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If you’re purchasing a used vehicle, particularly from a private seller, you may be concerned about the possibility of hidden damage. On the East Coast, the possibility of damage from the recent flooding that has impacted the region is a real concern for buyers. Sellers may be attempting to unload their damaged vehicle without letting you know the truth about its history, so be sure that you know how to spot damage before buying a car.
A car is considered to be flood damaged if it has been submerged in water, either partially or totally, severely enough and for an amount of time significant enough to do damage to mechanical components and the body. There is a market for flood damaged cars in which the buyers clean the cars enough to hide the flood damage and then turn around to sell them for a large profit. Often, these people buy the cars from regions affected by floods and sell them far outside of the affected regions so that potential buyers will not suspect the cars have been flooded.
If you do purchase a vehicle that has been affected by flood damage, you are not eligible to get the vehicle repaired under your auto insurance policy. The damage will be classified as preexisting, and will therefore not be covered.
It is possible that the damage was never reported, so checking the VIN and running a vehicle history report may not be a reliable way of assuring that you are not purchasing a flood damaged vehicle. Here are some tips for personally checking for flood damage:
• Instead of buying from an individual or a disreputable car dealer, pick a used car dealer that has a positive rating through the Better Business Bureau. This assures that you’ll be purchasing a vehicle from an honest seller.
• Keep an eye out for rusted metal parts, even on small parts such as screws.
• Inspect the inside of the vehicle and the engine for debris that wouldn’t normally be found there.
• Notice if there is a mildew or musty smell to the interior of the vehicle. The seller may have tried to cover the smell, so be wary of a strong cleaning supply smell as well.
• Check the interior for any unexplained dampness.
Of these tips, the best is to avoid an unscrupulous seller. Follow these tips and avoid purchasing a flood damaged car that will cause nothing but headaches in the future.
