Watch out for flood-damaged cars

[enigma-2]

There's an estimated 500,000 flood damaged cars, all of which could be sold on the open market under a salvage title. (Salvage title means the car costs more to repair than its worth).

 

It's legal to sell a car with a salvage title if the seller discloses this before the sale. However it's not required for a private sale. Many of these cars may end up on Craigslist or a fly-by-night car lot.

 

Carfax just opened a FREE FLOOD CHECK tool at www.carfax.com/flood To use it, you will need the car's VIN.

[akirby]

Check the title with the state to be safe. If it's a salvage you won't be able to register it until you have it inspected and deemed roadworthy.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Even if deemed roadworthy, we all have seen electrical gremlins rear their ugly heads on flooded vehicles. Just take the early gen 2s for example. So you may be motoring down the road when whammo you get hit with a blackout etc.

[akirby]

Sorry, I wasn’t suggesting it was ok to buy a flooded salvage vehicle. I would never recommend that. I was just pointing out the process for registering a salvaged vehicle.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

I know . My intention basically is to remind, caveat emptor. Just coz it looks good dont mean its gonna last.