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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. Edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor Rhys has been writing and editing for Bankrate since the end of 2021. They are passionate about helping readers gain the confidence to manage their finances with precise, well-researched, and well-researched data that breaks down otherwise complex topics into manageable bites. The Bankrate promises

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You have money questions. Bankrate has the answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four years. We strive to continuously give our customers the right guidance and tools required to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate adheres to strict standards policy, which means you can be confident that our content is truthful and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters provide honest and trustworthy information to assist you in making the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial team is objective, factual and uninfluenced through our sponsors. We’re honest regarding how we’re capable of bringing high-quality information, competitive rates and useful tools to you , by describing how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for the promotion of sponsored goods andservices or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order the products are listed within categories, with the exception of those the law prohibits it regarding our mortgages, home equity, and other home loan products. Other factors, such as our own website rules and whether or not a product is available in the area you reside in or is within your personal credit score may also influence how and where products appear on this site. Although we try to offer a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about each financial or credit item or service. Car buyers throughout the nation can experience the aftereffects of catastrophic floods, if they do not know to purchase damaged cars. Used and new vehicles that have been damaged by major flood events like Hurricane Ida which hit 2021 in the year 2021 could be brought to market after a storm. Carfax data shows that as many as 212,000 vehicles may be damaged due to the hurricane Ida. If flood-damaged cars are sold, unsuspecting buyers often face costly electrical and mechanical issues that are discovered after a few months. Even if you’re not in an area in which flooding is common, you could still buy a car with water damage. Carfax research has also revealed that vehicles that have been damaged by water are present in every state, meaning that buyers from coast to coastline are at risk of purchasing an affected car due to flooding. How do you tell if a car has water damage Cars with water damage can be difficult to spot. They often look fine and may even run well for a while. However, eventually you will encounter issues as cars that have been flooded decay from the inside out. Here are some of the signs that a car may be damaged by water A musty smell the interior of water damaged automobiles will typically smell musty. Unscrupulous sellers may try to mask the smell with powerful air fresheners, but it’s very difficult to truly remove a car from a smelly moldy smell. One way to test the car’s smell is to be inside and close the windows. Moist or damp carpeting water damage may accumulate in places you don’t immediately notice, such as under carpeting. Check the carpets all over the car and pat them to locate any moisture that could be accumulating. Examine the trunk too, even removing the spare tire to check for any evidence of water under it. Carpeting that is stained or unmatched carpeting: Another indication of water damage is a car with loose or stained carpeting or upholstery. Be on the lookout for blotchy brown streaks, which are indicators for water-related damage. When you conduct inspections, check the carpeting on the floor with upholstery on the doors as well as the roof. The carpets should all appear like they’re of the same age and color. Rust: A vehicle that has water damage might be rusty around the doors, in the hood, and even under the dashboard. Screws, door hinges, trunk latches and even door handles could exhibit signs of rust. Brittle wires: Check under the dashboard if you believe the car might have water damage. Brittle wires could indicate that the vehicle is a victim of any water-related event of some type. Fog or moisture beads: If your car’s interior lighting instruments, exterior lights, or lights appear to be hazy or contain water beads within the lights, it could be a warning sign that the vehicle could be suffering from water damage. Silt or mud buildup: In floods, specifically water can carry dirt and mud inside a vehicle. Once the flood is gone but the dirt remains. Some places to look for silt and mud are the glove compartment, trunk, under the dashboard, and beneath the seats. Four tips to avoid purchasing the car that has been flooded. If you are concerned that your vehicle might have water or flood damage, it’s important to do research and determine whether your instincts are correct. There are many tools that can assist you in getting to the root of this vital problem, along with signs to be alert for. 1. Conduct a car history check A vehicle history report can uncover issues with a car before you make a purchase. The most obvious indication of a damaged car can be seen in the way it is identified as the case. Departments of motor vehicle require permanent title marks for cars that were badly destroyed by floods. If the vehicle is declared to be totaled, it’s supposed to be given a new title entirely that is labeled “salvage” or “flood.” Depending on the condition, this fact may be made clear by a numerical code. Carfax and Experian have flood check tools which allow users to run a free check on the background of a vehicle. The platforms require only the VIN of the car that is being investigated. If you are looking over a car’s past take a look for vehicles originating from areas hit by the floods. The National Insurance Crime Bureau also offers free VIN checks online that permit consumers to find out whether a car has been declared salvaged. You will want to look at a vehicle’s history report to see if there is any indication that the vehicle has been sold several times over an extremely short time. Be cautious of a history that involves buyers from multiple states. This could be an indication of what’s known as “title washing,” where unscrupulous sellers retitle cars repeatedly in order to hide its past. 2. Check for signs of water damage Cars that are submerged in water will often show telltale signs, but they can be subtle particularly if the car was cleaned prior to sale. Pay attention to stinky or sour smells, including those coming from the climate control system. Take note of any stains you see on the car’s interior, engine compartment and trunk. Dirt, sand or mud in odd places and seat belts that sound gritty when they are removed or pulled are signs of damage from water. It is also essential to try driving a car that you suspect may have water or flood damage. Tips to look out for while you’re driving include malfunctioning electrical systems as well as infotainment systems, which will act up if they have been affected by water. You will also want to look for signs of smoke in your test drive. 3. Be cautious about cars that are priced below market value. There’s a reason behind the adage about things being too great to be true. For instance, cars are priced way below worth, and this is usually a red flag that something isn’t right. Check the typical selling price for the car you’re considering purchasing through independent price sites for vehicles such as Edmunds as well as Autotrader. A used or new car that is priced lower than market value is an sign that the seller is looking to dispose of it. Buyers need to be careful when a car is being advertised at a substantial discount. Alongside asking questions about the reason the vehicle is being sold at a lower price than it should be an offer, it could be recommended to get the car evaluated by a professional who will detect any issues. 4. Have a professional inspect the vehicle It’s generally a wise idea to engage a certified mechanic automotive technician to thoroughly inspect a car prior to you purchase it, but it’s even more critical to do this to protect yourself from a possibly water-damaged car. A professional can help ease your mind, especially when the vehicle you’re contemplating buying has one or more of the warning signs mentioned in this article. Be sure that the inspection not only includes obvious indications of water damage but also a thorough inspection of all the electronics equipment, as problems that are related to these systems may be a long time before they are discovered. A pre-purchase inspection usually be paid by the buyer, it’s an investment if it prevents you from getting a car that is unsatisfactory. You can expect to spend between $100 and $200 for an inspection. What to do if you bought a water-damaged car If you’ve purchased a car with water damage, it may not be lost. You can repair the car with a skilled mechanic. But remember, these are not do-it-yourself fixes. They will require an expert with a vast knowledge of cars. Also, keep in mind that the repair of damaged vehicles after flooding will not be inexpensive, and you’ll have to figure out if it’s worth the cost. In particular, since flood-damaged vehicles generally don’t have a potential for resales. In the end, flood-damaged cars are utilized in every state across this country. If you are concerned that your car could have been affected by flooding or another type of water event there are several steps to consider, including completing a car history report, looking for telltale evidence of water damage, and having the car inspected by a qualified professional. Remember, even if you aren’t in a region that has been affected with flooding, it is possible that you could unknowingly end up with an automobile that has been damaged by water. Learn 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. Edited by Rhys Subitch Edited by Auto loans editor Rhys has been editing and writing for Bankrate since the end of 2021. They are passionate about helping readers to take control of their finances by providing concise, well-researched and well-researched content that breaks down otherwise complex topics into manageable bites.

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