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Hurricane season: how to get your car ready

ZeroTow · Updated October 9, 2026

A little preparation before a storm can save a lot of trouble afterwards. Here's a checklist for South Florida drivers, before, during and after.

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Before the storm

  • Fill the tank early. Lines get long and stations run out of fuel once a storm is in the forecast.
  • Check the battery, tires and wipers now, while shops still have time.
  • Save your insurance company's claim number and your policy number in your phone. Know whether you have comprehensive coverage, which is what usually covers flood and wind damage.
  • Take photos or a video of the car, inside and out, with the date. It's your proof of its condition.
  • Take your registration, insurance card and valuables out of the car and keep them with you.

Where to park

  • Away from trees, power lines and anything that can fall.
  • Out of low spots and flood-prone streets. A higher floor of a parking garage is often safer than a ground-level lot. Pick a garage with good construction, and check if it closes before the storm.
  • In a garage at home if you have one, with the car facing out so it's easy to leave.
  • Not on a street the city may close or that floods in heavy rain or king tides.

During the storm

Stay off the road. Don't go out to check the car. Tow trucks, like other vehicles, can't safely operate in dangerous winds or flooded streets, so a tow may not be possible until conditions improve. If someone is in danger, call 911.

After the storm

  • Photograph any damage before you move or touch anything.
  • Don't drive through standing water. Don't start a car that was in the water. See our flooded-car guide.
  • Watch for downed power lines and fallen trees, and treat every line as live.
  • Call your insurance company, then book a tow if the car can't be driven. In the app, say in the note for the driver which roads are passable and where to meet.
  • Be careful with strangers who offer tows or repairs door to door after a storm. Use a company you can look up, and get the price before the work starts.