How to Avoid Buying a Car with Flood Damage

It’s almost hurricane season, which means storms will dump millions, possibly trillions gallons of rain in vulnerable states, producing billions of dollars in property damage while flooding homes, businesses, vehicles – including toxic animal waste containment sites.

Vehicles that sit under water suffer damage to paint, interiors, electronics, and wiring. Additionally, safety systems like airbags and anti-lock brakes are often affected. Once the water recedes, the process of corrosion and rust begins. Cars with flood damage rot from the inside out.

Unfortunately, many of these vehicles will make it back to the used car market. According to a recent report by Carfax, American drivers may already be behind the wheels of over 300,000 flooded vehicles right now. It will only get worse once more flooded cars work their way into the system.

How can a shop help?

A pre-purchase inspection from a Certified repair shop can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars for many situations, including checking for previous flood damage. For a reasonable fee, you have a qualified shop conduct thorough inspection of the vehicle in question. The shop will know where to look for evidence of flood damage, as well as any other issues that may be hiding.

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6 Places to Check for Flood Damage

To get a damaged car looking new, a dishonest reseller might need to do as little as hosing off the mud, steam cleaning the engine, shampooing the upholstery and carpets, and putting a coat of wax on the paint. pretty easy.

Some states have loose regulations, resellers can take advantage by “laundering” the titles of flood cars that have been classified as salvage. The average car buyer would have no idea what these vehicles have been through.

Avoiding the purchase of a water-damaged car can be tricky, as most of the harm can’t be seen, and may not be noticeable until long after you purchase it. Here's what to look for.

1. Interior

The best place to find flooding is the car’s hood and inside the vehicle. Make sure the doors and windows have been closed tight for several minutes, then get in and close the doors behind you. Sniff the air inside — do you smell mildew or a musty odor? If so, you are looking at signs of water infiltration.

On the other hand, if you notice there is a heavier than usual smell of deodorizer or cleaning solution, this could also indicate a cover up of mold or mildew odor.

Continue to sniff around as you examine the car’s interior components for signs of flood damage:

• Seat fabric and padding
• Carpeting and padding underneath
• Instrument panel (including underneath)
• Door panels
• Ceiling fabric
• Glove compartment, door pockets and other storage areas

Peek around for water lines and stains that may indicate the level of water in the vehicle. Look for signs of dirt, mud and debris in small areas where it may not have been noticed during the cleanup. Any signs of dampness or rust inside the car should also put you on alert.

Just as revealing is the presence of very clean or new seats or carpets in an otherwise well-used vehicle. You may even notice mismatched carpeting, where certain pieces were replaced, but not others.

Check the cabin air filter, too. If it is missing or wet, this could also indicate flood damage.

2. Electrical System

Inspect the electrical components for any malfunctions. Electrical problems can occur days, months or even years after a vehicle was in a flood. Make sure the exterior lights, such as the headlights and brake lights, are working properly, as well as their knobs and buttons.

Thoroughly check the interior electrical systems of the car, such as the air conditioning, radio, turn signals, power locks, power windows and power seats. If any of these components do not work properly, ask the seller about the cause of the issue. It is also important to check to see for water residue or condensation in any of the interior lights or on the dashboard.

3. Under the Hood

Open up the hood and check for mud, water residue, debris or rust in small areas near or around the underhood area and the engine. Rust on the heads of any exposed screws under the hood is not a good sign. A water line in the engine compartment is a dead giveaway of flood damage.

If the car happens to have a paper air filter, check to see if it has any water stains. If you see any, the car has likely been flooded in the past. Check the engine oil and transmission fluid for contamination. If water has gotten into the engine or transmission, the fluid on the dipstick will have beads of water on it, or may look frothy or discolored.

4. Exterior

Flood water can leave its mark outside the car, too. check for these clues:

• Water buildup, fogging or a visible water line inside the headlights and tail lights
• Tiny holes drilled in the headlights and tail lights to let flood water drain out
• Water, debris or mud accumulation inside the wheel wells

Take a look under the car for any evidence of flaking metal or significant rust that seems inconsistent with the age of the vehicle or its general appearance. It is also important to check for missing rubber drain plugs under the car or in the bottoms of the doors. These may have been removed to let the water drain out.

5. Other Hidden Areas

One of the best indicators of a flood is the spare tire compartment. Pop open the trunk or rear door, remove the spare tire and check underneath it. This area often gets overlooked during flood cleaning, so you may find a pool of water, a water line or calcified markings. If so, walk away!

Open and check out the access panels or fuse boxes in the interior, using a flashlight, to look as far down as possible into the exposed openings. These areas are almost always neglected when trying to cover up water damage.

6. Test Drive

Always thoroughly test drive any vehicle you’re considering buying. This goes double for a car that may be flood-damaged. Here are some things to look for during your test drive:

• Does it start easily and idle smoothly?
• Are there any odd smells, sounds or smoke when you start it?
• Do all of the electrical accessories work properly?
• Does the heater or the air conditioner smell when you turn it on?
• Does the audio system sound good? (if not, the speakers may have gotten wet)
• Does the engine accelerate strongly and smoothly?
• Do the brakes stop securely?
• Does the suspension handle bumps and sharp turns well?
• Are there any Diagnostic Trouble Codes that flash during the drive? (Engine Light, TPMS symbol, etc.)

Your special focus here should be on the electrical system and the electronics, as these are the greatest potential trouble spots if the car has been in a flood. Take your time and check everything. If the seller won’t let you drive it first, walk away.

»learn more: get more information on KeySavvy

Online Resources

An online vehicle history report can help you identify where the vehicle was serviced in the recent past. There are several reputable websites, such as CarFax, that can help check out everything that has occurred with a vehicle.

Carfax will also tell you for free whether the vehicle has had flood damage reported (the complete vehicle history report can be purchased). Using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), you can also investigate its history through the national motor vehicle title information system and the national insurance crime bureau. These can help, but flood-damaged vehicles will not always show up in these databases.

Buy from Someone Trustworthy

One of the better ways to avoid a flooded car is to buy it from a trustworthy seller. There are plenty of options, such as certified dealers, or large, reputable used-car chains. However, if you are going to purchase a vehicle from a private seller, services such as KeySavvy, can help reduce fraud.

It used to be much riskier to purchase a vehicle from individual owners, however, KeySavvy makes it easy by verifying the seller’s identity and allowing you to pay the seller online. In addition, KeySavvy verifies the car’s title and registration documents and, in some cases, pulls records from your local DMV to ensure the seller is the legal owner.

»learn more: get more information on KeySavvy

It is always better to go and see the vehicle in person. Be sure that the vin matches the car’s registration and the dashboard tag. Verify that the title has not been marked as “salvage” or “flood".

With a keen eye and some due diligence using services from KeySavvy and pre-inspections from RepairPal Certified Shops, you can avoid sinking money into a sunken car.

About KeySavvy

KeySavvy helps consumers buy and sell vehicles online by eliminating fraud in private party transactions. We believe the private market offers the best value to both buyers and sellers, but the risk of fraud and cumbersome sale process prevent consumers from fully realizing that value. KeySavvy protects buyers and sellers, allowing everyone equal access to the private market. Learn more at KeySavvy.com.