Don’t Buy a Flooded Car: A Guide to Avoid Damaged Vehicles

There is more than one set of flood victims when a storm strikes. The repercussions can spread across the nation. This is particularly true of flooded cars. When cars are flood-damaged, they’re not necessarily junked. One of them could end up in your garage.
Salvage titles are often plainly marked with the words “salvage” or “flood,” which is known as branding. But in some areas, the title merely has a number code or obscure letter.
A salvage title car can’t be registered again until necessary repairs are made and it’s inspected. Once the vehicle passes inspection, it’s issued a new title, “rebuilt,” and can be registered for consumer use.
But what if the original flooded vehicle owner didn’t have comprehensive insurance at the time of the flooding? Then, an insurance company wouldn’t have declared the vehicle a total loss. The title may remain clean. This is also the case if the repair bill didn’t exceed a certain amount. Unfortunately, only a few states offer a “flood” title.
Titles or vehicle history reports are not perfect and don’t guarantee a problem-free vehicle. You should do a detailed inspection of the car.
Any new upholstery in an older vehicle is suspect. Most people aren’t going to replace the upholstery in an old car, and it’s an indication that something happened.
Another sign is the wires. Check the wiring under the dash. They should be flexible. If they feel brittle, the vehicle has been in a flood. And while you’re at it, check inside the seatbelt retractors. Pull the seat belt all the way out, and then inspect it for moisture, mildew, and grime. This is an area that sellers fail to clean.
Consider the insurability risk. Your insurance company will probably not offer you a comprehensive or collision policy on a car that has a salvage title. You’ll only have liability insurance.
Do your due diligence and avoid buying a flood car.