Don’t try to start it
If water got into the engine, starting it can wreck the engine for good. Leave it as it is, disconnect the battery if you can do that safely, and get it checked or towed.
Check your insurance first
If the car has comprehensive insurance, tell your insurer before anything else. Flood damage is often covered, but damage caused by starting a flooded engine may not be, unless you have an engine protection add-on.
Signs it’s time to scrap
- Water reached the seats or the dashboard.
- Electrical faults keep appearing: lights, windows, sensors.
- There’s a damp smell or mould that won’t go away.
- The repair estimate is more than the car is worth.
Why scrap it rather than sell it?
Flooded cars are often dried out, cleaned up and sold to buyers who don’t know their history. Scrapping at a registered facility takes the car off the road for good and cancels its registration, so problems later can’t trace back to you.