It’s worth knowing how much to charge for repairing a water damaged car in the event of water-related incidents like flooding involving your vehicle. You could look at figures ranging from a mere $20 to up to $8,000 depending on water damage’s severity.
Read on for more on the specifics.
What Is The Cost Breakdown For Water Damage Repair?
You’ll have to figure out the extent of the damage to properly assess the total repair cost. If it’s only the car interior that’s affected and not any of the machinery, you can look at the easy $20 least mentioned earlier.
Perhaps the water damage affected only your upholstery. In this case, the $20 minimum can help you get rid of the stains.
You’ll need to purchase supplies such as dry foam upholstery or rug shampoo, a brush, a dry, clean towel, and a vacuum designed for cars.
When using the shampoo, you have to apply it to the entire seat, not just the stained part. Focusing only on that part makes it more noticeable afterward.
Work in the shampoo by gently brushing and allow it to dry.
You may not have a problem with leather as water stains can dry out without leaving a stain. However, if you notice a deep-set water stain, you can opt for some vinegar to clean the affected area.
It may surprise you how vinegar can be effective in removing hard water stains.
If you want additional tips on dealing with water-damaged leather seating or upholstery in your car, here’s a handy guide on how to fix brown water damaged leather.
In some cases, you may need to do a complete overhaul of your car’s upholstery. It should be important to note that you may have to spend a few hundred dollars to get it done.
Nevertheless, as long as the machinery is intact and you only have to worry about the inside, payments of at least $20 to a few hundred can help you deal with your water-stained interiors.
On the other hand, you may be here because the interior machinery has succumbed to water damage and possible flooding, for example.
You’re going to have to cough up a hefty amount as the price range for a water-damaged, or “hydro locked” engine, among other mechanisms, is about $3,000 to $8,000. That is to say if your car is still salvageable.
If the car gets into a flood about six feet from ground level or suffers from saltwater-related damage, it’s as good as totaled. Count yourself lucky if your car didn’t get into these situations and the high price may be the least of your worries.
However, if you want to try your hand at doing repairs yourself, we’ve got a helpful article on how to fix water damaged engine
Will Insurance Cover Water Damage Or Flood Damage?
Whether insurance can help you out with the hefty costs or not, you’re probably aware that it depends on the circumstances surrounding the water damage to your car.
If your water damage is the result of weather such as rain or a hailstorm, comprehensive coverage can cover damages and subsequent repair. The same goes for flood damage.
The thing about comprehensive coverage is it’s optional but very beneficial. It would be a good idea if you opted for this type of insurance to help you get out of a water damage-related mess.
Whether you’ll embark on DIY repair or you’ll contact a mechanic, comprehensive coverage is your friend covering the aforementioned $3,000 to $8,000.
However, it’s important to note that comprehensive coverage covering water damage resulting from heavy rain may vary.
If a sudden rainstorm does significant damage in one occurrence, you can rest assured comprehensive coverage can help you. On the other hand, if the water damage is a result of gradual leaking due to poor maintenance that causes damage over time, you may not reap the benefits of insurance.
This is also true for water damage caused by open windows. Leaving your window counts as negligence so anyone with insurance should know that negligence won’t help anyone’s case.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) even says that it’s the car owner’s responsibility to maintain their vehicle’s good condition.
Suffice it to say that you should remember to apply preventative measures and keep your car in good shape to help minimize the damage. Also, you can only get insurance benefits if the circumstances involving water-damaged vehicles are beyond your control.
Conclusion
Well, that about sums up the topic of water damage repair costs and insurance.
If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll only have to spend at least $20 to a few hundred. Though more often than not, you’ll be dealing with hydro-locked parts and a hefty price tag.
That said, it’s always best to keep in mind how much to charge for repairing a water damaged car and if you have the right insurance or coverage. Large figures may be daunting, but it’s worth it, in the long run, to keep your car in tip top shape and make it last longer on the road.