SINGAPORE – A faulty valve on a sprinkler storage tank led to the flooding of the basement carpark at The Twins condominium in Bukit Timah on May 4, leaving vehicles submerged in knee-deep waters. The Straits Times answers some questions about what a driver can to do if his car is caught in a flooded carpark.

Q: What is too high a water level for me to drive my car away safely?

A: A spokesperson for the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS) said motorists should avoid driving through flood waters higher than 15cm – slightly above ankle height – as the car may stall, and the water could cause damage to the engine and electronics.

“In approximately 30cm of water, a typical car can begin to float,” the spokesperson said. This will lead to a loss of traction along with steering control.

AAS said starting the engine when the car’s exhaust pipe is submerged may cause water to be drawn into the engine, causing severe damage to its internal components. Potentially harmful exhaust fumes could enter the cabin.

“It is safer to wait for professional assistance or until the water level has significantly decreased before attempting to start the engine or move the vehicle. If the car is stranded in a flooded area, prioritise personal safety and seek help from emergency services or professional tow services,” the spokesperson said.

If left submerged, water can seep into the cabin, causing damage.

Q: Is it okay to start the engine when the flood waters have subsided?

A: Motor workshops advise car owners not to start the engine or drive the car at all, if possible.

Mr Amos Mok, manager at motor workshop Juzz for Cars, said the main concern is to ensure that the car’s engine and transmission are not damaged, because they are expensive to rectify. He said that after the vehicle is towed to a workshop, the engine’s fluids should be flushed in case they have been contaminated. All the filters should be changed before even attempting to start the engine.

Q: Can the car be repaired?

A: The car’s electronic components may be damaged if it had been sitting in water. Some cabin parts, such as the insulation materials underneath the carpets, have to be removed and dried, and seat upholstery will need to be thoroughly cleaned with professional equipment.

A spokesman for motor workshop Lim Tan Motor said replacing the control units, which are small computers handling various car functions, can be expensive, but it is possible to source for reconditioned parts to help lower repair cost.

Q: Who will pay for the damage in the recent case?

A: Private condominiums’ management corporations are required by law to have liability insurance that covers damage to property, death or bodily injury that occur on the common property, according to a spokesperson for the General Insurance Association of Singapore.

Mr Douglas Chia, chief executive of insurance brokerage Eazy Insurance, said even though the owners of the affected vehicles may have a valid case against the condominium’s management corporation, the car owners will likely end up making claims on their own motor insurance policy.

Otherwise, the car owners will have to wait for the claims against the condominium to be successful before repairing their vehicles.

Alternatively, the owners could pay for the repairs first and pursue the case separately, but this is a difficult process, said Mr Sarjeet Singh, a lawyer at Alan Shankar & Lim who specialises in motor insurance.

As for making a claim on the vehicle owner’s insurance, Mr Singh said most policies would include coverage for flooding as a natural disaster, but for accidental flooding, it depends on the policy wording.

Vehicle owners are often hesitant to make a claim on their own vehicle’s motor insurance policy, as this would typically hike up the premium during renewal.

But Mr Chia from Eazy said vehicle owners should explain to their insurer that the claim is not due to their negligence. “There are insurers who would understand the owner’s predicament and not penalise them during policy renewal,” he said.

He also advises affected owners to keep media reports of the incident as evidence to explain to their insurers.

In cases where a car is deemed to be “beyond economic repair” – which is when the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds its replacement or market value – the insurer will compensate the owner and take over the vehicle.

Q: If I’m buying a second-hand car, how can I tell if it has been damaged in a flood before?

A: Motorists often assume that when a car is declared a total loss, it means that the car is scrapped, which is not usually the case, Mr Singh said.

Flood-damaged cars taken over by insurers could be sold subsequently.

Mr Jason Tan from Lake View Credit, a used car dealership, said it is not possible to know with certainty if a car had been in a flood. When he is assessing a used car, he would watch out for rust in areas such as the seat mounting and any sign of dampness under the carpets.

The spokesman from Lim Tan Motor said there are ways to mask any smell of dampness. He said rust is a key sign of water damage. So he would also look out for rust at the areas in the cabin near the front pillar of the car, which do not dry easily.

Correction note: This article has been edited for clarity.