Whenever you purchase a car, there is a minimum amount of car insurance coverage that is required by law.
Most people are familiar with the mandated insurance package, which includes injury liability and property damage liability in case you are found to be at fault for an accident.
If, however, your car is damaged in a non-accident situation, you could be caught without the proper insurance to pay for the repair costs.
One type of non-accident damage, flood damage, can be especially destructive to a vehicle.
Knowing how to protect yourself against flood damage could save you a substantial sum of money in the long run.
Comprehensive Coverage Against Flood Damage Comprehensive coverage is one optional type of insurance that you can purchase for your car.
As the name suggests, this type of coverage insures your vehicle in many different non-accident situations, including flooding.
If you have comprehensive coverage and your car is damaged in a flood, your insurance will pay for the repairs necessary minus your deductible.
If your car is totaled from a flood, meaning that the cost of repairs exceeds the value of your car, your insurance will compensate you for your lost vehicle.
Instead of paying thousands of dollars out of pocket for repairs or losing your car altogether, comprehensive coverage ensures that your investment is protected.
Precautions to Take to Avoid Flood Damage Even if you decide to purchase comprehensive insurance, it is still a good idea to take additional precautions to protect your car.
No one wants to have to deal with the hassle of filing an insurance claim and losing a car if it is avoidable.
To help minimize your risk of flood damage, consider the following tips:

• If you live in a hurricane prone area, stay alert for hurricane warnings and be prepared to evacuate the area with your vehicle if a hurricane comes your way.
  
• During strong storms, consider keeping your car in the garage.
  If you live in a low-lying area that is prone to flooding, it may be a good idea to park your vehicle on a nearby hill that is less likely to flood during a storm.
  
• If you have a problem with frequent flooding in your area but no safe places to keep your car out of water, consider purchasing a vehicle that is elevated further off of the ground.
  An SUV or large pickup truck is less likely to flood than a compact car that is set close to the ground.
  

Taking these few precautions in flood-prone areas can help to keep your vehicle undamaged during heavy rains.
Unfortunately, sometimes rare storms occur that cause areas to flood unexpectedly.
Even if you do not live in a flood-prone region, it may be in your best interest to purchase comprehensive coverage to insure your car against flooding, hail, falling objects, vandalism, and more.