AAA offers 10 tips to avoid buying flood damaged cars

Flooding problems may lead to scam artists attempting to pawn off flood-damaged vehicles as standard secondhand cars. These vehicles typically show up at auto auctions, used car dealerships, and classified ads. Unsuspecting consumers, particularly those living in regions of the country unaffected by hurricanes or flooding, are often fooled by fresh upholstery, new carpeting, and bargain prices.

Once the owners of damaged cars settle with the insurance companies, the vehicles are sometimes refurbished and resold. Flooded cars are often transported well beyond the original region where the flood or major storm occurred to locations where consumers may be less aware of the damage and what warning signs to look for. Sometimes, a middleman buyer intentionally hides a car’s history as a flood-damaged vehicle through a process known as “title washing” and sells it to an unsuspecting buyer in a state unaffected by the disaster. Among many possible mechanical problems faced by flooded cars, corrosion can take years to surface eventually, when it can cause electrical and mechanical problems. By the time the issues become apparent, the seller is gone, and the new owner is left with an unreliable vehicle and no recourse against the seller.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) strongly recommends used car buyers to be cautious of unscrupulous businesses and individuals who may try to sell flood-damaged cars as standard secondhand cars without revealing the vehicles’ history. When importing a motor vehicle into Canada -- whether it’s from an area affected by flooding or not -- check with the federal Registrar of Imported Vehicles before you purchase a vehicle.

BBB has the following tips for car shoppers to determine if a used car is flood-damaged:

• Ask to see the title. Check the date and place of transfer, verifying where the car came from. Ask questions if the title is stamped “salvage” or arrived from a recently flood-damaged state. Consider purchasing a vehicle history report, which includes information if the car has ever been tagged as “salvage” or “flood damaged” in any state.

• Carefully check the dashboard. Examine all gauges to ensure they are accurate and there are no signs of water. Look for indications that the dashboard may have been removed.

• Check the electronic components. Test the lights, windshield wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter, radio, heater, and air conditioner several times to ensure they work. Also, flex some wires under the dash to see if they bend or crack since wet wires become brittle upon drying.

• Check the interior spaces. Look in the trunk, glove compartment, and beneath the seats and dash for signs of mud, rust, or water damage. Check for open drainage holes in the bottom of the vehicle.

• Check the condition of the fabrics. Look for discolored, faded, or mildewed upholstery and carpeting. Recently shampooed carpets may be cause for concern. Carpeting that has been replaced may fit too loosely or not match the interior color.

• Get a vehicle history report from a database service. The National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) free database lists flood damage and other information. But note that NICB reports are only helpful if the car is insured. If an uninsured flood-damaged car owner tries to sell it on the open market and you’re the buyer, you may never know there’s a problem until things like the electrical system go bad.

• Remember to check under the hood. Look for standing water, mud, or grit in the spare tire wheel well or around the engine compartment under the hood.

• Do a smell test. A heavy aroma of cleaners and disinfectants is a sign there may be a mold or odor problem.

• Research the dealer. Always check out the BBB Business Profile of the dealer at BBB.org.

• Get an inspection. Before buying any used car, consider having a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.