Buying a used car can be a tricky.
With Hurricane Sandy still fresh in our minds, there are thousands of flood damaged vehicles in used car markets, not only in the New York and New Jersey area, but other places as well. You wouldn’t want to end up buying damaged vehicles.
Water damage can significantly shorten the life of a vehicle as all the parts are affected, particularly the engine. While the evidence of flooding can be removed, the damage itself is often deep and long lasting. This means that problems will appear and get worse over time. What seems like a bargain purchase will become a money drain as you constantly have to fix the vehicle. A little precaution and preparation is necessary to avoid buying a used and damaged car.
Here are just a few things you should do to avoid buying a used car that is flood damaged.
Check the vehicle history.
Thanks to the internet and online car businesses, you now can check the vehicle history to see if there is any official record of flood damage.
Ask the seller.
Ask the seller if the car has been in a flood. If he or she says no, then get that in writing when you purchase the vehicle.
Buy from reputable dealers.
Reputable car deals avoid flood damaged cars. They have a reputation to uphold and selling damaged cars can damage their credibility.
Avoid online auctions.
Most damaged vehicles are sold via online auctions. But reputable car dealers can also be found on these sites. Those are the ones you should buy the car from.
Check the VIN.
The Vehicle Identification Number should match the door sticker and the tag on the dashboard.
Inspect for water damage.
Check the car for signs of flood damage. These can include:
- Watermarks on doors, radiators, seat cushions and wheel wells.
- Rust in unusual places such as door hinges, hood springs and under dash brackets.
- Look for moisture inside exterior light fixtures.
- Check for mismatched upholstery or new upholstery in an older vehicle.
- Water stains in the paper air filter.
If you can’t find an accurate car history, check the title to see if it has been stamped for flood or salvage . Research where flooding has recently happened and see if the car came from that location.
By following these tips, you should be able to avoid purchasing a flood damaged car that will be far more expensive to maintain in the long run.
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Shelly, this is a great article. I wanted to let you know not only anyone, anywhere in the USA should be on the lookout for flood damaged cars, but even in Canada. First hurricane Katrina, and now Sandy write offs have turned up. Worse, here the odometers were often changed to comply with the metric system. I doubt anyone dishonest enough to resell flood damaged vehicles had a problem installing a lower mileage odometer. In fact, the problem was so bad after Katrina that customs started demanding more information on vehicles being imported from the USA to Canada so write offs were noted on the Canadian import doc, and provincial then on the provincial vehicle registrations. Trouble is, the rules only apply to commercial imports of vehicles, not ones imported by individuals. So flood damaged write offs are still showing up at auctions and on used car lots.
I’m returning to thank you for helping me avoid buying what I am sure was a flood damaged vehicle. Originally I visited your site to learn how to get a car loan, my first credit ever, so in other words I had no credit rating at all. I got the loan commitment, thanks. Then went car shopping. I checked for the signs the car was in a flood and though the upholstery looked OK, there were water stains on the roof liner. I don’t know how they got there, but even though it was the type of car I wanted at a price I could pay, but I walked away once I say those water stains.
Excellent timing on my finding this post. I was researching advice and tips on buying a used car and have not even though to look for indications that a car had been in a flood. I have added the 5 things to look for you mention to my list of things to check out.
Hi Geena,
I have a friend here in Vegas that buys used cars at auction and resells them on Craigslist and Ebay. In the past year he has brought 2 that ended up being returned to him because the people who brought them off him found out things like their was evidence that the engine had been submerged in water for some time. Since he is trying to build a reputation here in town, he took them back and gave the customers either a comparable product or their money back. That’s what got me thinking about this. Everyone needs to be even more careful in buying a used car these days. Running a carfax doesn’t always find all the problems!
Take Care!
Shelly
HI YBD!
Awesome! I’m so glad to hear that we saved you some major heartache and that you are a repeat visitor! Its shocking how many of these cars are making their way into the US and Canadian market place. Warn your friends! As with most used purchases once you leave the lot, its your problem!
Thanks so much for being an active part of our community!
Take Care
Shelly
Hi K.O,
I’m glad you found this post.
Wishing you luck on your car!
Thanks,
Shelly