Buy a used car in flooding risk areas

Every major natural disaster will damage a few cars.  This is inevitable.  But, you do not have to get stuck with a disaster that can end up costing you a lot of money when you buy a used car.  There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from the financial pit that a used disaster vehicle can be.
 
Usually cars that are damaged in a disaster, like a flood, can be cleaned up and sold at an auction in another State.  Most people are unaware that the used car they are considering has been through a floor or even a fire.  The most effective way to determine whether the car you are thinking about buying has been subjected to flood or other damage is to obtain a vehicle history report.  There are a number of companies that offer this service at very reasonable rates.  

What can a vehicle history and a title report tell you about a particular used car? A vehicle history report combined with a title report will reveal a wealth of information about any used car.  The title report will list the actual odometer mileage.  You can compare the odometer mileage on the vehicle with the last reported mileage in the report and determine immediately if the odometer has been tampered with.  It is a crime for anyone to roll back the odometer to reflect a lower than actual mileage.  If the mileage on the vehicle and in the report do not match, you may be wise to consider a different vehicle.

Used car checklist here 

Vehicle history and title reports also tell you if a car has been involved in an accident and the number of previous owners.  The reports will also note if the vehicle was a rental or fleet car, or used as a government vehicle.  Often a used car has had several owners before it ends up on the dealer’s lot.  Be wary of later model used cars that have a number of different owners.  There could be a serious mechanical problem.  A vehicle history report will also reveal if the used car has been previously totaled by an insurance company and sold at auction. 

The most common disaster affecting used cars is flooding.  Most cars that end up under water as a result of a hurricane or other floods are totaled by the insurance company and the title marked accordingly.  But, if the car was uninsured, it may end up sold at auction where you find it on the dealer’s lot.  There are some things you can look for to determine if a car has water damage.  Look inside the engine compartment for water lines.  Look underneath the carpet for tale-tell signs of water damage.  This can be mildew, mold and a musty smell.  If a used car has new carpeting, this should send up a red flag. 

Generally no one replaces carpet in a car unless it has been seriously damaged or has mildew or mold.  Be sure to check the jack, the spare tire and the lug wrench for rust.  Also look for rust on the door and trunk hinges.  Check for water in the air intake.  The air intake is often overlooked by those who would sell you a disaster car.