Flood disruption and damage: what can your insurance pay for?

With Storm Ciarán set to batter Britain with more torrential rain and strong winds this week, many people will be worrying if insurance will cover the costs.

The new weather warning will be unwelcome news to people still recovering from Storm Babet, which saw more than 1,000 homes flooded, cars submerged and travel chaos.

Here, Which? explains what damage and disruption you can claim for if affected by extreme weather.

Does insurance cover floods?

Whether your home has been damaged by flooding, or your travel plans were ruined because of disruption to transport, you should be able to claim back from your insurer most costs incurred. 

Home insurance

Floods can cause devastating damage to homes, with the price of repairs spiralling into tens of thousands of pounds. The good news is that flood cover is a standard part of buildings insurance and is widely available for most properties - even in areas deemed to be of high flood risk.

A typical policy should provide cover damage caused by floodwater entering your home from an external source, such as heavy rainfall, storms and high tide, or a river bursting its banks. 

Insurers will generally pay for cleaning up and repairing your property, as well as cover for temporary accommodation if your home has been made uninhabitable. If you've also bought contents insurance, your possessions will also be covered.

As always, there are a few caveats. For example, many insurers won't cover damage caused by groundwater flooding (when water comes up through the ground). Some policies also exclude damage to certain parts of your property, such as its outbuildings or fences.

• Find out more: does home insurance cover flooding?

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Car insurance

Flooding can cause severe damage to your car, including engine failure, malfunctioning brakes, broken lights and rust.

Make sure you check your policy documents carefully before making a claim. Most comprehensive motor insurance policies should cover the cost of repairing or replacing vehicles damaged by flooding, but drivers with a basic third-party or third-party, fire and theft policy are unlikely to be offered any protection.

Flood cover usually includes damage to upholstery and the entertainment system, but may not pay out for personal possessions left in the vehicle. Don't panic if that's the case - you might be protected by 'contents outside the home cover’ as part of your contents insurance policy. Damaged mobile phones, laptops and tablets could also be covered by gadget insurance.

If you don't have already, consider taking out gap insurance - short for guaranteed asset protection. This is usually sold as an add-on but can be bought as a standalone policy, and could come in handy if your car needs replacing. It's meant to cover the difference that can occur between the price you paid for your new vehicle and the amount your insurer is willing to pay for it should it get stolen, or written off, soon after buying it.

But even if your policy does cover flood damage, insurers may not pay out if they feel you haven't taken steps to keep the car safe - for example, you deliberately drove through floodwater or were driving recklessly in a storm.

Finally, driving during a red weather warning doesn't mean you can't make a claim for damage, but it could invalidate your policy if the insurer decides you didn't follow advice on travelling - such as sticking to a lower speed limit.

• Find out more: best car insurance companies

Travel insurance

Floods across Scotland and Northern England caused by Storm Babet closed major roads and railway lines, causing significant delays and cancellations across the country. It led to stations such as King's Cross in London being closed completely due to overcrowding and meant thousands of people setting off on half-term holidays were unable to travel.

Fortunately, you may already be covered by existing travel insurance. Read the terms of your policy carefully to check if travel disruption cover is included - some providers include it automatically, others ask you to pay extra for it.

UK trips longer than a couple of nights and further than 25 miles are covered by most travel insurance policies, but disruption must be caused by an event outside your control, of which you are not already aware when you book your holiday. 

Your insurer may offer alternative means of transport or accommodation. If you have to make your own emergency travel or hotel arrangements, keep all the receipts - you may not be able to claim the costs back without that evidence.

• Find out more: travel insurance explained

Don't wait to contact your insurer

With warnings that Storm Ciarán could cause flooding to parts of the UK, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) told Which? that the priority for insurers is to support affected customers to recover as quickly as possible.

The ABI recommends you get in touch with your provider as soon as possible - they can make any emergency payments needed, arrange any temporary emergency accommodation and organise necessary repairs. Most insurers will also have 24-hour emergency helplines.

If you have to arrange emergency repairs yourself, tell your insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of your claim. The ABI also advised not to throw away damaged items, unless they are a danger to health, as these may be able to be repaired or restored. But always speak to your insurer first.

Will making a claim affect my premium?

The ABI told Which? that a single claim will not automatically mean your insurance premium will go up. But flood damage can be very expensive to repair and if you live in an area vulnerable to flooding and/or have made more than one flood claim in the past, this could impact the cost of your cover when you come to renew or buy a new policy. 

For example, the cost of home insurance with flood cover varies depending on how close you live to water. According to data from GoCompare, the average annual cost of home insurance for those within 150 metres of water is £208. That drops to £157 on average for homes over 400 metres away. 

Don't despair if you live in an area at high risk of flooding. A government-backed scheme called Flood Re helps insurers meet the costs of expensive claims from people living in flood-prone areas and gives these customers access to affordable home insurance.

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