Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Any vehicle damaged by flood water is susceptible to further problems. Unfortunately, many are often refurbished and re-sold in an illegal process called "title washing." This means titles are changed or altered, and the vehicles are sold to many unsuspecting buyers. Knowing a car's history, including if it's been involved in a flood, can be a time-consuming, but worthwhile process that starts with a VinCheck and a vehicle history report, along with other investigative means.
Buying a used vehicle can save you lots of money compared to buying a new vehicle, but researching your purchase can help you avoid buying a flood-damaged vehicle. Some auto dealers and private sellers might attempt to sell a car that has been in a flood. If you know what to look for, you can spot these cars. A vehicle that has been in a flood can be dangerous to drive and expensive to fix.
A car becomes flood branded as a result of extensive water damage. This is usually the result of a natural disaster. State Departments of Motor Vehicles and county tax offices also refer to these as salvage vehicles. They are considered unsafe to drive. In most U.S. states, these vehicles are illegal to drive unless all needed repairs have been made and they pass official Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or county tax office inspection. The vehicles can then be issued a "rebuilt" title that allows them to be registered and driven legally. However, you do not need to purchase flood…
When purchasing a used car, buyers may run into flood damage. With hundreds of thousands of vehicles damaged in recent hurricanes and floods, it has become a significant issue. Buyers should be aware of the problems that flood damage can cause and how to spot these vehicles.
When you flood a car it simply means that you have put too much liquid gasoline into the car's cylinders. What many people don't understand is that liquid gasoline does not burn or explode. Gasoline only explodes when it is mixed with sufficient air. When a car is flooded the trick is to remove the liquid gasoline from the cylinders and replace it with a mixture of gasoline vapors and air.
