Here’s How to Escape a Car That’s Sinking Under Water—And Why Every Second Counts

My deepest fear is drowning in an underwater cave. I don’t scuba dive and never will. (If nature wanted me breathing underwater, I’d have gills.) But you know what’s eerily similar to being trapped in an underwater cave—and a way more likely emergency scenario? Being trapped in a car under water. So when I got this assignment, my stomach tied itself in a double fisherman’s knot. I realized I’d been so scared to even think about this situation that I had no plan—just blind panic.

“And that’s the most egregious mistake we see people make in emergency situations—not thinking about it until it happens,” says Joe Bassett, a survival expert and the founder of Valiant Outfitters who has participated in water rescues. “You need to think through the scenario and practice it step by step. In this industry, we say survival is 98% practice.” (The other 2%, if you’re wondering, is having the right gear.)

Maybe you’re not quite as high on the fear scale as I am (my palms were sweating just talking about this during the interviews), but if you’ve ever driven through a suspiciously deep puddle—or watched an action movie where someone punches their way out of a sinking sedan—you’ve probably had the same terrifying thought: What if that happened to me?

How likely are you to drown in a car?

Turns out, this “never gonna happen” scenario actually happens more frequently than you probably think. While there’s no official national count, an often-cited study published in Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine in 2010 found that more than 400 people in the U.S. die in submerged vehicles each year. That’s up to 11% of all drownings.

“Everyone wants to prep for the zombie apocalypse,” Bassett says. “But what you’re gonna get is a hurricane or flash flood.”

A car submerged in water might sound like a freak accident, but knowing what to do in those critical first moments can literally save your life. “When a vehicle enters water deep enough to fully submerge, the clock starts ticking,” says Sean Gold, a professional emergency manager and founder of TruePrepper. “You have a crucial window to act—often less than a minute.”

So, yes, every second counts. Read on for step-by-step advice from Bassett and Gold on exactly what to do before your car turns into a makeshift submarine.

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What happens when a car is under water?

There are two main ways this scary driving scenario happens and people end up with their car under water, according to Bassett: either driving into water that’s deeper than expected, or crashing off a road or bridge. The first is a “slow-moving emergency” where you can (hopefully) see what’s happening and have time to act. The second is a “fast-moving emergency” that comes with injuries and disorientation.

But either way, once your car hits the water, the physics of it are ruthless.

The researchers who conducted the study noted above found that cars go through three phases when they end up in water:

1. Floating: The car stays on the surface for a short time—anywhere from about 15 to 60 seconds—before water rises up to the bottom of the windows. “Electric vehicles are heavier and often sink faster,” Bassett notes. Water starts entering through vents and seals immediately, and the car will usually tip forward due to the engine’s weight, accelerating the sinking.

2. Sinking: This is when the car starts to go under but hasn’t completely filled with water yet. It can last 15 seconds to about 2 minutes, depending on the situation and type of car. You still have a chance to escape during this phase, but it’s getting harder by the second.

3. Submerged: The car is now completely underwater and filled with water. At this point, it’s much harder to get out.

Bassett adds that the electrical system will usually only last through the floating stage. “Once the car is in the water, you have about 30 to 60 seconds of electricity,” he says. “That’s why you need to get the windows down immediately.” If your battery is located in a vulnerable spot (like the front of the engine), the electric windows could stop working even faster.

But the good news is that even the most complicated escape (three adults and a child dummy all going through one window in the study) took less than a minute when done the right way. And don’t worry—we’re going to tell you “the right way” below.

What should you do if your car is sinking?

Take a deep breath, then follow this expert-approved order of operations. Bassett calls it SURE:

• Stay calm
• Undo seatbelt
• Roll down the windows
• Exit

These steps are deceptively simple but incredibly important. “You have to act fast,” Bassett says. “Especially if you have passengers.”

If you are alone

1. Unbuckle your seat belt. “This can be more difficult than you think, since the car won’t necessarily be flat and you may not have full mobility,” Gold says.
2. Immediately roll down or break a side window (more on that below).
3. Climb out headfirst.
4. Swim away from the vehicle—it can pull you down as it sinks.
5. Swim toward the closest shore.

If you have kids

1. Unbuckle your seat belt, then unbuckle theirs.
2. Break your window first.
3. Break their window second. (You can pull the child out through your window if necessary, but Bassett says that it’s easier to grab them through the window that is closest to them. If you are using a tool, it takes just seconds to break their window and is easier than trying to pull them over the seat to your window.)
4. If your child is very young, swim out through your window, then reach in to grab them and pull them out. Gold says that if your child can swim, push them out first and then exit after them.
5. Prioritize speed over comfort. “Every inch of space away from the car helps your escape,” Bassett says. “You can get cut, injured or caught on the car if you hesitate.”

If you have pets and can reach them, pull them out through your window. But Bassett says that you should prioritize humans over animals, so focus on getting yourself out first.

Can you open the door if your car is submerged in water?

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: Maybe, under very specific circumstances—but only attempt it if it’s your only option. Why? It’s a matter of pressure. The outside water pushes against the door with hundreds of pounds of force. “The pressure differential between air and water makes the car doors difficult or impossible to open when even partially submerged,” Gold says.

Trying to muscle the door open is like challenging a tidal wave to an arm-wrestling match. “A big mistake people make is trying to open a door before the car is fully submerged,” Bassett adds. “It simply won’t work, and you’re wasting precious time.”

If you do manage to get the door open some, it can actually make your situation worse by letting the water in faster. In one test in the Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine study, a car stayed afloat for 2.5 minutes before going fully under. But when someone opened the door during the process, it sank much faster—in just 30 seconds.

What is the best window to try to open?

The golden rule of escaping a sinking car: Forget the door. Go for the window.

If you have electricity, roll down the window closest to you. If you don’t, you need to break a window. But not all windows are created equal when it comes to shattering. Rear side windows are usually tempered glass, which shatters easily. Windshields and some front windows are often laminated glass, which is nearly impossible to break—even with the proper tools.

“In one of my cars, only one rear window is tempered; all other glass is laminated,” Gold says. “Tempered glass shatters easily with spring-loaded glass breakers or tungsten-tipped breakers. Laminate doesn’t.”

This is why you need to check your windows ahead of time to find out which type they are. Gold suggests looking for a small label or etching that says Tempered or Laminated. You can also look it up online by car make and model. Once you’ve identified the tempered-glass windows, Bassett recommends using a Sharpie and putting a small mark in the corner.

Once you’ve picked the right window, break it as soon as possible using a tool (after undoing your seat belt), and aim low. “Tempered glass breaks easiest at the lower corner or edge,” Gold says. “Avoid the center.”

If you don’t have a tool, Gold says it may be possible to break a window with the metal post of a seat headrest. “But that can take a lot of force and room to swing, which you may not have,” he says.

What should you do if your car is completely under water?

Welp. Here we are at my personal hell.

Here’s the truth: If you missed your chance to escape while the car was floating, your odds get much worse—but it’s not impossible.

“You have to wait until the car is fully submerged and filled with water, equalizing the pressure between inside and out,” Bassett says. Only then can you open the door. But you’ll be fully underwater, potentially injured and disoriented. “Not many people can stay calm enough to wait that long. I’d say you have about a 10% chance of survival at this point,” he adds.

FYI, you can also still break a window underwater if you have the specialized tool to do it. Remember that it will work only on tempered glass, and you should aim for one of the bottom corners, not the center. But be aware that the water will come rushing in fast as soon as you break the window. So you will be pushing your body out against the force of that water.

This is why you don’t want to wait for this scenario. Get out while the car is still floating.

What mistakes should you avoid in this situation?

Mistakes are very easy to make in an emergency scenario, as you’re likely disoriented and possibly injured—not to mention experiencing the shock of being thrown into cold water. Here are the biggest mistakes Bassett and Gold see people make when trying to escape a car in water:

• Waiting for help (it won’t arrive in time)
• Trying to open the door
• Grabbing a purse, laptop or phone (“They’re replaceable—you’re not,” Bassett says.)
• Panicking or freezing
• Not unbuckling your seat belt (“Cutting it may be faster and easier,” Gold says.)
• Calling 911 before you’re out of the car
• Not having an escape tool within reach
• Assuming your kids will “just know” what to do
• Thinking you can punch or kick a window out (“It just won’t work. There’s not enough room for you to get enough range of motion to swing your fist or even a hammer,” Bassett says. “And it wastes precious time and energy.”)

What should you do once you’re out of the car?

Congratulations on escaping the car! That’s the most important part, but the danger isn’t over. As soon as you’re out:

1. Follow the bubbles. They’ll lead you to the surface if you’re disoriented.
2. Swim away from the car to avoid getting pulled down.
3. Call for help once you’re safely out of the water.
4. Check for injuries and signs of shock—your adrenaline will mask pain at first.
5. Get warm as soon as possible, since hypothermia is a risk even in relatively warm water.

How can you prepare for a situation like this?

The best survival strategy? Planning ahead.

• Buy a car escape tool. And yes, you absolutely need to get one of these and keep it in your car. Bassett and Gold both recommend the ResQme tool, which costs less than $10. “I’ve got three in different spots in my car,” says Bassett. “My daughter carries one on her keychain.”
• Keep it within reach. “It won’t help you if it’s in the trunk,” Bassett says. Store it in the glove box, center console or attached to your keys.
• Practice using it. You don’t need to break actual windows—just rehearse the motions so they’re part of your muscle memory. Bassett says that he practices by seeing how fast he can find and grab the tool and undo his seat belt, and then he simulates breaking the glass by hitting it with his elbow lightly. From there, he unrolls the window and practices climbing out.
• Know your glass. Mark tempered-glass windows with a Sharpie if needed.
• Play the “What if …” game with your kids. “Talk to your kids about what to do,” Bassett says. “Practice with them so they know what to expect. Don’t obsess, but keep it light and educational.”

I learned a lot writing this article. For starters, I immediately bought six ResQmes—one for each of my family members. “The risk is low that you’ll need to use it, but it’s not zero, so everyone should have a car escape tool,” Bassett says. “Plus, you can use them as a self-defense tool in a pinch or if your car catches on fire or gets in an accident where the doors won’t open.”

But perhaps the most important thing I learned is that having a plan made me a lot less freaked out. Because emergency prep isn’t about living in fear—it’s about living like the kind of person who could survive both a flash flood and a surprise zombie attack.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on surviving a car that’s under water, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who covers knowledge, common curiosities and communication for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• Joe Bassett, licensed radio operator, founder of Valiant Outfitters, and author of Emergency Communication 101; phone interview, Sept. 16, 2025
• Sean Gold is an emergency management expert, Air Force veteran, and founder of TruePrepper; phone interview, Sept. 17, 2025
• Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine: “My car is sinking: automobile submersion, lessons in vehicle escape”
• AAA: “How to Escape a Sinking Vehicle”

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