Apart from leaving a path of loss of life and destruction in its wake, Hurricane Ian has one other legacy: Catastrophic flooding doubtlessly broken greater than 350,000 autos, based on new estimates from Carfax.
Automotive buyers should be conscious that these waterlogged autos will quickly be exhibiting up — in disguise — all around the nation. Some shady used automotive tons (think about that!) will illegally attempt to cover these flood-damaged autos by acquiring new titles for them, passing them off as pristine.
“Cosmetically these vehicles would possibly look nice, however for those who don’t know what to search for, it’s almost unimaginable to inform they’re actually rotting from the within out,” Carfax spokeswoman Emilie Voss said in a press launch. “Flood water could cause mechanical, electrical, well being and questions of safety in a car, even when it was submerged for less than a short while.”
Inevitably, hundreds and hundreds of those vehicles will likely be resold to unsuspecting consumers, just like the roughly 400,000 flood-damaged vehicles that Carfax estimates are at the moment on the street — principally from different latest hurricanes.
How will you shield your self for those who’re shopping for a used automotive? Don’t fear, we’ve acquired your again.
Flood-Broken Autos: Not Only a Southern Drawback
This isn’t only a downside in southeastern states that sometimes get hit by hurricanes.
Texas and Florida — hurricane magnets — lead the nation on the subject of the variety of flood-damaged vehicles on the street. However Carfax finds that these autos additionally present up in states the place hurricane flooding isn’t precisely a difficulty.
Carfax’s knowledge exhibits these 10 states have probably the most flood-damaged autos:
States With the Most Flood-Broken Autos
State | Flood-Broken Autos |
---|---|
Texas | 67,000 |
Florida | 33,500 |
Kentucky | 26,000 |
Pennsylvania | 21,500 |
New Jersey | 18,800 |
North Carolina | 15,600 |
New York | 14,600 |
California | 14,200 |
Illinois | 13,300 |
Michigan | 11,400 |
Many of those flooded vehicles are the legacy of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, which hit Texas and Florida in 2017; and Hurricane Ida, which hit Louisiana in 2021 but additionally triggered huge flash flooding all through the Northeast.
After Ida handed by, New Jersey and New York noticed the most important one-year spikes within the variety of flood-damaged vehicles, based on Carfax.
Find out how to Keep away from Shopping for a Flood-Broken Used Automotive
We rounded up useful suggestions from Carfax, the auto inventory website Edmunds and different consultants that will help you keep away from buying a car that’s been broken by flood waters.
Purchase From a Respected Supplier
To keep away from being swindled into buying a flood-damaged used automotive, your most secure wager is to purchase from a trusted dealership. These sellers have a fame to uphold and can probably offer you an in depth car historical past report.
Get a Automobile Historical past Report
We extremely suggest getting a Carfax vehicle history report for those who suspect flood injury.
A car historical past report will embrace tons of related data, like states through which the automotive has been registered. Edmunds additionally recommends an affordable ($7 or much less) report from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, which is able to element whether or not the automotive has been salvaged, amongst different key factors.
You must also use the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s VINCheck service to match a used automotive’s VIN in opposition to a database of vehicles which were totaled (together with resulting from flood injury).
At carfax.com/flood, Carmax has a free “Flood Examine” software the place you may merely sort within the automotive’s VIN. It additionally has a flood injury guidelines and a nationwide map that exhibits the place flooded vehicles are washing up.
Belief Your Senses, however Additionally a Mechanic’s
If you’re inspecting a used automotive, be careful for these pink flags:
- Foul odors, notably mould and mildew. These smells can sign {that a} automotive has been in standing water for a protracted period of time.
- Discolored carpeting or rusted steel. Stains in carpeting or seat materials are additionally indicators of standing water. Rust on the physique or the undercarriage is an indication of extreme water publicity, notably in newer vehicles.
- Inexplicable dust build-up, like within the trunk or alongside the seat tracks. This can be a signal that mud acquired into locations the place muddy toes sometimes don’t journey.
- Water build-up in headlights and taillights. Fogginess within the lighting will also be an indication of extended water publicity.
- Mismatching elements, like seat supplies in comparison with flooring mats. A intelligent vendor could exchange a broken flooring mat, hoping you received’t discover that it isn’t an ideal match to the opposite mats or the seat material.
As an added precaution, have a trusted mechanic give the car a once-over earlier than you signal on the dotted line. Keep away from any vendor who’s uncomfortable with you taking the automotive to a mechanic.
For those who do suspect a dealership or personal vendor of knowingly promoting a flood-damaged car, contact your native authorities or the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Comply with These Suggestions Each Time
In relation to used vehicles, all of that is truly good lifelong recommendation. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Ida and Ian have put a whole lot of hundreds of flood-damaged autos into our nation’s used automotive tons and onto our roads.
From the appears of issues, they received’t be the final main hurricanes to threaten the U.S. this decade. International warming and all that.
However particularly for those who’re shopping for a used car within the subsequent 12 months or so, be on the alert for flooded-out vehicles.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior author at The PNW. Freelance author Timothy Moore contributed to this text.