Although we’re only in the middle of the hurricane season, it’s actually one of the records to date. Hurricane Laura alone is believed to have caused damage of $10 billion to $12 billion last month in Louisiana and Texas, killing at least 30 people. As is unfortunately the case after serious storms, up to 5,000 flood-damaged cars are expected to find their way back to the road or to dealership masses after Laura. And that adds up to the about 447,000 refurbished and waterloated cars already on the road, according to car name study company Carfax.
With used cars being on the market lately and in high demand, consumers should be especially vigilant to avoid being scammed in the weeks and months to come. and every corner of the country, “warns Carfax’s general manager of data, Faisal Hasan. ” Scammers can temporarily blank those cars, move them, and resell them. Once a car is flooded, it will never be the same again. These cars literally rot from the inside, and mechanical, electrical or protective systems can fail at any moment. “
Soggy cars and trucks are legally required to have their titles labeled salvaged. They are regularly auctioned off to auto graveyards and vehicle rebuilders for all parts that can still be reused. Unfortunately, many of them end up being repackaged to some extent and end up in mass brokers or sold through their owners. Some car titles that are transparently known as “rebuilt”, while others will be sold with illegally modified documentation. And even more, those that were not insured or were not. sufficiently broken to be declared remains will be decorated and presented differently with transparent titles.
Texas can claim to have the maximum flooded cars in the country with 98,000 pre-soaked cars on the road, followed by Florida (31300), Kentucky (26400), Pennsylvania (23400) and North Carolina (19300). The maximum number of water-damaged vehicles, according to their respective motor vehicle departments, are Houston, New York, Philadelphia and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Chicago.
CarFax, for its part, offers consumers a national map showing where flood-broken cars appear in carfax. com/flood.
In addition to the apparent damage to upholstery and carpeting, floodwater is a corrosive and abrasive aggregate of water and dirt (and salt) that makes its way almost anywhere in a vehicle. This can be difficult for electronics, lubricants and mechanical systems. Thorough cleaning and overhaul would be vital and costly and probably not valued cash and/or effort.
How do I know if a specific model has been damaged by water?In addition to entrusting any used vehicle you are to a trusted mechanic to check it out very well, you’ll want to use your eyes, especially your nose. Here’s a list of checkmarks, what to look for:
It is prudent to run a model’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) through a name lookup service to find out if it has been reported as flooded or recovered. These reports will also give you a concept of how well the car has been maintained, how many times you have replaced your hands, if you have been in an accident, and if there are safety related recalls that are not. they have not yet been processed.
If you think a vehicle you are contemplating has broken through the water, stay away from the housing. Although it may look beautiful and fine, a car submerged in the past can also literally oxidize from the inside. may take weeks or months to appear. A smart offer can now also charge you a lot of cash on the road for unforeseen and vital maintenance.
I am an experienced Chicago-based automotive journalist committed to providing you with information, opinions, recommendations and complaints at the right time to maximize your investments in the automotive sector.
I am an experienced Chicago-based automotive journalist committed to providing timely information, opinions, recommendations and complaints to help you maximize your investments in the automotive sector. In addition to posting on Forbes. com, I am a regular Carfax contributor. com, Motor1. com, MyEV. com and I wrote about automotive topics for other national and regional publications and websites. My paintings also appear in newspapers in the United States, distributed through CTW Features.