(Long Island, N.Y.) Janine Drywater purchased a used truck for her 18-year-old daughter at a small, privately-owned dealership in Tulsa, Oklahoma about a year ago. The $2,500 price seemed to be a great bargain. The truck appeared to be in reasonable condition. It had a reasonable number of miles and very little noticeable damage. Two weeks later, her daughter placed a frantic call to her mother from the side of the highway at 10 p.m.

“Mom! I heard a loud, scary noise, and then the engine literally blew apart!”

What had seemed to be a great bargain had actually been a flood-damaged vehicle from Hurricane Irene.

“I never thought that a hurricane vehicle would be this far away from where it happened. I should have done my homework,” cried Mrs. Drywater. “I’ll never make that mistake again.”

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, hundreds of thousands of flood-damaged used vehicles will soon hit the used car market. These cars will be transported across the nation to anyone, and everyone, who will buy them. Unscrupulous used car dealerships will purchase these vehicles for pennies on the dollar, refurbish them, and then resell them to unwitting consumers.

“It’s buyer beware when it comes to the damaged used car market,” said Alec Gutierrez, director of operations in the automobile valuation department at Kelley Blue Book. “You never know what’s going to happen. It’s like a ticking bomb.”

Vehicles damaged by Hurricane Sandy are dangerous for a number of reasons. Water can damage the electrical and mechanical systems that control everything from turn signals to brakes and airbags. In some cases, the engine can literally blow up. Likewise, flood water contains harmful filth and chemicals which permeate the ventilation and seats, resulting in the buildup of bacteria and mold.

Vehicles damaged by Hurricane Sandy can receive clean titles in a number of ways. Most salvaged automobiles are restored and resold through nationwide auctions. Salvage dealerships are provided with a full disclosure of previous damage and a vehicle history report. But these dealers can buy a car then take it to a new state where this information is not maintained. They can obtain a clean title and resell it elsewhere. When the vehicle is resold, the new customer won’t have a clue about its history.

Dealers can also attempt to forge the real title or fake a real one, a process that is known as “title washing” in the shady underbelly of the used car industry. It is a little-known practice that leaves many drivers, like Mrs. Drywater, stranded and alone.

Honest used car dealerships will likely raise their prices as the demand for reliable cars escalates to unprecedented levels. The increase is expected to be temporary, primarily due to the overall shortage of used cars on the market today.

Used car buyers should thoroughly inspect a vehicle before making a purchase. Check the VIN number with CarFax and the National Registry. Look for evidence of discoloration in the fabric, carpet or upholstery, and see if any material has been replaced. Check for flaky, dry or brittle electrical wires, rust or soot in the engine bay or trunk, and an overly perfumed, mildewy, or musty smell overall.

“Good used cars will still be available after Hurricane Sandy,” says Gutierrez. “People just need to be wise about their purchases, and expect to pay a few hundred dollars more for the time being.”

Buying a used car has always been a tossup; on one hand, you’re paying much less than you would pay for a new car while, on the other hand, you’re sacrificing benefits such as a car with little to no miles on the odometer, a warranty, and free scheduled maintenance. Many budgets can only stretch as far as a used car, but the risk of getting a vehicle with issues that require costly maintenance has been a problem for consumers. The good news: as technology advances, buying a used car becomes less and less of a risk.

One of the best resources that have gained popularity in recent years is online vehicle history reports, which are available for a fee to anyone with access to the vehicle identification number (VIN) of a specific vehicle. These reports are a compilation of information from a variety of sources including insurance companies, mechanics, and junkyards. Many used car dealers and even some personal sellers will offer these vehicle history reports at no cost to the buyer, making it easy for a consumer to avoid vehicles with a negative history.

Even a used car with low mileage that is only a few years old can be a huge savings compared to a new vehicle. Since vehicle depreciation begins the second it is driven off of the sales lot, buying a car that is three or four years old can nearly cut the price in half.

Not only is it easy to find out whether or not a particular vehicle has a history, but the Internet has made researching prices and negotiation techniques accessible to anyone with a computer and a connection. Information about prices for years, makes, and models of a vehicle can be construed from information from a variety of car sales websites, including those that compile such data and websites that are actually advertising cars for sale as well.

Before purchasing a used vehicle, be sure to have it inspected by a mechanic with whom you are familiar. You will have to incur this cost yourself, but it’s worth the cost to assure a reliable used car.

Drivers wishing to save money by purchasing a used vehicle can gain peace of mind by accessing vehicle history reports and researching pricing on the Internet.

The reason that worked behind the deterioration of the trading condition of the used car market is the fall down of the values and the slowdown of the retail sales in the market. A recent survey on industry benchmark to current trade values says that the average price of a three-year-used cars have gone down to 4 %( approx.) in recent weeks. The reasons behind the downturn are:

• Retail demand that has reduced for several months
• Increased supply of the new car
• Quality of the cars offered in the open market that has been deteriorated day by day.

Another important reason is the late plate sector that is increasing in volume this year which was in a shortage crisis last year. It actually assisted a price growth at the end of the last year with a 16% hike in price. However, the tendency of the second car buyers is to emphasized on the refurbishment and pass the cost to the sealer’s account. In addition, continuous price hike of the new cars disturbs the market balance.

It is recommended to you if you want to buy a used car in Long Island or any other city to not buy it directly from the owner. Indeed, try to get it from the dealers who set up the price according to the condition of the car as well as consider the market condition with the help of the recent surveys. Also, keep an eye on the recent products of the company so that you can compare the real situation with what you decide to buy.

Image Courtesy: autonorth.ca

Here are some tips for buying second hand cars for this year that may help you to choose the one for you before you hand over any cash. It is a smart way to deal when you research before your investment.

The primary work for the job is to search the quality cars that are on sale.There are numbers of websites that would provide you with lists of used cars that are available on the market. It is not only the question of cars but also about the dealers. Choose your category first on the deal you want to make. The options you may get are 1. individual dealers, 2. car supermarkets and 3. company sales.
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