KIA Forte, It was a "Salvage" Title. Flooded in the Houston floods 2015. Works Fine.