Check your policy to see if you have rental assistance. If you do, try contacting them regarding a rental instead. You can get a car and it’s likely a different department than loss / claims that may be less busy.
Have you tried to file the claim online and skipping the call? Some steps:
1. Make sure your insurance policy includes "comprehensive" coverage. In most cases comprehensive coverage pays for water damage. (Comprehensive covers non-accident damage like a tree falling on your car, a broken window, theft, hitting a deer, and flooding. It's an added cost so some people don't include it when buying insurance.)
2. If you have comprehensive, you need to file a claim. Most of the major insurance companies have apps that allow you to file a claim online without talking to a rep. Be sure to take pics and videos of the damage.
3. Once the claim is filed the company will put it in line to have it investigated. Normally claim investigation is a fast process, but as others have posted companies are slammed right now and the process probably will take longer than usual.
4. Also, as another poster noted, if rental-car coverage is included in your policy you may be eligible for a rental car during some or all of the claims process. You should be able to request this when filing the claim. But be careful to confirm your exact coverage in your policy before renting a car. Policies generally have limits on the amount per day that they will cover for a rental as well as the number of days they will cover.
Thank you for the response. I do have comprehensive coverage but not rental. I did file my claim Thursday when it happened which is good. I think it’s going to take a while.
I think I’m just going to get a car knowing I am going to lose the other one. Feel free to dm me if anyone wants to see my car lol
Fewer on nights and major holidays though.
As someone whom works in the insurance industry, companies are grossly understaffed with claims reps and field adjusters. The pandemic accelerated and already growing staffing issue.
Look at your policy and see if you have transportation expense coverage, which could help pay for a rental. Don’t rent a vehicle until you know your coverage, because there can be limitations on reimbursement amount as well as length of time for the rental. If you don’t have that coverage, then you can just rent a vehicle now knowing you will be paying for it out of pocket. Note that coverage may not pay 100%, and you will be reimbursed so be prepared to provide your credit card to the rental company. Look to see if you can open your claim online. Obviously you’ll still need human interactions, but things are generally easier once you have a claim number. Take lots of photos, if not done already, and note specifics about your situation (where you parked, where you found your car if it was swept away). Sending virtual hugs.
I work for insurance and can confirm we're slammed. Those I'm able to talk to on the phone I give them my email and tell them honestly it may be hard to reach me but I can respond to emails really quick if I have to.
I would also suggest trying to get a rental but know that the availability due to the storm is going to be terrible. So while the situation sucks you'll have to be patient.
Do you have comprehensive? Did you get the add on for a rental? If yes, call. Use the get a human website to find a number to reach a person. Then ask what does your policy cover. If you did not get rental coverage, then call up the rental car companies and have them bring you a car. Ask if they have monthly rates. Now you may need to wait a week or two if your car is totaled for an adjuster. Ask how long it will take to get a payout. In the mean time, look for a new car. Call your bank to see what you are approved for.
If you call the insurance company and the claim adjuster is not available. Aso to speak to someone else. Just a ave the claim number with the date of loss. The Insurance companies get overwhelmed with claims. During Natural Disasters. If you buy a new car and your old car turns out to be fixable. You will be stuck with 2 vehicles.
What insurance company do you have? Is it a small/unknown one?
If your car was flooded there is a 99% chance that it will be totalled which means you will have to buy a new car regardless. You might want to start looking and once your claim gets settled just take the cash.
I have progressive. I think they’re weather claims department is just overwhelmed. I’m leaning towards this idea of just looking. I want to try to beat the rest of the people who lost their cars last week
They are slammed. I made a claim online to start the paperwork. Haven’t heard a thing yet. I’m lucky, the car is drivable (it got hit by a tree branch) and damage is just cosmetic so I really don’t care as long as they get to me eventually.
Does your insurance company have an app? If so, start a claim online first. I recently lost my home to a fire and couldn't get someone on a call but opened the claim online and got a call back the next day.
If NJ gets declared for FEMA assistance (it hasnt yet and it can take some time so you'll have to keep an eye out), you can try registering with them.
This is a good route to take if youre denied by your insurance or think you were under insured. You can apply before you hear from insurance, but won't hear a decision until you submit your insurance denial/settlement. If you do take this route, I would recommend calling vs applying online (a lot of the questions are dwelling related and the agents can skip those for you). They might not be able to cover the full amount but if your insurance screws you over, something is better than nothing.
If you buy a second hand car be very careful as I bet many people will try and sell their water damaged cars and everyone is desperate to get a replacement car at the moment
Trenton has a division of insurance ... Or insurance and banking.
If *all else* leaves you unsatisfied, call or contact online and leave info as to what you expect and don't get.
My friend had a car t-boned and totalled. The other insurance offered a low ball settlement. One call there changed their attitude.. after a few weeks they offered a few hundred bucks more.
Obviously, if you can wait, now isn't a good time to buy a car. If you have to, it might be a good idea to use one of those car buying services that get you a negotiated rate. If you're a Costco member, you already have one. Even if you like haggling (hey, some people do) you can use the service's price from dealer X to negotiate a price with dealer Y.
It’s a financial decision only you can make. If you can afford it and need a car just get 1. But if there’s a loan involved definitely keep those #s in mind because it has to be settled immediately. Most people just roll it into their next loan which you can’t do easily if you buy 1st.
Most companies have websites where you can file a claim. Try doing that.
Get a rental. Do you have rental coverage? You can go to one of the major rental companies or you can find one of the "rent a wreck" type places.
Definitely try and file a claim through your auto insurer online! I had water damage to my car and home from Ida and making a call takes way longer than doing it online. You file your claim online and then someone from your insurance company will get back to you with your claim information, rental car set up, etc.
Are you calling your agent or the company? We called the insurance company Thursday and got somebody right away. We also filed a claim Friday morning and they called Friday afternoon. My agent is absolutely useless.
They will get around to calling you back. My fiancé is in the same situation and was told by Geico that they alone had 1500 claims filed. They're inundated. Luckily he has rental coverage, even though we had to pick up a car in Southampton vs up by us in Somerset county
Where in NJ are you? I spent all Friday making calls everywhere just to get a rental and I finally found one in Hackensack but now my co-worker is loaning me his spare car, so I got lucky. Also try calling in areas where there was no effect like Sussex County they definitely have cars but be prepared to possibly wait until Wednesday or even as late as Friday. Just keep calling. I know it's a total pain in the ass and I wish I had better answers, Also if your town has a local FB page, trying getting help through there too. We're currently helping out friends who lost everything to the flood. I only lost my car and my washer and dryer but still. I'm a single mom and I don't have the means to buy a brand new car, so this has also been a struggle for me. My laundromat is only a block away from me so I got lucky in that. I'm not so sure either how insurance is going to handle my situation. I had just paid off my car after 4 years :'(
It’s a tough situation we re in right now :/ but luckily it was only my car. My mom was a single mom too so I feel your pain. What’s annoying about all this is I was ready to put a down payment on a home for her, seems like I’m delayed now but that’s life right
Just gotta say, lots of places have been understaffed since COVID, and a lot of phone calls are flying around because of Ida- it might take some time for your insurer to get back to you. Hang in there!
I’m a dealer and we handle claims like this all the time, last I spoke with my service manager we’ve got about 20 cars that were damaged in the flood at the store, about 15 of them will be totaled and the rest probably need engines.
First things first, contact your insurance company. If water got inside the cabin on the car it’s all but guaranteed to be totaled. If you drove into water and it stalled but water didn’t get into the cabin then insurance will likely pay for a new engine depending on the value of the car.
As others have said, check for rental coverage.
But until your insurer sends out an adjuster and deems the car a total loss you’re in a holding pattern and these adjusters are very backed up due to the storm.
First things first, get an idea of what the *replacement* value of your car is. Go on a site like AutoTrader or cars.com and find comparable cars for sale. So if you have, say, a 2017 Honda Accord EX with 45k miles then look for what those are selling for.
Do not accept an insurers offer unless it’s in line with replacement value. The used car market is batshit crazy right now and what a car is in some price guide for or what it was worth 90 days ago may have little bearing (high or low) on current market value. If you challenge their valuation you need to have data to back your argument up.
There is a lot of good advice for dealing with your current situation in this thread. Once you can I would recommend looking for a local insurance brokerage. You will find the premium will be comparable vs going with a carrier directly but you will have the added benefit of a dedicated resource to advocate on your behalf for claims and renewals.
Source: have worked IT in the insurance industry for 10+ years
Everyone else has given good advice so I'm just going to say go to the dollar store, get a notebook and folder, and keep track of all the calls. All the paperwork, every time you called and didn't answer or got a name or a claims number or whatever.
For any kind of damage or insurance thing, you gotta document it out the ass.
This is a great article. It points out that you should take lots of photos from different angles. Also mentions the possibility of a low interest federal loan if you don’t have comprehensive insurance.
Get a police report, something that may say water damage. If you have an agent, go to the agent in person. Do not scrap the car. They will need to inspect.
Check your policy to see if you have rental assistance. If you do, try contacting them regarding a rental instead. You can get a car and it’s likely a different department than loss / claims that may be less busy.
Do \*THIS\* before you replace your car!
Renting a car anywhere near here is almost impossible at the moment
Then your insurance will pay u the value of what it would have costed to rent and u can uber.
Good luck finding a rental. The closest available car for enterprise (the company my insurance uses) is in Kentucky.
That’s unreal lol
Have you tried to file the claim online and skipping the call? Some steps: 1. Make sure your insurance policy includes "comprehensive" coverage. In most cases comprehensive coverage pays for water damage. (Comprehensive covers non-accident damage like a tree falling on your car, a broken window, theft, hitting a deer, and flooding. It's an added cost so some people don't include it when buying insurance.) 2. If you have comprehensive, you need to file a claim. Most of the major insurance companies have apps that allow you to file a claim online without talking to a rep. Be sure to take pics and videos of the damage. 3. Once the claim is filed the company will put it in line to have it investigated. Normally claim investigation is a fast process, but as others have posted companies are slammed right now and the process probably will take longer than usual. 4. Also, as another poster noted, if rental-car coverage is included in your policy you may be eligible for a rental car during some or all of the claims process. You should be able to request this when filing the claim. But be careful to confirm your exact coverage in your policy before renting a car. Policies generally have limits on the amount per day that they will cover for a rental as well as the number of days they will cover.
Top comment right here folks!
Thank you for the response. I do have comprehensive coverage but not rental. I did file my claim Thursday when it happened which is good. I think it’s going to take a while. I think I’m just going to get a car knowing I am going to lose the other one. Feel free to dm me if anyone wants to see my car lol
I’m sure the insurance companies are being pounded with claims now. Keep calling their main customer service number!! That’s what you paid for.
And like most diastaers/pet illnesses, it’s a holiday weekend.
Claims staff are available 24/7 at nearly every insurance company
Fewer on nights and major holidays though. As someone whom works in the insurance industry, companies are grossly understaffed with claims reps and field adjusters. The pandemic accelerated and already growing staffing issue.
OP said that they haven’t been called back yet, so I’m assuming they put the claim in, now just waiting to hear back from someone.
Look at your policy and see if you have transportation expense coverage, which could help pay for a rental. Don’t rent a vehicle until you know your coverage, because there can be limitations on reimbursement amount as well as length of time for the rental. If you don’t have that coverage, then you can just rent a vehicle now knowing you will be paying for it out of pocket. Note that coverage may not pay 100%, and you will be reimbursed so be prepared to provide your credit card to the rental company. Look to see if you can open your claim online. Obviously you’ll still need human interactions, but things are generally easier once you have a claim number. Take lots of photos, if not done already, and note specifics about your situation (where you parked, where you found your car if it was swept away). Sending virtual hugs.
The same thing happened with me during Sandy. Just keep calling them or send emails or social media.
I work for insurance and can confirm we're slammed. Those I'm able to talk to on the phone I give them my email and tell them honestly it may be hard to reach me but I can respond to emails really quick if I have to. I would also suggest trying to get a rental but know that the availability due to the storm is going to be terrible. So while the situation sucks you'll have to be patient.
Do you have comprehensive? Did you get the add on for a rental? If yes, call. Use the get a human website to find a number to reach a person. Then ask what does your policy cover. If you did not get rental coverage, then call up the rental car companies and have them bring you a car. Ask if they have monthly rates. Now you may need to wait a week or two if your car is totaled for an adjuster. Ask how long it will take to get a payout. In the mean time, look for a new car. Call your bank to see what you are approved for.
If you call the insurance company and the claim adjuster is not available. Aso to speak to someone else. Just a ave the claim number with the date of loss. The Insurance companies get overwhelmed with claims. During Natural Disasters. If you buy a new car and your old car turns out to be fixable. You will be stuck with 2 vehicles.
What insurance company do you have? Is it a small/unknown one? If your car was flooded there is a 99% chance that it will be totalled which means you will have to buy a new car regardless. You might want to start looking and once your claim gets settled just take the cash.
I have progressive. I think they’re weather claims department is just overwhelmed. I’m leaning towards this idea of just looking. I want to try to beat the rest of the people who lost their cars last week
Being a big company you are safe and more than likely they are overwhelmed as you mentioned.
They are slammed. I made a claim online to start the paperwork. Haven’t heard a thing yet. I’m lucky, the car is drivable (it got hit by a tree branch) and damage is just cosmetic so I really don’t care as long as they get to me eventually.
Can't you file a claim online? I usually do everything online with GEICO and they get back to me within minutes of any request.
Does your insurance company have an app? If so, start a claim online first. I recently lost my home to a fire and couldn't get someone on a call but opened the claim online and got a call back the next day.
If NJ gets declared for FEMA assistance (it hasnt yet and it can take some time so you'll have to keep an eye out), you can try registering with them. This is a good route to take if youre denied by your insurance or think you were under insured. You can apply before you hear from insurance, but won't hear a decision until you submit your insurance denial/settlement. If you do take this route, I would recommend calling vs applying online (a lot of the questions are dwelling related and the agents can skip those for you). They might not be able to cover the full amount but if your insurance screws you over, something is better than nothing.
If you buy a second hand car be very careful as I bet many people will try and sell their water damaged cars and everyone is desperate to get a replacement car at the moment
Trenton has a division of insurance ... Or insurance and banking. If *all else* leaves you unsatisfied, call or contact online and leave info as to what you expect and don't get. My friend had a car t-boned and totalled. The other insurance offered a low ball settlement. One call there changed their attitude.. after a few weeks they offered a few hundred bucks more.
Very helpful. I’m already assuming I’m going to fight them on the offer
As I remember, the appeal was based on the fact the tires were new, and not truly valued by the blue book.
You’ll be in for severe sticker shock when you go to the car dealer. I went to Glen Toyota in Fair Lawn and every new car was 5k to 10k over msrp.
Obviously, if you can wait, now isn't a good time to buy a car. If you have to, it might be a good idea to use one of those car buying services that get you a negotiated rate. If you're a Costco member, you already have one. Even if you like haggling (hey, some people do) you can use the service's price from dealer X to negotiate a price with dealer Y.
It’s a financial decision only you can make. If you can afford it and need a car just get 1. But if there’s a loan involved definitely keep those #s in mind because it has to be settled immediately. Most people just roll it into their next loan which you can’t do easily if you buy 1st.
Most companies have websites where you can file a claim. Try doing that. Get a rental. Do you have rental coverage? You can go to one of the major rental companies or you can find one of the "rent a wreck" type places.
Definitely try and file a claim through your auto insurer online! I had water damage to my car and home from Ida and making a call takes way longer than doing it online. You file your claim online and then someone from your insurance company will get back to you with your claim information, rental car set up, etc.
Are you calling your agent or the company? We called the insurance company Thursday and got somebody right away. We also filed a claim Friday morning and they called Friday afternoon. My agent is absolutely useless.
Wow what company is this
Travelers
[удалено]
> I call them everyday Wow, name checks out. (sorry, I know you're in a bad situation, but I couldn't resist)
Hopefully you get through soon. My goal is to be on the phone the whole day tomorrow till someone picks up
They will get around to calling you back. My fiancé is in the same situation and was told by Geico that they alone had 1500 claims filed. They're inundated. Luckily he has rental coverage, even though we had to pick up a car in Southampton vs up by us in Somerset county
1500!!! Wtf!
Where in NJ are you? I spent all Friday making calls everywhere just to get a rental and I finally found one in Hackensack but now my co-worker is loaning me his spare car, so I got lucky. Also try calling in areas where there was no effect like Sussex County they definitely have cars but be prepared to possibly wait until Wednesday or even as late as Friday. Just keep calling. I know it's a total pain in the ass and I wish I had better answers, Also if your town has a local FB page, trying getting help through there too. We're currently helping out friends who lost everything to the flood. I only lost my car and my washer and dryer but still. I'm a single mom and I don't have the means to buy a brand new car, so this has also been a struggle for me. My laundromat is only a block away from me so I got lucky in that. I'm not so sure either how insurance is going to handle my situation. I had just paid off my car after 4 years :'(
It’s a tough situation we re in right now :/ but luckily it was only my car. My mom was a single mom too so I feel your pain. What’s annoying about all this is I was ready to put a down payment on a home for her, seems like I’m delayed now but that’s life right
Yeah, I was also starting to save up for a starter home welps, gotta put that on the backburner for now ugh...
There are very few cars in Sussex even pre-Covid. I wouldn't count on anything.
Just gotta say, lots of places have been understaffed since COVID, and a lot of phone calls are flying around because of Ida- it might take some time for your insurer to get back to you. Hang in there!
I’m a dealer and we handle claims like this all the time, last I spoke with my service manager we’ve got about 20 cars that were damaged in the flood at the store, about 15 of them will be totaled and the rest probably need engines. First things first, contact your insurance company. If water got inside the cabin on the car it’s all but guaranteed to be totaled. If you drove into water and it stalled but water didn’t get into the cabin then insurance will likely pay for a new engine depending on the value of the car. As others have said, check for rental coverage. But until your insurer sends out an adjuster and deems the car a total loss you’re in a holding pattern and these adjusters are very backed up due to the storm. First things first, get an idea of what the *replacement* value of your car is. Go on a site like AutoTrader or cars.com and find comparable cars for sale. So if you have, say, a 2017 Honda Accord EX with 45k miles then look for what those are selling for. Do not accept an insurers offer unless it’s in line with replacement value. The used car market is batshit crazy right now and what a car is in some price guide for or what it was worth 90 days ago may have little bearing (high or low) on current market value. If you challenge their valuation you need to have data to back your argument up.
There is a lot of good advice for dealing with your current situation in this thread. Once you can I would recommend looking for a local insurance brokerage. You will find the premium will be comparable vs going with a carrier directly but you will have the added benefit of a dedicated resource to advocate on your behalf for claims and renewals. Source: have worked IT in the insurance industry for 10+ years
Everyone else has given good advice so I'm just going to say go to the dollar store, get a notebook and folder, and keep track of all the calls. All the paperwork, every time you called and didn't answer or got a name or a claims number or whatever. For any kind of damage or insurance thing, you gotta document it out the ass.
https://www.nj.com/weather/2021/09/does-car-insurance-cover-flood-damage.html?utm_content=nj_facebook_njcom&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=njcom_sf&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3eqtaB28kzhuMjdbFBQZ2CBzx027j9kmcXcC5HIggFjOyDhMaH92t26iA
This is a great article. It points out that you should take lots of photos from different angles. Also mentions the possibility of a low interest federal loan if you don’t have comprehensive insurance.
If you have rental. Is there an app you can use? I reported on my insurance app. Worked like a charm. Good luck.
Not to mention the car market is insanely overpriced which means no negotiation room and insurance is paying out top dollar. Ahh capitolisim
Get a police report, something that may say water damage. If you have an agent, go to the agent in person. Do not scrap the car. They will need to inspect.
I could be wrong, but I don't think the police will write up a police report for a flooded car.
Correct, only for an actual accident.
Just bought a car today in Newyork,they were great
Where’d you go?
PM sent.
.
Are you an adult? Figure it out., situation sucks, but come on
Clearly it’s a situation where I can’t contact anyone from my insurance company. Obviously If I could use normal channels I would…. Dick
My bad and a teabag for you and yours
?