For those who’re planning to buy a used automotive within the subsequent few months, remember to examine for flood injury earlier than signing on the dotted line.

Within the wake of widespread flooding throughout Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina final month resulting from Hurricane Ian, automobile historical past report web site Carfax now estimates that as much as 358,000 autos have been broken by floodwaters. A few of these autos will find yourself being resold, as an estimated 400,000 water-damaged automobiles are presently on the street from previous flooding occasions.

“Floodwaters trigger all kinds of hidden injury, which may floor months later,” mentioned Teresa Murray, shopper watchdog with the U.S. Public Curiosity Analysis Group Training Fund. 

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“You don’t need something to do with a flooded automobile, irrespective of whether or not the injury is disclosed and it doesn’t matter what assurances you get from a vendor,” Murray mentioned.

Floodwaters can destroy — typically slowly — electronics, lubricants and mechanical methods in autos. Corrosion can finally discover its approach to the automotive’s important electronics, together with airbag controllers.

“The underside line on these flood-damaged autos is they’re actually rotting from the within out,” mentioned Emilie Voss, spokesperson for Carfax.

“They may look wonderful cosmetically, however there may be mechanical, electrical, security and well being points that may present up down the street,” Voss mentioned.

Patrons ought to analysis a used automotive’s automobile historical past report to verify they know what they’re shopping for, no matter when or the place they make the acquisition, as a result of flooded automobiles typically find yourself on the market in locations removed from the place they initially have been broken.

By providers like Carfax or the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau’s VINCheck, you’ll be able to enter a automotive’s automobile identification quantity, or VIN, and see if there’s something in its historical past that is a crimson flag. Nonetheless, these efforts alone is probably not conclusive. 

That is as a result of not all flooded automobiles are recorded as such except an insurance coverage firm is concerned. When an insurer receives a declare and the automobile is totaled — that means the repairs would price greater than the automotive’s price — the automotive’s title typically is modified to replicate its standing.

These ruined automobiles are usually bought at salvage auctions to junkyards and automobile rebuilders. Reselling them to customers can get on the suitable aspect of the regulation if the title discloses the flood injury.

However not all automotive house owners file an insurance coverage declare. If they do not have complete protection — the a part of automotive insurance coverage that flooding would fall underneath — they’re typically out of luck with regards to protection. So, with no insurance coverage firm involvement there is probably not any official report of the flood injury.

“For those who suspect a automobile could have sustained flood injury, transfer on,” Murray mentioned.

There are issues you’ll be able to search for in a used automobile for that might recommend flood injury, in response to Carfax:

• A musty odor within the inside, which sellers typically attempt to cowl with a robust air-freshener;
• Upholstery or carpeting which may be unfastened, new, stained or that does not match the remainder of the inside;
• Damp carpets;
• Rust round doorways, underneath the dashboard, on the pedals or contained in the hood and trunk latches;
• Mud or silt within the glove compartment or underneath the seats;
• Brittle wires underneath the dashboard;
• Fog or moisture beads within the inside lights, exterior lights or instrument panel.