Questions & answers · Car insurance
My car was in a flood. Does flood insurance pay for the car, or does my car insurance?
Car insuranceWho paysNew YorkChecked Nov 5, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-05 · Source: FEMA · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1)) · Art. IV (Property Not Insured) item 5 View original ↗
In short
- The federal flood policy lists "Self-propelled vehicles or machines" among property it does not insure.
- The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) says comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your car from causes other than collision, and it lists flood.
- Whether you have comprehensive coverage is shown on your own car policy.
What this means
This answer uses the federal flood policy and a New York DFS page. Other states may word this differently, and the sources here do not read them. The standard flood policy has a list called "Property Not Insured." It includes self-propelled vehicles or machines, with parts and equipment. The policy then names a few narrow exceptions for vehicles not licensed for public roads. For car damage, New York DFS says comprehensive coverage pays "without regard to fault" for damage to your car from causes other than collision, and its list includes flood. The sources do not say whether your own policy has comprehensive coverage, or what your deductible is.
Your next step
Look at your car policy's declarations page for comprehensive coverage and the deductible, then report the loss to your car insurer. The sources here do not give a deadline for a comprehensive claim.
Check it yourself
Open the DFS page and find the paragraph «Comprehensive Coverage». Open the flood policy text at the eCFR link and read Article IV.
Where this comes from (2)
[1] FEMA · Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form (44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1)) · Art. IV (Property Not Insured) item 5 · checked 2026-11-05
IV. Property Not Insured We do not insure any of the following: … 5 . Self-propelled vehicles or machines, including their parts and equipment.
[2] New York State Department of Financial Services · checked 2026-11-05
Under comprehensive coverage, your insurer pays you, without regard to fault, for damage to your car from all causes, other than collision, such as theft (of the car itself or its parts), fire, flood,
How we found this
We matched your question to 2 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-05.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
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