Over a million cars at risk as floods hit Britain

As parts of Britain brace themselves against flooding this week, the insurance industry is also preparing to pick up a tab for damages which could spill into the ‘tens of millions'. What's more, uSwitch.com reveals that motorists in flood hit areas may see their car insurance premiums increase by as much as 26% if they make a claim for flood damage.

The research shows that one in four motorists (or 375,000) living in flood risk areas may not be able to claim for damage as they only have non-comprehensive insurance policies, such as third party fire and theft. Many of those affected are young drivers that are priced out of the comprehensive insurance market; yet cutting corners on their cover in the short term could result in a hefty repair bill, or, even worse, having their vehicles written off altogether.

uSwitch.com findings reveal that even motorists with comprehensive policies could be at risk. Despite the fact that all comprehensive car insurance policies cover damage to a vehicle, many have ‘ambiguous' clauses or exclusions which could result in claim confusion. If, for example, an attempt to restart a vehicle after incurring flood damage causes an electrical or mechanical fault, the driver could unknowingly invalidate their claim. Similarly, if a motorist attempts to navigate their way through flood water and the vehicle breaks down, this activity could also jeopardise the right to a claim. As with any claim, drivers could also end up losing their no claims discount unless an extra premium has been paid to protect it. It is highly likely that they will see a hike in future premiums as insurance companies attempt to recover the ‘tens of millions' of predicted claims.

Ashton Berkhauer, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, comments: "Last summer we saw widespread flooding across the country with the insurance industry forking out over £2 billion in claims. Flooding is an issue for many motorists, yet too many people are failing to learn lessons from 2007 and secure adequate cover should the worst happen. If drivers do not insure their cars properly, they could suffer the financial consequences long after the flood waters recede.

Berkhauer's TopTips if your vehicle is affected by flooding

Get your vehiclechecked by a professional mechanic as soon as possible

Do not attempt todrive your car before being told it is safe to do so. You could cause furtherdamage and potentially invalidate a claim

Contact yourinsurer immediately and seek their advice on the next steps totake

Collatephotographic evidence as it may be of benefit when making aclaim

If you becomeinvolved in a dispute with your insurer regarding a claim, firstly ensure thatyou have written to their complaints department and received a writtenconfirmation of their intention not to pay for your claim. Once you have thereply and if you are still unsatisfied, contact the Financial Ombudsman Servicein writing, by telephone, or via their website

"Insurers must take responsibility to provide their customers with clear information relating to flood claims at the time a policy is taken out. Motorists who live in a designated flood area really should check that their current level of cover is adequate and if they feel that their policy isn't clear, they need to call their insurer immediately to find out what level of cover they have."