BUYING A USED CAR? BEWARE OF FLOOD DAMAGED VEHICLES

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Flooded cars, City of La Mesa, January 22, 2024

February 20, 2024 (San Diego) – Water damaged vehicles may be flooded the market after the severe January storms submerged many vehicles. Flooded vehicles are apt to have permanent damage to electrical systems including airbags, putting lives at risk. But some water damage can take months or even years to appear.

Most insurers will declare a flooded vehicle a total loss, which means it should be issued a salvage or flood title. It is then sent to auction, where it may be stripped for parts, or sold to unscrupulous buyers who may resell it.

 So how can you protect yourself from buying a flood-damaged vehicle? Here are some tips,compiled from Consumer Reports and NBC news.

First, check the Carfax offers free flood damage report..Last year,  Carfax estimated there were 15,000 to 20,000 flooded cars in California alone. The Carfax tool allows you to enter the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, to learn if a car you’re considering buying has been listed as flood-damaged with the Department of Motor Vehicles, as is required by law.

You can also check the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which offers VINCheck. This is another free service to search for evidence of flood damage, theft or salvage title after a serious accident, but it doesn’t use as many data sources, according to Consumer Reports.  There’s also the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System which provdes links to government-approved vehicle history reports, an effort to crack down on title-washing of totaled or stolen vehicles in states with lax regulations.

Even if a vehicle checks out clean in those sites, it’s no guarantee that it wasn’t in a flood.  Owners of uninsured vehicles damaged by floodwaters may sell the vehicle without getting a salvage or flood title, for example, or a waterlogged vehicle may have been retitled in a state without regulations preventing this.

Be sure to carefully inspect any used vehicle before buying, or pay a mechanic to conduct a professional inspection. 

Here are some signs to look for that may indicate flood damage, compiled from Consumer Reports and NBC news:

Smell:  A mildew or moldy odor is a tell-tale sign of water damage.  A strong smell of air freshener may mean the seller is trying to mask a foul odor.

Look for watermarks:  A waterline on headlights ,tail lights or in the engine compartment is a sure sign of serious water damage.

Test electrical components:  Repeatedly turn on and off all electrical items, such as lights, radio, and windshield wipers. Roll electric windows up and down, and move seats forward and back to be sure they work.

Peel back carpet:  Look underneath for dried mud, mold, or flood sediment. Some electrical modules are on the flood, so water at this level means these have been submerged and damaged.

Check engine oil:  Water mixed with oil can create a milkshake-like appearance.

Look for rust:  Bare metal such as exposed screws under the dashboard or metal brackets may show rust if damaged by water.

Check air filters:  If the air filter has been waterlogged, its cardboard frame will look soggy or textured.

Drain plugs: If rubber drain plugs under the car or below doors look new, they may have been replaced after a flood.

Tips for car sellers: Since the San Diego region recently experienced major flooding and has been declared a federal disaster area,  would-be car buyers might suspect that used cars here may be flood damaged. So if you’re selling a vehicle, it’s a good idea to have a mechanic inspect it and provide potential buyers with proof that it’s passed inspection.