Switch on the news during any major flood event in Australia, and chances are you’ll see heartbreaking images of submerged homes and drenched farmland, or city streets turned into waterways.
Cars don’t escape the impact either. In the aftermath of New South Wales’ 2025 Mid-North Coast and Hunter floods, 961 motor vehicle claims were made, which accounted for nearly 16% of the total number of flood-related claims.1
So, would you know what to do if your car was in a flood? This practical guide outlines how to assess the damage, some important safety considerations, and how to lodge a car insurance claim after a flood.
How can floodwater damage a car?
Even a small amount of water inside your car can cause significant problems, says Rod Lofts, a senior technical writer on the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce’s (VACC) MotorTech team.
For starters, he says, water can be very damaging to vehicles if it enters the engine, driveline and electrical components.
“Many cars will have a safe wading depth, which is the level of water that the manufacturers state the vehicle can drive through without harm. If this depth is exceeded, water may enter the vehicle interior or other mechanical or electrical components.”
Modern vehicles have loads of costly electronic units – many mounted under the carpet – so even a small amount of water can be harmful, explains Lofts.
“Once water enters the control units– wiring harnesses and connectors for example – it can damage the fragile electronics instantly or initiate a slow process of corrosion,” he notes “This can cause various faults in multiple systems and circuits, making diagnosis and repair very difficult.”
Saltwater vs rainwater damage
Saltwater will inflict the most damage on your car, says Lofts, because its corrosive properties will impact your vehicle’s metal body and electrical connectors quickly.
However, a freshwater flooding event can create different problems.
“Freshwater flooding can allow river silt and mud to enter the car, which is abrasive to any moving parts and is very difficult to remove from carpets, seats and other trims,” he explains.
If your car was in a flood, or submerged, should you start it?
The answer is a firm no, according to Lofts.
“Attempting to start the engine of a submerged car could cause severe damage due to a condition called hydraulic lock,” he says.
“Engines are designed to compress or squeeze gases into a smaller volume, but they can’t compress a liquid. If you attempt to do so, expensive components inside the engine, such as connecting rods, can become bent.”
If your car has been flooded, Lofts recommends calling trained professionals or emergency services as soon as you can, whether it’s an EV or fuel combustion vehicle.
Electric vehicles and floodwaters
Electric vehicles can pose a particular risk after floods and require extra caution.2 Water-damaged battery systems may ignite hours, days or even weeks after being submerged in water, warns Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), and, where possible, should be kept at least 15 metres from other vehicles or buildings.2
FRNSW also advises owners not to try to charge or use their electric vehicle if there’s a chance it’s been affected by water damage until it’s been inspected and cleared by a qualified technician.2
“You might not be able to see if damage has occurred under the vehicle, where high-voltage batteries are commonly mounted. So, the safest option is not to approach the car,” Lofts adds.
How can you check for damage if your car was in a flood?
Flood damage to your car won’t always be obvious, which is another reason you shouldn’t take the risk of trying to drive it.3
“You may be able to drive for several kilometres or several months until something happens, and that damage will be caused by corrosion of electrical wires,” according to Motor Trades Association of Australia former chief executive Richard Dudley, speaking to the ABC after devastating floods struck Queensland’s south-east and parts of NSW.3
“In a situation with water, if there’s a way to seep in, it will.”3
“That’s why it’s so important to contact your insurer first if you suspect your car has been damaged by floodwater – before you do anything else,” adds Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product – Vehicle and Lifestyle.
“They will be able to advise you of next steps.”
Can a flooded car be repaired?
Flooded cars can’t always be repaired, says Lofts, mostly due to the high probability of damage to electronic systems and other mechanical components, as well as the expense of diagnostics and repairs.
Aside from the mechanical functioning of your car, water may also impact carpets, seats, inside the doors, dashboard, airbag systems and other small depressions and cavities around a vehicle’s interior and body.
“This can cause corrosion and even mould, resulting in smells that are difficult to banish and new parts that often have to be fitted,” Lofts adds.
Meanwhile, repairs to flood-impacted electric vehicles carry unique safety considerations, with not all mechanics in Australia adequately qualified to work on EVs.4
“An insurer will typically write-off a flood-impacted vehicle as a total loss if the damage is too extensive to be safely or economically repaired, namely if the repair costs are likely to be more than the car’s insured value,” adds Jackson.
“Additionally, if a car has been inundated with water that’s risen above the level of the inner door sill, the law will require it to be classified as a statutory write-off, and therefore, unrepairable.”
Does car insurance cover flood damage?
Not sure if your car insurance covers you for flood damage?
“That will depend on your level of car insurance cover,” says Jackson.
“Typically, you’ll need to take out comprehensive car insurance if you wish to be covered for any damage to your vehicle caused by a flood.”
What does car flood insurance include and exclude?
The fine print can differ between insurers, so it pays to do your research carefully if flood coverage for your car is important to you. For example, your insurer’s specific definition of a “flood” may be different from your own understanding of the term.5
Youi classifies a flood as occurring when normally dry land is covered by water that has escaped or been released from its normal confines.6
“That can include water escaping from a lake, river, creek, reservoir, canal, dam or another watercourse,” says Jackson.
There can also be waiting or exclusion periods, depending on your policy, and limits on cover when it comes to things such as personal belongings inside your car.5
“With Youi’s Comprehensive car insurance, items inside your car are covered up to $150 per item if they’re damaged by flood, up to a total of $750 for a claim,” says Jackson.
“It’s also really important that you take reasonable precautions to prevent or reduce damage to your vehicle in the event of a flood, for example, by moving your car to higher ground if it’s safe to do so, and regularly clearing the sunroof drains,” she says.
How to make an insurance claim if your car was in a flood
As a key step, Moneysmart recommends checking your insurance policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to find out what you can claim for, and for details about how much excess you might need to pay.7
Jackson advises further: “If your car has been in a flood, the next step – before you take it to a mechanic or repairer – is usually to phone your insurance company to lodge a claim. At Youi, you can also lodge a claim online anytime, day or night.”
From there, she says, a claims advisor will likely be allocated to your case, and your vehicle assessed for damage by one of your insurer’s nominated service providers.
“Once this is complete, your insurer will make a decision on your claim, and if successful, the repair/replacement process can start,” says Jackson.
Tips to prevent flood damage to your car
If a flood warning has been issued, Geoff Evans, the co-founder of Disaster Relief Australia, suggests the following steps to help prevent water damage to your car or vehicle:
- Try to evacuate cars, especially EVs, from underground carparks in affected zones before flooding occurs.
- Park away from trees and powerlines.
- Find higher ground if that’s an option.
- Pull over in a safe location, away from trees, road signs or flood-prone dips if you find yourself on the road when a severe storm hits.
“Remember, a depth of just 15 centimetres of floodwater is all it takes to sweep away a small car,” warns Evans.
“Flash flooding can occur quickly and in unexpected areas. Never be tempted to drive through floodwater. Not only can it possibly damage your vehicle, but many people have been injured or have died attempting to do this,” says Lofts.
In fact, about 45% of all flood fatalities in Australia are attributed to people entering floodwater in motor vehicles, according to a report by the Australian Journal of Emergency Management.8
Discovering that your car’s been damaged by floodwater is stressful, but hopefully this guide has given you a clearer understanding of what steps to take, how to stay safe and what to expect from your insurance claim.
If your car’s covered by Youi Comprehensive insurance and you need to make a car flood insurance claim, you can lodge it online 24/7, or call 13 9684 if you’d like to speak to a claims advisor. Our team is here to help you through the process.
Note: Information in this article is relevant as of November 2025 and by its nature will change over time. Check relevant Government websites for updates if this information is important to you.
1 Source: Insurance Council of Australia – Insurance claims exceed 6,000 for Mid-North Coast and Hunter floods, May 2025
2 Source: Fire and Rescue NSW – Electric vehicles
3 Source: ABC News – What to do if your car’s been submerged in floodwater, March 2022
4 Source: Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association – AAAA Calls for Review of NSW’s Flawed Electric Vehicle Repair Proposal, May 2025
5 Source: Canstar – Does car insurance cover flood damage?, June 2025
6 Exclusions, limits and additional fees may apply. For full details, see the Car Insurance PDS.
7 Source: Moneysmart – Claiming on your car insurance
8 Source: Australian Journal of Emergency Management – Driving into floodwater: using data from emergency responders to inform workplace safety policy and practice, October 2020
