Flood damaged vehicles are sold throughout the United States. How to protect yourself

If you’re looking for a used car, look out for flood- or water-damaged cars that may have been cleaned up and offered for sale to unsuspecting buyers.

CARFAX estimates that about 347,000 vehicles were damaged by flooding from hurricane season this year. Hurricane Milton added 120,000 vehicle losses in Florida, on top of the 138,000 damaged by Hurricane Helen in several states. During the summer, up to 89,000 vehicles suffered water damage from minor storms.

“Images of those vehicles floating on the streets and sitting in high water are typically the type of vehicles you see being sold at very low prices to potential scammers,” Em Nguyen, director of communications for CARFAX, told USA. TODAY. “Then they would clean it up and try to sell it either nearby or maybe out of state.”

“Even small amounts of water damage can be a ticking time bomb,” Nguyen said. “This can cause electrical problems and can be very expensive to fix. Or if water gets into the engine or oil system, it could cause engine damage.”

“Although it may look fresh on the showroom floor, it is literally rotting from the inside,” she said.

Car water damage is dangerous

“Water doesn’t mix with anything in the car,” said Michael Crossen, lead technician at Consumer Reports.

Any type of extensive exposure to water, including cars submerged by floodwaters, a car driving through a flooded intersection during a rainstorm, or even a convertible left unattended during a severe storm, can cause damage to the vehicle, Crossen told USA TODAY. Additionally, he said, mold or mildew that may form in a flood-damaged vehicle could cause breathing problems for the consumer down the road.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s rainwater, fresh water or ocean water. Salt water is by far the worst, but any water is bad news,” he said.

If your vehicle has been flooded, do not attempt to drive or turn it on. Tow it somewhere to check it out, Crossen said.

While some minor water damage can sometimes be repaired, in most cases the insurance company will consider a severely flood-damaged vehicle to be completely damaged, Crossen said.

Crossen said he wouldn’t recommend buying a car with water damage.

What happens to vehicles after a flood?

Some vehicles, once the insurer determines they are beyond repair, will be sent to auction because parts of the vehicle still have value and can be restored or sold, Crossen said. Some cars may end up in a junkyard, where people take the wheels, tires, or body parts of the car.

Some vehicles may be shipped to other countries, he said.

But many flood-damaged cars can be purchased by shops or individuals who will “dry them out, replace the seats and carpet, and do whatever else theoretically needs to be done to get the car running and sell it.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it as long as the car is repaired properly, and in many states it’s legal,” Crossen said.

“It all comes down to the quality of the work being done and sometimes corners get cut,” he said.

Some shady sellers may try to sell a car without admitting it has water damage, Crossen said.

“In general, I would recommend not buying a car that you know has been flooded unless you know the full story, for example it was your neighbor’s car and he had the sunroof open and it rained for 20 minutes.” Crossen said. “But even then there are so many gremlins on the road.”

How to check if a car has been damaged by water

“We want to make sure that potential buyers know that there are thousands of vehicles out there that are potentially for sale right now that have a lot of problems,” CARFAX’s Nguyen said.

Car buyers can visit www.carfax.com/flood enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) for a free report to see if water damage has been reported. While there’s no guarantee that all vehicle damage will be reported, especially if the vehicle is sold through private parties, a report can be helpful, Nguyen says. Typically, the report will specifically indicate whether the report includes information about flooding or water damage, she said. While flood damage is more severe, water damage can also be a concern, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the vehicle will have flood markings, she said.

Nguyen and Crossen also suggest having your vehicle inspected independently by a trusted mechanic.

Look for signs that the car has been cleaned or repaired, such as carpet or upholstery that is damp or has mismatched colors. Look for rust on the gas or brake pedals, check under the dash for loose wires, and look for dirt or sludge in unusual places. Also check the headlights and taillights to make sure there are no water droplets inside.

Also pull out the seat belt all the way. In a vehicle submerged in water, the waterline may end up at the top of the seat belt, Crossen said. Crossen also suggests checking the seatback pocket or door pockets for sand or sand.

In rare cases, water damaged electric vehicles may also be at risk. lights up.

Flood-damaged cars are not just resold near flooded areas

Consumers living in states far from areas affected by floods or hurricanes may still find flood-damaged vehicles for sale, Crossen said.

In these areas, not only are individual drivers’ cars damaged by flooding, but also car dealerships and their parking lots are flooded and vehicles are damaged, he said.

“It’s such a cascading effect, and that’s why submerged cars end up in other areas,” he said.

Some of those vehicles may be shipped across the country, where “no one will think it was a flooded car, but it still is,” Crossen said.

After a hurricane or flood, it could be months before damaged vehicles appear in other parts of the country, he said.

Crossen suggests getting a CARFAX or similar report to check the vehicle’s history. Consumer Reports also suggests checking National Vehicle License Information System. They will direct you to government approved vehicle history report providers. The system attempts to combat the practice of “title laundering,” in which cars that have been counted (or stolen) are given new clean titles in states with lax regulations.

Title rules vary by state. But once the sunken vehicle is recovered, it should receive a new “salvage title.” According to Consumer Reports, these titles are usually clearly marked (called “branded”) with the words “rescue” or “flood.” In some states, this warning may appear in the title as an unclear letter or number code.

Vehicles that are in salvage condition cannot be registered until the necessary repairs have been made and the vehicle has been re-inspected by officials to give it a “rebuilt” title, allowing it to be resold.

But some flood-damaged cars can sometimes reappear with a clean title because some states have lax regulations and some sellers move the car from state to state to try to get a clean title, he said.

To be on the safe side, Crossen said he wouldn’t recommend buying a car that has junk car status.

“There are too many unknowns,” he said.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher.. Sign up for The Daily Money, our free newsletter with consumer news on Fridays.
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