I bought this car just over a month ago, haven’t even made my first payment yet, and now it’s got water damage from a heavy rain in LA. Water got into the back part of the headliner on both sides, one side worse than the other. It’s dried up now, but it’s starting to smell really bad.
I’m stuck between two options—pay a mechanic near me at least $1,300 or go through my insurance (AAA) with my $500 comprehensive deductible. But I don’t know if insurance will even cover this. If I take it to a dealership, is there a good chance insurance will pay for it? Looks like the problem came from the rear sunroof drains. Any advice? Thanks.
@Jonny
That might not matter. Lack of maintenance leads to claims all the time, and insurance still covers the damage. The key question is whether the water damage happened from a single storm or if it built up over time.
Phoebe said:
Probably not covered. This sounds like a maintenance issue, not an accident.
What exactly makes this a ‘mechanical’ issue?
Because the drain got clogged over time. It wasn’t a sudden event like a tree falling on your car. Sunroof drains need to be cleared every so often, and if they get blocked, water can leak inside. That’s usually not covered by insurance.
If this happened from one specific storm, the water damage might be covered under comprehensive. But the cost to unclog the drains wouldn’t be covered. Keep in mind, if you file the claim, you might lose a claims-free discount or see a rate increase.
Also, don’t take it to a dealership. They’ll just send it to a detailer and charge you more. Get quotes from a detailer directly—it might not even cost more than your deductible.