Most hurricane checklists are about the house: water, food, shutters, flashlights. The car usually gets a thought only when the storm is a day out and the gas lines are already long. A little planning makes a big difference, both to getting through the storm safely and to how smoothly an insurance claim goes if the car is damaged. This is general information from a Honolulu body shop, not insurance or legal advice.
When hurricane season is
The hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30, but tropical cyclones can occur at any time[1]. The National Weather Service office in Honolulu activates the Central Pacific Hurricane Center when a tropical cyclone forms in or moves into the Central Pacific, and the center issues watches, warnings and advisories for the area from 140 degrees west longitude to the International Dateline[1], the stretch of ocean around Hawaii.
Two terms are worth knowing. The National Weather Service issues a hurricane or tropical storm watch about 48 hours before it expects those conditions, and a warning about 36 hours before[5]. A watch is your cue to finish preparing, car included. By the time a warning is up, you should be close to done.
Before the season: the paperwork
The best time to deal with insurance is long before a storm has a name.
Check what your auto policy actually covers. The Hawaii Insurance Division explains that comprehensive, also called other-than-collision, coverage pays, subject to your deductible, for losses to your car from theft, fire, windstorm, flood, falling objects and vandalism[5]. It is separate from the coverages you are required to carry to drive, it is limited to the car's value at the time of the loss, and it does not cover personal belongings lost or damaged inside the car[5].
Do not count on your home policy. The same guide says homeowners or renters insurance would not cover damage to your car, even if it was parked on your property or in your garage[5]. If a branch comes through the windshield in your own carport, it is the auto policy that matters.
Know your deductible. Comprehensive coverage pays subject to your deductible[5]. The Insurance Division suggests discussing damage that is at or near the deductible with your agent before you file a claim[6].
Keep your documents safe and reachable. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency advises securing important documents, including copies of your insurance policies, in protective containers[2]. Ready.gov adds that your insurance policies and ID should be up to date, with copies kept in a secure, password-protected digital space[4]. For the car, that means:
- Your auto insurance card and policy number
- Your registration, and where your title is kept
- Your insurer's claims phone line and your agent's contact details
- Your loan or lease account details, if the car is financed
The Insurance Division also recommends keeping a list of 24-hour contact information for your insurer and agent, and checking whether they set up an emergency hotline for storm damage[5].
Take "before" photos now
The Insurance Division encourages taking an inventory, in photos or video, of your property and belongings[5]. Do the same for your car while the weather is calm:
- All four sides, plus the roof, hood and trunk
- Close-ups of any existing dents, scratches or chips, so they are not confused with storm damage later
- The interior, including the seats and carpets
- The odometer, with the car switched on
Save the photos to cloud storage, not just your phone. If the car is damaged, clear "before" pictures help everyone agree on what the storm did.
Fuel up early
Hawaii's emergency agency tells residents to keep their car's gas tank filled, and to prepare early to avoid long lines at gas stations, grocery stores and ATMs[2]. Ready.gov gives the same advice: keep the tank full in case of an evacuation or power outages[3].
During the season, try not to let the tank run low. When a watch is issued, top it off that day rather than waiting.
While you are at it, check the basics that matter if you have to leave in bad weather. Ready.gov's car checklist includes the battery, brakes, lights and hazard lights, windshield wipers and washer fluid[3]. Keep a phone charger, a blanket, jumper cables and flares or a reflective triangle in the car[3].
Decide where the car will ride out the storm
Know your flood and evacuation risk. The National Weather Service office in Honolulu advises finding out whether your home is in a flood zone or exposed to storm surge, and planning where you would go and how you would get there if you need to evacuate[8]. The state's Flood Hazard Assessment Tool shows FEMA flood zones on a map and can be searched by tax map key or coordinates, though it does not identify every area that can flood[9]. If your street floods in heavy rain, plan to move the car to higher ground before the storm arrives, not during it.
Pick a safer spot. A garage or a sturdy covered parking structure on higher ground is best. If the car must stay outside:
- Avoid low spots, the bottom of driveways and anywhere water collects
- Park away from trees, loose fences and anything that could fall or blow over
- Stay clear of power lines; Ready.gov warns that a power line falling on a car puts the people inside at risk of electrical shock[3]
- Close every window and the sunroof, and take loose items out of truck beds
If you will be off-island during the season, for work or a deployment, think about where the car will sit while you are gone. Fly Garage offers covered and uncovered vehicle storage by arrangement; the office confirms space and terms.
During the storm: stay off flooded roads
If you are told to evacuate, Ready.gov says to go immediately[4], and that is the moment a full tank and a packed car pay off. Otherwise, stay put. Ready.gov advises driving in bad weather only if absolutely necessary[3].
Ready.gov warns that six inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control or possibly stall, and a foot of water will float many cars[3]. Moving water is worse: one foot of it can sweep a vehicle away[4]. Turn around rather than drive through. You cannot see how deep the water is, or whether the road beneath it is still there.
After the storm: check, document, call
Wait until it is safe. Ready.gov warns that roads may have weakened where floodwaters have receded and could collapse under the weight of a car[3]. Watch for downed lines and debris before you walk up to your car.
Photograph everything first. The Insurance Division says that once it is safe, you should check for damage and take clear photos or videos[7]. Then secure the car against more damage, such as covering a broken window, and keep receipts for anything you buy to do it[6].
Make sure the car is safe to drive. The Insurance Division's first step for a damaged car that still runs is to confirm it is safe to drive[7]. Our advice as a body shop: if water got inside the car, or there is broken glass, structural damage or a warning light, do not try to start or drive it. Have it towed and checked instead.
Call your insurer. If you have comprehensive coverage, contact your auto insurer to make a claim[6]. Be ready to describe the car's condition and where it is located[7]. The Insurance Division says to work with your insurer to estimate the damage or the car's value, and once you and your insurer have agreed the initial cost of repairs, to work with a shop to have the car repaired[7]. If more damage turns up once repairs start, your insurer will work with you on it[7].
Choose where the car goes. If the car cannot be driven, call for a tow once roads are open. Fly Garage runs 24/7 towing on Oahu at 808-341-6511, with a tow truck and a Futura lay-flat trailer. The body shop works with all insurance companies and writes estimates in CCC ONE; see how an insurance repair works with us, or call the body shop at 808-285-3272.
The short version
Before the season, confirm you have comprehensive coverage, take photos of your car and keep your policy details safe. Keep the tank filled and top it off when a watch goes up. Park on high ground away from trees and power lines, and never drive through flood water. After the storm, photograph the damage, call your insurer, and agree the repair estimate with them before work starts.
