Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-07-21
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Typhoons are hitting Hong Kong harder and more often these days. If your car gets caught in a No. 10 signal without indoor parking and ends up with shattered glass from a fallen tree, will your insurance step in for repairs? Bowtie partners with MoneySmart to unpack the details!
Typhoon Damage: Car Insurance Compensation
With standard comprehensive car insurance, whether your vehicle is parked in a covered or open-air lot, or even just on the roadside, damages from natural disasters—like being crushed by heavy objects or trees, flipped by strong winds, or having windows shattered—are typically covered for compensation.
Claims are reimbursed based on actual repair costs. If the car is totaled due to flooding, most policies compensate at the depreciated market value, with depreciation rates varying by factors like vehicle age, condition, and mileage—there’s no fixed formula.
Regardless of the claim amount, you’ll need to pay the deductible (often called excess) first. Your accumulated No Claims Discount (NCD/NCB) will reset, potentially leading to higher premiums in the coming years.
Prove Efforts to Prevent Car Damage
Car insurance policies include a clause requiring you to “take all reasonable steps to prevent loss or damage to the insured vehicle.” What counts as “reasonable” depends on the circumstances.
For instance, if you knowingly drive on hazardous roads during flooding or landslides, or park near the shore to watch waves during a typhoon, resulting in damage, you might breach this clause—and it could affect your insurer’s decision to pay out.
Of course, if you can prove it was necessary or an emergency—like rushing to the hospital—insurers often handle it with discretion.
Third-Party Insurance: Typhoon Coverage?
If you’ve only got third-party liability insurance, damage to your own vehicle or property isn’t covered, so you can’t claim from your insurer.
However, if you can prove someone else’s negligence—like a parking lot or management company failing to manage drainage, secure against winds, or notify you to move your car—you might pursue a civil claim against them for your losses.
If you spot damage to your car, snap photos right away to clearly show the extent. Notify your insurer promptly. For repair claims, send a detailed quote to them before proceeding. If it involves a parking lot and you’re considering claiming from management, inform them immediately too.
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