Filing Insurance Claim For Your Flood-Damaged Car

Typhoon Ondoy has caused so much damage to the lives of many Filipinos when it devastated Metro Manila and nearby provinces with flashfloods brought about by heavy rains. News accounts show not only human casualties but also cars that have been totally submerged in water, some of them turned upside down.

After the storm, it is now time to pick the pieces and to resume our normal lives. The car, which is one of the prized possessions of a Filipino family, need to be repaired if not altogether replaced depending on the damage it suffered. The shortest route to accomplish this is to file a claim with your car insurance company.

But you should examine your policy if it includes damages caused by typhoon and flood. The more general auto insurance policies exclude damages caused by flood and typhoon. So you must examine your policy if there is an exception clause that says "INCLUSION OF FLOOD AND TYPHOON COVERS". If there is such a provision, then well and good. It is now time to file a claim. The general procedure is as follows:

1. Prepare your policy number.
2. Call your insurance company and secure a claim number. This claim number will be your reference number when you make a follow-up regarding your claim.
3. Prepare an Affidavit of Claim detailing the circumstances that led to the damages to the vehicle.
   
4. Prepare photocopy of the vehicle's registration certificate and current official receipt
5. Prepare photocopy of the driver's license and official receipt.
6. Submit these documents to your insurance company.
7. Have your vehicle examined by the insurance company's estimator.
8. Do not proceed with the repair of your damaged vehicle without the clearance or approval of your insurance company.
9. Once cleared, you may have your vehicle repaired. 

Please remember that you have to pay the deductible amount. This is what is usually referred to as the "insurance participation".

Finally, please remember that even if your car looks fine after floodwaters recede, remember that a car's engine, as well as its braking, steering, and transmission systems are prone to hidden flood damage. As a result, any car that has been subject to flooding should not be started until it has been inspected and cleaned by a qualified mechanic. If you try to start a flood-damaged car before a mechanic looks at it, you could endanger yourself and/or cause further damage to the vehicle. Your mechanic can also give you a repair estimate for your auto insurance company.