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Be a proactive used-car shopper, and protect yourself from scamsters who peddled their flood-damaged goods. These scoundrels “freshen up” damaged cars and resell them at bargain prices to naïve and unsuspecting buyers. While flood damage to cars may not be easy to see, it can be every bit as harmful as that caused by wrecks.
Begin your investigation by asking for the title. If it’s stamped “salvage,” the car has already been totaled, perhaps by flooding. The title also tells where the car is from. If its most recent “home” is a state where flooding has been a problem, take note. Flood-damaged vehicles are routinely shipped to your area and sold as though nothing is wrong with them.
Next, scrutinize it for telltale signs of flooding. Watermarks will usually remain hidden from view. Open the hood and scan the engine compartment. Look at the radiator. Check the air filter for signs of water-borne debris. Does the engine oil look milky or discolored? It could be from water.
Check the trunk. Does it smell musty? Is the jack or tire iron rusted? Look under carpeting for signs of moisture. Do you see evidence of new, poorly fitted, or mismatched carpet or upholstery? Use a mirror to peer under seats where the metal parts can rust.
Check for mud or rust in hard-to-clean parts of the car. Be sure to check every electrical switch – locks, windows, lights, lighter, radio, horn, heater fan – and try each of them several times.
If you’re still serious about the car, find the vehicle identification number (VIN), and use it to order a vehicle history report from www.carfax.com or www.autocheck.com. It will reveal the car’s hidden past, including flooding.
All the best,
Timben
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