Parked car is submerged in water! Can I drive it home or leave it ?

[Tubelight]

Sorry I know it’s not really AIBU but need urgent help.
I was at work and had parked my care off road this morning. Just came back to drive home but it’s submerged in water. If I open the car door some water will definitely come in. I am not sure what to do! Will i be able to drive tomorrow once water level is down or do I need to call insurance. Any advice please.

Likely to be an insurance write off unfortunately, water plus car electrics don’t mix.

For those saying ‘where on earth do you live’

Look at the news, London and alot of the South East are under water

Most roads around us are closed

Take photos of it before the flood water goes down. Make sure you have evidence of where it was in photos so if your insurers ask you have it.

Thank you all very much for helping me think and staying with me. Feel miserable as can’t do anything. I am booking an Uber and going home. Thank you everyone.

What a shame, just seen photos on the news. Hope you get sorted out quickly.

Is it petrol or diesel?

Petroleum terrible in water. Diesel will go through any water.

Unless the engine is totally underwater (which is very doubtful as the London floods look like they’re up to mid wheel arch level) then once the water has dropped it will likely be fine.

The electrics won’t have frazzled as the boards etc are always located high up. At the moment it probably just has water sloshing around underneath it which won’t do it any lasting harm.

Cars drive through quite deep fords without harm as long as you know broadly what you’re doing. If water doesn’t actually go into the air intake (and air filters are nearly always high up the engine) then it will be fine.

sorry to hear thjat london has taken a pummeling lately-i would still call aa in the morning and ask for advice or let them start it

Ime the AA won’t remove a car from flood water, it’s a risk to their AA people. I’m sure once the flood waters have gone down they’d help, like others have said probably best not to start it until it’s been checked….although if it hasn’t got in the engine it should be ok.

I drove my car into a deep flood once and stalled it. Water in the car and everything. A friend pulled me out and car would not start. Luckily after two days of drying out it was ok, it need need something new, but only cost £180 rather than a car write off.

Call your insurance company tell them what has happened and ask what they want you to do.
My friends car was written off, but only because she DIDN:T start it.
If you start it they say you damaged it knowing it was damaged.

If water gets into the engine, it's incompressible - if it doesn't shatter one of the con rods it will fuck up all the bearings and crack the cylinder head.

Main problem will be drying out the carpets and trim.

(My Dads garage wasn't far from Twickenham, and flooded cars were not a rare occurence - even in the 90s, Best quote from a victim customer was "And we thought we were so lucky to find a parking spot so close to the river ...")

Sympathies to the OP.

Yeah, leave it to dry out... if that's possible.

The tube is not an option. Can you stay at your clients until the rain stops?
twitter.com/Ariful08674940/status/1419362025524940808

I hope you get home safely OP, and that your car is sorted by your insurer.

My husband is a mechanic and says it may well be fine once the water has subsided and it’s had a bit of time to dry off.

Hope you can get somewhere to stay tonight or manage to get home. Wouldn’t your client help you?

@SnakesandKnives

Unless the engine is totally underwater (which is very doubtful as the London floods look like they’re up to mid wheel arch level) then once the water has dropped it will likely be fine.

The electrics won’t have frazzled as the boards etc are always located high up. At the moment it probably just has water sloshing around underneath it which won’t do it any lasting harm.

Cars drive through quite deep fords without harm as long as you know broadly what you’re doing. If water doesn’t actually go into the air intake (and air filters are nearly always high up the engine) then it will be fine.

I've just gingerly, and through deep water, driven past cars that were flooded up to their roofs (on the north circular - I think someone has posted a video above). It was that deep as it was in a dip. So a car parked in a similar dip could be properly flooded.

See if there’s a 4x4 club near by - they are usually good to help out stranded persons

From personal experience I wouldn't call the insurance company. I did and they wrote it off over the phone just from my description of what happened. I was very surprised given they hadn't inspected it, hence walking 3 miles back to look at it. Started first time so I called them and they withdrew the write off. Ridiculous and true.

Oh, I've had the hump all day because awful weather was forecast so we changed our plans and it's been dry all day. I'm only about 15 miles from Stratford!

That's an awful thing for you to have to deal with OP, I hope you can get sorted without too much difficulty.

OP. Hope it’s not too badly damaged

I'd be just as concerned that the water contains sewage if it's drains not coping.

@AddsVsGeorgs

For those saying ‘where on earth do you live’

Look at the news, London and alot of the South East are under water

Most roads around us are closed

Does your news tell you what's going on in my Scottish town?

No, I doubt it. Not everyone lives in London and the South East.

Chill your boots @DumplingsAndStew

Im well aware not everyone lives in the South East or London

@AddsVsGeorgs

Chill your boots *@DumplingsAndStew*

Im well aware not everyone lives in the South East or London

Yet when someone asked where the OP lived, you seemed shocked that they didn't know that there's rain in London.

By the way, no boots to chill.

Has been glorious here today - sandals all the way.

Does your news tell you what's going on in my Scottish town?

No, I doubt it. Not everyone lives in London and the South East.

Who said that. People just replied that at least their own area got flooded today, so it was pretty unnecessary to doubt the poor OP.