What should I do to my car right before a storm?

Move it to the highest, most sheltered spot you have access to — a garage over an open lot, higher ground over a low-lying street — and remove anything from the exterior that could become debris, like roof racks or loose accessories. Close all windows and sunroofs completely, including cracked ones left for airflow.

My car got some water inside the cabin during a storm. What now?

Get moisture out as fast as possible. Pull floor mats, open doors to air it out if weather allows, and use towels or a wet vac on soaked carpet. The longer moisture sits, the higher the risk of mold taking hold in padding and seams.

Is floodwater exposure always a total loss?

Not always, but it depends heavily on how high the water reached and how long it sat. Water that reached the seats or dash involves electrical components and padding that are hard to fully dry and disinfect, and that's a different situation than water that stayed below the floor pan.

How do I know if mold has started after water exposure?

A musty smell that doesn't clear with airing out, visible spotting on carpet or seat fabric, or a damp feeling in carpet days after the car has been dry outside are all signs. Mold in seams and padding isn't always visible until it's advanced.

Should I detail my car after every storm, even without flooding?

Not every storm, but after any storm involving standing water near your parking spot, storm debris, or salt-laden storm surge in coastal areas, a check and wipe-down is worth doing before residue and moisture sit for days.

Guide

Hurricane Season Car Care

What matters before, during, and after a storm to keep water, debris, and humidity from turning into a much larger problem.

Call (754) 260-2922

Why cars need a plan, not just the house

Hurricane prep in Miami usually focuses on the house — shutters, water, generators — while the car parked outside gets an afterthought. But a vehicle exposed to storm surge, standing water, or wind-blown debris can end up with damage that's expensive or impossible to fully reverse, especially once water reaches carpet, padding, or electrical components. A little planning before a storm, and quick action after one, makes a real difference.

Before the storm

Parking location

Move to the highest ground realistically available — a covered garage beats an open lot, and higher elevation beats a low-lying street prone to standing water.
Avoid parking under large trees or weak structures that could drop branches or debris.
If flooding is a known risk in your area, consider a temporary spot farther from the coast or in a parking garage's upper levels.

Sealing the vehicle

Fully close all windows and the sunroof — no cracking for airflow, even briefly.
Check door and trunk seals for obvious gaps or wear that could let water in during driving rain.
Remove roof racks, antennas, or loose exterior accessories that could catch wind or become debris.

During the storm

Once the vehicle is parked and sealed, the main goal is simply not moving it unless absolutely necessary. Driving through standing water — even water that looks shallow — can pull water into the engine intake or electrical components, and it's genuinely difficult to judge depth accurately in the dark or in heavy rain.

After the storm

Check for water intrusion first

Before doing anything else, check floor carpet, under seats, and the trunk for dampness. Water can enter through a cracked window, a worn door seal, or a clogged sunroof drain without any obvious flooding around the car itself.

Dry it out fast

Pull floor mats and prop doors open to air out the cabin if weather allows.
Use towels or a wet vacuum on any damp carpet or upholstery immediately — don't wait for it to air dry on its own.
Run the HVAC on fresh air, not recirculate, to help pull humidity out of the cabin.

The longer moisture sits in carpet, padding, or seams, the higher the risk that mold and mildew take hold, and Miami's humidity makes that timeline shorter than it would be in a drier climate.

Deal with exterior debris and salt

Storm surge and heavy rain near the coast can leave salt residue and debris that's more concentrated than everyday exposure. A full wash and paint decontamination afterward removes it before it has a chance to sit on paint and trim. This matters especially for vehicles in Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, and Sunny Isles Beach, where storm surge and salt spray reach further inland than usual.

When it's more than a cleanup job

If water reached the seats, dash, or carpet padding — not just the floor mats — it's worth having the interior properly assessed rather than assuming a wipe-down and some fans solved it. Water that sat for any length of time against padding or seams can seed mold that isn't visible for days, and interior sanitizing alongside carpet cleaning addresses both the moisture and whatever it left behind. For a car that took on real water, a full interior car detailing visit is the safer call over a partial fix.

Staying ahead of the season

Cars kept clean and free of existing moisture problems fare better when a storm does hit, since there's no head start on mildew or trapped humidity already working against you. Going into hurricane season with a car that's already been through a proper full car detailing puts you ahead rather than dealing with two problems — storm damage and pre-existing neglect — at once.