What to Do if Your Car Has Been Damaged by a Hurricane

Dealing with an incoming hurricane on its own can be extremely stressful, especially if you’ve never experienced one before. Fortunately, we’ve got some advice on what to do if your car has been damaged by a hurricane so that you have one less thing to worry about. We’ve got the expertise to assist drivers like you in finding the perfect vehicle for your Sarasota commute or even touch on hurricane vehicle damage advice and steps to take before the hurricane reaches your area.

With the help of our service team at Cox Mazda, you’ll have the information you need to know what to do before and after hurricane vehicle damage. From vehicle maintenance near Tampa to important service information, we won’t let you down.

Things To Consider If Your Car Is Damaged By a Hurricane

Of course, it’s always best to prepare for hurricane vehicle damage by taking some precautions beforehand. However, we know that’s not always possible, especially with the stress you may have endured when preparing for your safety during a hurricane. Luckily, we’ve got some advice for you to go over if your vehicle has been damaged by a hurricane. Take a look below to learn more:

• Water Levels: If your vehicle has been completely flooded and water is above the bottom of your vehicle’s door, it’s best to not start your vehicle. High water levels can often damage important electrical components and even contaminate vehicle fluids which means you’ll cause more damage if you try to start your vehicle.
• Work With a Technician: Before you do anything, it may be a good idea to bring your vehicle to a service technician when you can safely do so. A technician can let you know exactly what’s wrong with your vehicle and if you need to start looking for a replacement.
• Let It Dry: You may have gotten lucky and the only thing wrong with your vehicle is a wet interior. If this is the case, it’s important to let everything dry to avoid damage and even rust buildup.
• Electric Vehicles: It’s possible that you’ve heard that electric vehicles can’t flood. While it’s certainly true that EVs don’t have engines that can be flooded by water, they still have electrical components that could get damaged by water. It’s best to work with a technician to inspect your vehicle, even if it’s electric.
• Document With Pictures: In the event that your vehicle is past the point of repair, document your vehicle and all of its damage with as many pictures as possible so the insurance process is simple and straightforward.

How To Prepare Your Vehicle for a Hurricane

If there’s an incoming hurricane and you have the chance to prepare your vehicle, it’s a good idea to do so. By following a few of our recommendations, you can help ensure that the damage to your vehicle is minimized. Here’s how to prepare your vehicle for a hurricane:

• Park Out of Harms Way: When possible, locate a parking spot that is covered and on higher ground. A covered parking spot will help stop debris from damaging your vehicle and the higher ground will help it from flooding.
• Get a Cover: Whether it’s a car cover or even blankets, we recommend covering your vehicle at the very least if you can’t find a good parking spot. This can help minimize the damage from debris.
• Document With Pictures: Similar to after the hurricane has occurred, taking pictures before the hurricane has occurred can help your insurance determine the level of damage caused to your vehicle by the hurricane.
• Have a Full Tank of Gas: Not only will filling up the gas tank before a hurricane ensure you have one less thing to worry about after the hurricane has occurred, it’s also a good idea because many gas stations will be out of service after a hurricane.
• Keep Important Documents On You: We know it’s tempting to keep all vital vehicle information in your vehicle but before a hurricane, you want to remove those documents because there’s a chance your vehicle could be damaged and you won’t be able to easily access your documents.

Cox Mazda Has More Information On Hurricane Vehicle Damage

There’s no need to stress about your vehicle during a hurricane as long as you’ve got the knowledge on what to do before and after the hurricane has occurred. Cox Mazda has all the information you need to ensure you’re ready for any situation. If you’re looking for ways to keep your vehicle running smoothly on the Palmetto roads, be sure to contact our experts online. Otherwise, you can also stop in at our Bradenton dealership for assistance in person!