How to avoid buying a water-damaged car Advertiser Disclosure Advertiser Disclosure We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make better financial decisions by offering interactive tools and financial calculators as well as publishing unique and impartial content, by enabling users to conduct research and compare information for free to help you make financial decisions with confidence. Bankrate has agreements with issuers, including but not limited to American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money The offers that appear on this website are provided by companies who pay us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this website, for example such things as the order in which they appear in the listing categories and other categories, unless prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity, and other products for home loans. But this compensation does affect the content we publish or the reviews you read on this site. We do not contain the entire universe of businesses or financial deals that might be open to you. Luis Diaz Devesa/Getty images
5 min read Published June 22, 2022
Written by Mia Taylor Written by Contributing Writer Mia Taylor is a contributor to Bankrate and an award-winning journalist who has two decades of experience and worked as a staff reporter or contributor for some of the nation’s leading newspapers and websites including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the San Diego Union-Tribune, TheStreet, MSN and Credit.com. The article was edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since late 2021. They are passionate about helping readers gain the confidence to take control of their finances with concise, well-researched and researched information that breaks down otherwise complex issues into digestible chunks. The Bankrate promises
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This compensation could impact how, where and in what order products appear in listing categories, unless prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity, and other products for home loans. Other elements, like our own proprietary website rules and whether the product is available in the area you reside in or is within your personal credit score can also impact the manner in which products are featured on this site. While we strive to provide the most diverse selection of products, Bankrate does not include details about every credit or financial product or service. Automobile buyers across the United States may be impacted by catastrophic floods, if they do not know to purchase water-damaged cars. New and used vehicles that have been damaged by floods of significant magnitude, like Ida in 2021. Ida from 2021 may get their way onto the market in the aftermath of the storm. Carfax data shows that as high as 212,000 vehicles may be damaged due to the storm Ida. When flood-damaged vehicles are sold in the market, buyers are often faced with expensive mechanical and electrical problems that surface several months later. Even if you don’t live in a region in which flooding is common, you can still inadvertently purchase a car that has water damage. Carfax research has also revealed that damaged vehicles with water damage are found across all states, which means people from coast to coast are at risk of purchasing damaged by flooding. How do you tell if the car is damaged by water? Damaged cars from water can be difficult to recognize. They are usually clean and can even run smoothly for a short time. However, eventually you could encounter issues as cars that have been flooded decay from the inside out. Here are some signs that a car may have water damage: Musty odor the interior of water damaged vehicles will usually smell musty. Some sellers will try to mask the smell with strong air fresheners but it can be very difficult to rid a car of a smelly moldy smell. One method to determine the smell of a car is to lie in the car and shut the windows. Carpets that are damp or moist: Water damage can collect in areas that you can’t notice, such as under carpeting. Check the carpets all over the car and pat them to locate any potential moisture buildup. Also, check the trunk and remove the spare tire in order to check for any evidence of water under it. Stained or mismatched upholstery and carpeting: Another indication that water has damaged your vehicle is to see a vehicle that has stained or loose carpeting and upholstery. Be on the lookout for blotchy brown stains, which are signs of water damage. In the course of inspections, compare flooring carpeting with the upholstery on the doors as well as the roof. All of them should appear to be of similar age and color. Rust: A vehicle with water damage might be covered in rust on the doors, in the hood, and even under the dashboard. Screws, door hinges or trunk latches as well as door handles may also exhibit signs of rust. Brittle wires: Look under the dashboard in case you think that your vehicle may be suffering from water damage. Brittle wires could suggest that the car was impacted by a water event of any kind. Fog or water beads: If a car’s interior lighting, instrument panel or exterior lights look foggy or have water beads in them, think of it as an indication that the vehicle might have water damage. Mud or silt buildup: When there is a flood, water can transport mud and dirt into a vehicle. Once the flood is gone, the dirt will remain. Some places to check for silt and mud are the trunk, glove compartment underneath the dashboard and below seats. Four tips to avoid purchasing the car that has been flooded. If you think that a vehicle may be damaged by flooding or water It is essential to conduct research and determine whether your suspicions are right. There are a variety of tools available to help you get to the bottom of this crucial question, as well as warning signs to look out for. 1. Run a vehicle history report Running a vehicle history report can reveal issues with your car prior to you purchase. A sure sign of a water-damaged car can be seen in the way it is branded as an example. Departments of motor vehicles require permanent title marks for vehicles that have been badly damaged by floods. If the car was declared totaled, it is supposed to be given an entirely new title which is labelled “salvage” as well as “flood.” The title will be determined by the state, however this information could be indicated with a numeric code. Carfax and Experian offer flood check tools that permit users to conduct an independent check on the history of a car. The platforms require only the VIN of the vehicle in question. When looking through a car’s history take a look for vehicles originating from areas affected by flooding. The National Insurance Crime Bureau also offers free VIN checks online that permit customers to determine if a car has been declared salvaged. It is important to look at a vehicle’s history report to see if there is any indication that the vehicle has been sold numerous times in a short period of time. Be particularly leery of a past history that has buyers from several states. This could be a sign of what’s known as car “title washing,” where unscrupulous sellers retitle the car several times to conceal its past. 2. Examine for signs of water damage Cars that were submerged in water will often show telltale signs, but they could be less obvious particularly if the car has been cleaned up for resale. Take note of the smell of mold or musty that emanate through the system for controlling temperature. Note any stains that appear on the car’s interior, engine compartment and trunk. Dirt, sand or mud in odd places , and seat belts that sound sluggish when removed or pulled are indications of water damage. It is also essential to test drive a vehicle in particular, particularly one that may have water or flood damage. Hints to watch out for during a test drive include malfunctioning electrical systems as well as infotainment systems. These systems will react if they’ve been impacted by water. Also, look for signs of smoke during your test drive. 3. Be wary of cars which are priced at a lower value There’s a reason for the adage about things being too excellent to be real. For instance, cars are priced at a premium over their worth, and this can be an indicator that something isn’t right. Find the average selling price of the vehicle you’re considering purchasing at independent sites for pricing of vehicles like Edmunds and Autotrader. A used or new car priced below market value is an indicator the seller is anxious to get rid of the car. Buyers should tread cautiously when a car is offered at a steep discount. In addition to asking questions about the reason the car is being offered for much less than what it is, it may be a good idea to have the car examined by a professional who can identify any problems. 4. Have a professional inspect the vehicle It’s generally a wise idea to hire a certified mechanic or automotive technician to thoroughly inspect a car prior to you buy it, but it’s even more critical to take this step to protect yourself from water damage to your car. A professional will ease your mind, especially in the event that the vehicle you’re looking at has any of the signs that are listed below. Be sure that the inspection not only includes obvious indicators of water damage, but also a thorough test of all electronic equipment, since problems that are related to these systems may take months to surface. Although a pre-purchase inspection typically have to be paid by you, the prospective buyer, it’s an investment to prevent you from ending up with the car that’s unsatisfactory. It is possible to pay between $100 and $200 to have an inspection. What to do if you purchased a car that has been damaged by water If you’ve purchased a vehicle with water damage, it might never be destroyed. It is possible to repair the car by contacting an experienced mechanic. However, remember that these are not do-it-yourself fixes. It will require professionals with extensive knowledge of cars. It’s also worth bearing in mind that repairing an affected vehicle after a flood won’t be cheap, so you’ll want to determine whether the car is worth the expense. In particular, since flood-damaged vehicles usually don’t have any resale value. The bottom line is that flood-damaged vehicles are used in every state across this nation. If you think that a vehicle might have been damaged through flooding or any other kind of water-related event, there are steps you need to follow, such as obtaining a vehicle history report, looking for obvious evidence of water damage, and having the vehicle checked by a professional. Keep in mind that even if don’t live in an area impacted through flooding you could accidentally end up with a water damaged vehicle. Find out more
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Written by Contributing Writer Mia Taylor is a contributor to Bankrate and an award-winning journalist who has two decades of experience and worked as a staff reporter or contributor for some of the nation’s leading newspapers and websites including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the San Diego Union-Tribune, TheStreet, MSN and Credit.com. The article was edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor Rhys has been writing and editing for Bankrate from late 2021. They are passionate about helping readers to take control of their finances with concise, well-researched and well-researched content that breaks down otherwise complex topics into manageable bites.
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