State Farm Auto Insurance: Understanding Flood Damage Coverage

If your car has been damaged by flooding, you may be wondering if your insurance policy covers it. State Farm auto insurance offers comprehensive coverage as an optional add-on to its policies, which includes protection against damage from severe storms and flooding. This means that if your car has been partially or fully submerged in floodwater, you can file a claim with State Farm and they will help cover the cost of repairs or replacement. It's important to act quickly, as corrosion from salt water can cause extensive damage, and to follow their checklist for assessing flood damage. State Farm will then determine whether to repair or replace your vehicle based on the extent of the damage.

Comprehensive coverage

If your vehicle is partially or fully submerged in floodwater, it can result in extensive damage and costly repairs. It is important to act quickly and start drying out your vehicle as soon as possible, as the chances of corrosion are much higher if it has been submerged in saltwater. You should also contact a towing service to get your vehicle to higher ground.

Once you have filed a claim, your insurance company, along with a qualified mechanic, will assess the extent of the flood damage. They will check for water in the engine, corroded spots, and electrical damage, among other things. Depending on the severity of the damage, the insurance company will decide whether to repair or replace the vehicle.

It is important to note that comprehensive coverage is separate from collision coverage, which covers damage caused by colliding with objects or other vehicles. While comprehensive coverage is not required by law in most states, it can provide valuable protection against flood damage and other non-collision incidents.

Filing a claim

If your car has been damaged by flooding, you can file a claim with State Farm. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Call the Police

Firstly, call the police to report the incident. This is important, even if the damage seems minor, as in many states, it is a legal requirement. The responding officer will write a police report that will support your insurance claim. Make sure to gather the following information:

• Name, address, phone number, and insurance policy number of the other driver (take a photo of their driver's license).
• Year, make, model, and license plate number of all the vehicles involved.
• Photos of the accident scene and any damage to your vehicle.
• Detailed notes from any conversations you had with the people involved in the accident.
• Contact information for any witnesses.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Agent

It is a good idea to contact an agent at your insurance company to report the accident, even if you are not at fault. There are several reasons for this:

• Your auto insurance policy may require that you notify your insurance company if you are involved in an accident.
• Your auto insurance policy may provide coverage if the other driver is uninsured or their policy doesn't cover all your damages.
• Your insurance company may be willing to file your insurance claim with the at-fault driver on your behalf.

Step 3: File a Claim with State Farm

There are two ways to file a claim with State Farm:

• Online: You can file a claim using the State Farm website or mobile app. If you encounter any problems, you can use the online chat feature or call customer service.
• By Phone: Call 1-800-SF-CLAIM (1-800-732-5246) to file your claim. This phone number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Regardless of the method you choose, be prepared to provide the following information:

• Date and time of the accident.
• Location of the accident.
• Vehicles involved (make, model, license plate).
• Description of the accident and the resulting damage.
• State Farm policyholder's name and policy number.
• Any photographs, police reports, or other evidence related to the accident.

Step 4: Understand Your Rights

When you file an insurance claim with State Farm or any other auto insurance company, you have certain legal rights. Insurance companies are prohibited from:

• Misrepresenting relevant facts or insurance policy provisions.
• Imposing requirements that are not in the insurance policy.
• Offering unreasonably low settlement amounts to compel the insured to litigate.
• Trying to settle claims for less than what is reasonably expected based on their advertisements.
• Settling when liability is reasonably clear.

Insurance companies are also prohibited from:

• Failing to acknowledge and act promptly with respect to insurance claims.
• Failing to accept or deny a claim within a reasonable time frame.
• Failing to provide explanations for claim denials or settlement offers.
• Denying a claim without a reasonable basis.

Additionally, insurance companies are prohibited from:

• Refusing to pay a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation using all available information.
• Failing to complete an investigation within a reasonable time frame (usually 30 days) after receiving the claim.
• Destroying or altering documents to conceal evidence related to claim handling.

Step 5: Follow Up on Your Claim

Even after filing your insurance claim, there are still some steps you should take to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to:

• Visit a Doctor: It is recommended to see a doctor after a car accident, even if your injuries seem minor. Sometimes, symptoms of serious injuries may not appear until days or weeks later. Additionally, if you are seeking reimbursement for medical expenses, you will need supporting documentation.
• Choose a Repair Shop: State Farm allows you to select any shop to repair your vehicle. However, they have a network of auto repair shops in their Select Service Network, which offers benefits such as pick-up and delivery service, guaranteed completion dates, and certain limited warranties.

Corrosion and mould

To prevent corrosion and mould, it is important to control the moisture levels in the storage atmosphere. A multi-functional dehumidifier can help maintain relative humidity at a constant and safe level, protecting your car from moisture damage. Relative humidity should be maintained between 35% and 55% to ensure protection from moisture damage.

If your car has already been affected by mould, there are several methods you can use to remove it:

• White vinegar: Dilute white vinegar with water and apply it to the mould patches with a cloth or spray bottle. Let it rest for 20 minutes, then use a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner to remove the dead mould.
• Saltwater: Vacuum the area to remove surface mould, then mix salt with water and apply the solution to the mould spots. Leave the car in direct sunlight to dry, then scrub off the mould remains.
• Clove oil: Mix clove oil with water and apply it to the mould spots. Once dry, clean the area. For severe cases, mix clove oil with baking soda and apply it with a toothbrush.
• Baking soda: Sprinkle baking soda on the mould spots and leave it for 20 minutes. It will absorb excess moisture and can be combined with white vinegar for stronger results.

It is important to act quickly if your car has been partially or fully submerged in floodwater, as the chances of corrosion are much higher. Start drying out your vehicle as soon as possible and contact a towing service to get it to higher ground.

National Flood Insurance Program

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is delivered to the public by a network of more than 50 insurance companies and the NFIP Direct. The NFIP provides affordable insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses to help reduce the socio-economic impact of floods. It is available to anyone living in one of the almost 23,000 participating communities.

The NFIP works with communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that help mitigate flooding effects. Flood insurance is a separate policy that can cover buildings, the contents of a building, or both. It is important to protect your home, business, and possessions from the financial impact of flooding. Just one inch of floodwater can cause up to $25,000 in damage.

A flood insurance policy typically takes 30 days from the date of purchase to go into effect, so it is important to plan ahead and not wait until a flood is imminent to purchase a policy. The NFIP is only available in the United States.

Deductibles

State Farm's comprehensive coverage helps pay to repair or replace a covered vehicle from a loss not caused by a collision. This includes damage from weather conditions such as wind damage from hurricanes, floods, hail, and falling objects.

Comprehensive coverage requires a deductible. A deductible is the amount you agree to pay upfront when you make an insurance claim. For example, if you file an insurance claim for $2,000 and your policy has a $500 deductible, you will be responsible for the $500 before the remaining $1,500 is paid by your insurer.

When purchasing your car insurance policy, you get to select a deductible. The deductible usually applies each time you file a claim. The most common deductible is $500. When choosing your car insurance deductible, think about how much you're willing to pay out of pocket if you need to make a claim. Higher deductibles generally mean lower premiums, but higher out-of-pocket costs. On the other hand, lower deductibles generally translate to higher premiums.

With comprehensive coverage, you choose whether you have a deductible and how much it is. You can ask your insurance agent to run quotes with different deductibles so that you can compare and make the best choice for you.

Frequently asked questions