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Can you damage your car by driving through water?
The shortcut that I like to take on my way to work tends to get flooded when it rains, and I’m worried that driving through the water will damage my car. Is this possible? Will I damage my car just by driving through water?
Jason Tushinski · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Unless you’re landing on Omaha Beach (and if you are, you’re several generations late),
driving your car through water
is never recommended. It can result in engine damage, component failure, and problems with your vehicle’s electronics, not to mention causing corrosion and leaving an awful stench.Here are some of the side effects of driving your car through water:
- Engine: Engines suck things in—air, fuel—and if your engine encounters water, it will suck that in too. This could potentially hydrolock your engine, which can be expensive to fix.
- Electronics: If you’ve spilled water on your laptop, you should know that water and electronics don’t mix. Water can damage your vehicle’s electrical components, such as the airbag system, and corrode wiring to other parts, like the car’s computer system.
- Other Parts: Large amounts of water will affect your shocks, brakes, wheel bearings, tie rods, ball joints, CV joint boots, and more. Remember, vehicle components are designed to be protected from water, not fully immersed in it.
- Rust: Water eats away at things, including your car. It can eat away at your floor, which will take a serious welding job to repair.
- Smell: If you drive through water, your car is going to smell bad, because flood water is not clean. Mold and bacteria can grow in your vehicle as well, and cleaning that up is no fun.
Avoid driving your car through the water at all costs. Normal rain and snow are okay, but if you are worried that the puddle might be deeper than it looks, avoid it and protect your vehicle from the ravages of water!
Another amazing way to protect your vehicle for almost any eventuality is by shopping for the right
car insurance
policy through the Jerry
app. Sign-up takes a quick 45 seconds, and then this car super app compares the most competitive quotes from more than 50 top insurers. Once you pick the best option, Jerry does all the administrative dirty work and signs you up to your new policy!MORE: How to remove water spots from your car
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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