Drove through water and killed my engine! Will Admiral help?

Clint_Magnum

Has anybody got any experience with Admiral car insurance claims?
I drove through what appeared to be quite low standing water and as I did an Audi Q7 coming the other way created a bow in the puddle of water which splashed up the drivers side of my car. The car stalled, it restarted but the engine started tapping loudly. I tried to dry the car out the next day, hoping it was a sensor but to no avail. Its gone to BMW and they state water has gone through into the engine and damaged the con rods. End result is a new engine (circa £12,000!!).
Before I ring the insurance company does anybody know if they would cover me in this situation? I've done a bit of digging online and in other forums and it appears they might but am I being unduly optimistic??? :wall:

phill99

I'll be very surprised. Admiral would say that you shouldn't have driven through water. Which to be honest is true.

keith1950

Before I ring the insurance company does anybody know if they would cover me in this situation? I've done a bit of digging online and in other forums and it appears they might but am I being unduly optimistic??? :wall:

Hi, I am sorry to say that standard car insurance covers you for 'accidents' not mechanical problems caused by driving through water.

With the best will in the world this cannot be described as an accident.

dacouch

Luckily for Clint, the above posters are wrong, most comprehensive policies will cover this type of incident providing you have comprehensive cover and they do not specifically exclude claims in these circumstances.

You best bet is to stop looking on the internet and get onto Admiral to make a claim, if they do decline it come back to us with the exact reason they give on the rejection letter.

rs65

phill99 wrote: »

I'll be very surprised. Admiral would say that you shouldn't have driven through water. Which to be honest is true.

They would also say you shouldn't drive into a ditch/wall/car but comprehensive cover will still pay out if you do.

mcjordi

should be fine.. plenty of cars for sale on salvage sites written off for flood/water damage

withabix

It is accidental damage. It should be covered.

An accident does not have to involve a crash or collision, although, you could say that this was a collision with water.

Quentin

Ignore the first 2 replies from Keith & phill (posts 2 & 3).

And get your claim started! Assuming you have comprehensive cover there should be no problem.

phill99

rs65 wrote: »

They would also say you shouldn't drive into a ditch/wall/car but comprehensive cover will still pay out if you do.

But you don't elect to drive into. Wall or a ditch. But going going through water was something hat can be avoided. You have an obligation to mitigate your losses.

hugoshavez

This appears to be the only potentially problematic exclusion:

We [FONT=Zemestro Std Bk,Zemestro Std Bk][FONT=Zemestro Std Bk,Zemestro Std Bk]will not pay:
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for damage to [FONT=Zemestro Std Medium,Zemestro Std Medium][FONT=Zemestro Std Medium,Zemestro Std Medium]your car [/FONT][/FONT]caused by it being driven after an accident

Muscle750

I work in a car accident repair business and yes they will pay and we are admiral approved as long as the water hasn't gone inside the car they will repair it how old is it I think £12k for a new engine is to much last BMW engine we had was £4500 plus obviously the labour if water is inside the car they will not entertain it and it will be crushed due to E. coli etc
I would also say that it's not just the engine that will be damaged it will more than likely need new injectors if its diesil and a new turbo and possibly a new inlet manifold if its damaged the swirl flaps