Beware of Flood Damaged Vehicles

Flooding from hurricanes and other natural disasters has not only damaged homes and property, but also hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Although many of them get written off and destroyed, many of them have also ended up on the market, both legally and illegally. They can have serious electrical problems and other hidden damage that can make them unsafe to drive. When shopping for a used car, make sure to inspect the vehicle carefully.

Flood damage that can make a car dangerous to drive:

• The electrical components could be damaged or could corrode over time.
• The antilock brakes could be compromised.
• Various parts may have started rusting and could break down.
• The engine could be compromised and fail without warning.
• Safety features such as airbags may no longer be in working order.
• Accumulated mold and moisture could pose a health risk.
• Contaminated water could have left behind harmful bacteria such as Ecoli.

How to avoid buying a flood damaged car:

• Look for moisture and dirt inside the car, look in the cracks and crevices and light covers.
• Check for odors, a flood damages car may have musty, moldy or other strange odors.
• Look for mismatched interior components that suggest recent repairs.
• Look for watermarks and rust both on the inside and outside of the vehicle.
• Test drive the vehicle and check all of the electrical systems.
• Ask to see the title, it may state that it was flood damaged or salvaged.
• Get the VIN number for the vehicle and check the history report.
• Have it examined by a professional.

If you think that the vehicle you have already purchased was damaged from flooding:

If you think that the car that you’ve recently bought has been flood damaged, get it inspected by a professional to make sure. If the seller did not disclose this information to you, then you could contact an attorney to try to get your money returned. You should also report the fraudulent sellers to the authorities.

If you want to buy a flood damaged vehicle:

Some people like to buy cheap salvaged vehicles and fix them up themselves. These vehicles can be bought at salvage car auctions. It is risky, but if you can successfully repair the damage then it could be a good deal overall.

What to do if your own vehicle gets damaged during a flood:

It depends on how high the flood waters reached on your car and for how long. The longer the vehicle sat in the water, the more likely it is that there is damage. If the flood waters reached the mid-point of the tire or higher, do not start your car because that may cause more damage. At that point it will most likely be declared a total loss. This is because there is a good chance that there has been damage to the electrical system. If the vehicle has been completely under water or sitting in salt water then it will definitely be written off. When the flood water has subsided, get your car towed and send it to a certified technician who can look for unseen damage. Contact your insurance company, they may have specific requirements on where to send your vehicle.

If your vehicle is written off, it is illegal to sell it. If it is repairable and you want to sell it, make sure to tell the buyer about the vehicles history, they have a right to know that it has been in a flood.