Car insurance claims pile up after B.C.'s atmospheric river

An automotive expert is warning about the dangers of driving during floods after ICBC reported it has received more than 300 claims for damaged vehicles following an atmospheric river that hit B.C. last weekend.

The claims, tallied as of Thursday morning, are specifically related to water damage, and were made between Oct. 18 and 24, according to ICBC.

Josh Smythe, a customer care manager and vehicle expert at BCAA, said water can damage a car in multiple ways.

Beyond a couple of inches, there is no amount of water that's safe to drive through, he said.

Smythe said flood water can lead to engine failure, computer failure and mould, and can cause poor traction.

Engines normally draw in air as part of their mechanical process, but when water reaches the height of the intake point, the engine will start pulling in water instead, which then bends certain parts out of shape.

"As far as mechanical failure … that's about as detrimental as you can get … [to repair it] you are stripping the engine from basically every nut and bolt," Smythe said.

Water clearance height varies based on car models, Smythe said, with sports cars generally being the least tolerant.

The storm that rocked B.C. on Oct. 19 – the day of the provincial election – caused property damage and three deaths. A fourth person is still missing. It also set daily rainfall records in multiple municipalities, leading to flooded streets, cars and homes.

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Water intrusion

Smythe said if water gets inside the cabin of a vehicle, it can damage a car's computer and control systems, which are often located under the seats. 

It can also lead to mildew, which often presents as "green fuzzy stuff," he said.

"Once it starts, it grows very, very quickly."

"If you find that you've got water intrusion into the cabin of your vehicle, whether it was deep enough to cause any problems to the engine … take that to the shop and have them remove the seats, lift the carpet up and take all the moisture out," Smythe said.

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Grip on the roads can also be affected by heavy rain and pooled water, Smythe said.

"You only need a quarter inch of water to hydroplane, it does not need to be a pool."

"Anytime you see pooling water on the side of the road, just avoid it, do not go through it," he said.

He added that if a vehicle was sitting in flood water, even while turned off, people shouldn't try and start their car because the engine may have taken on water. Instead, he said, have it towed to a shop and assessed by a professional.

ICBC said it's too early to determine the total costs associated with the water damage claims.

The 305 recent claims stand in contrast to the 2,100 reported claims related to the atmospheric river three years ago, in November 2021.