8 Signs You May Be Looking at a Flood-Damaged Vehicle

Flood-damaged cars are most likely to turn up in states affected by coastal and river flooding. Here’s a list from most to least flood-damaged, from CarFax: Texas New Jersey Pennsylvania Kentucky Louisiana Illinois New York Florida Missouri Virginia

Facts: Flood Damage from Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

• Hurricane Floyd (1999) damaged 75,000 vehicles and more than half were put back out on the road.

• Tropical Storm Allison (2001) damaged more than 95,000 vehicles by the most extensive tropical storm in U.S. history.

• Hurricane Ivan (2004) – Left more than 100,000 cars submerged in floodwaters throughout the Southeast.

Facts: Flood Damage from Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

• Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Wilma (2005) – claimed more than 600,000 cars across the Gulf Coast. Many of these cars still are showing up for sale around the country.

• Hurricane Ike (2008) – more than 100,000 cars in Texas and Louisiana, from Galveston and Houston over to Baton Rouge, were left underwater.

Talk to a reputable dealer. Established dealerships know that protecting their good public image is worth its weight in gold to them. What to do:• Ask if the car has flood damage (and get the answer in writing). If you can’t

get this assurance, it’s time to walk away.

• Ask to see the title (look for a stamp that reads “Flood” or “Salvage,” required by law in some states. At the very least, check to see if the car came from a flood damaged area.

• Be wary of vehicles priced way under market value. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is.

Be a Smart Shopper

• A “salvage title” means the car was declared a total loss by an insurance company because of a serious accident or some other problems.

• A “flood title” means the car has damage from sitting in water deep enough to fill the engine compartment.

The title status is part of a vehicle history report.

Salvage vs. Flood Title

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Musty or moldy odors

• Check the air-conditioner to see if a moldy smell comes from the vents/

• Musty or moldy odors inside the car are a sign of mildew buildup from prolonged exposure to water.

**Note: A strong air freshener or cleaning solution scent may mask the mildew odor.

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Carpeting

• Look for discolored carpeting.• Check for moisture by feeling the carpet.• If possible, peel back the carpet to see if you can feel moisture between the

carpet and the car body.• You may also see other signs of water damage, such as rust, by looking under

the carpet.• Open the trunk and check the carpet.• Remove the spare tire and feel the material underneath.• Compare the floor carpet to the upholstery on the doors and the roof to be sure

they all appear to be the same age and color.

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Faulty Fabrics

• Look for blotchy, brown water stains on all the upholstery — front, back and under the seats

• If the car is 10 years old but the upholstery looks new, be suspicious.

• Check to see the upholstery matches – look for sections that are a different color, faded, newer or with patterns that don’t line up.

• Large stains or differences in color between lower and upper upholstery sections may indicate that standing water was in the vehicle.

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Recognize Rust

• Check the exterior paint for bubbles near rubber or chrome (a sign that there’s rust under the paint).

• Check for rust on screws, door hinges, hood springs, trunk latches or brackets under the dashboard.

• Use a mirror to check below the seats for rusty springs.

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Check the Oil

A reading of an oil level that’s too high may indicate water in the engine

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Inspect the exterior for water buildup

• Check for fogging inside headlamps or taillights

• A water line might be visible in the engine compartment or the trunk

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Inspect the interior for water buildup

• Check for fogging inside the instrument panel and interior and exterior mirrors.

• Bend the wires underneath the dashboard. (After drying, wet wires become very brittle)

Signs you may be looking at a flood-damaged vehicle:Dirt buildup in unusual areas

• Check for fogging inside the instrument panel and interior and exterior mirrors.

• Bend the wires underneath the dashboard. (After drying, wet wires become very brittle).

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) maintains a free database that includes flood damage and other

information so you can investigate a car’s history by its vehicle identification number (VIN).

If you suspect a local car dealer is committing fraud by knowingly selling a flood car or a salvaged vehicle as a

good-condition used car, contact your auto insurance company, local law enforcement agency

or the NICB at (800) 835-6422.