- Take Out All Important Documents
- Park Your Car in a Safe Location
- Make Sure It Has Adequate Fuel
- Be Aware of Your Insurance Coverage
Depending on where your live, hurricanes are simply a fact of life. Whether they occur frequently or not, hurricanes can ravage certain areas, especially ones that are unprepared. Cars can suffer a significant amount of damage from hurricanes since being exposed to the elements means that they can suffer flood-related damage or be the victim of fallen objects.
So if you're aware of a hurricane that's approaching or live in an area that's prone to them, the following tips should help you to prepare your car for a hurricane as much as possible:
Take Out All Important Documents.
If you're like most people, you probably keep your vehicle's registration in the glove compartment. Since water damage can occur during a severe hurricane, you should always remove any important documents, such as your registration, insurance, and so forth. Store them in a safe place where they can't get damaged. Replacing many of these documents can be a tedious and drawn-out affair. If you lose your insurance documents, for example, this will make the claim process even more difficult.
Park Your Car in a Safe Location.
Another important tip is to make sure that you park your car in a safe location if you're aware of an approaching hurricane. While the ideal place would be inside of a garage, if you don't have one, the next best place would be right next to a large building. A building can help to shield the car from strong winds and debris.
*Make sure to never park your car next to any power lines or below a tree, since branches can easily fall and damage it.
Make Sure It Has Adequate Fuel.
Do this as far ahead of time as possible. If a severe hurricane strikes an area or is about to, reaching a gas station can prove to be extremely difficult, not to mention will also consist of long lines. Plus, supply routes may be cut off, meaning that fuel might be in scarce supply. Always make sure that you have as close to a full tank as possible.
Another thing that you can do is to fill up a couple of extra gas cans as well just to be on the safe side.
Be Aware of Your Insurance Coverage.
It's always a good idea to be 100% certain that your auto insurance policy provides coverage for any hurricane damage, rather than just collision damage. You will need comprehensive coverage to cover the hurricane-related damage. While calling your insurance company after the fact to try and expand your insurance coverage will not be possible, if you live in an area that's susceptible to hurricanes, make sure to call ahead of time. Having comprehensive coverage will give you peace of mind in the event of any damage that occurs to your car.
For insurance purposes, it's also a good idea to take pictures of your car's exterior and interior. In the unfortunate event of damage occurring to your car, you'll be able to show “before and after” photos, which will make winning your insurance claim a much easier process.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA, has many additional tips that you can follow in the event of a hurricane. Visit their website at: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
We at A-1 Auto Transport want you to stay safe!