How to Spot a Flood-Damaged Car
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NADA Offers 10 Inspection Tips to Detect Flood-Damaged Vehicles
Have you considered buying a used car, truck, or SUV? Buying pre-owned has many benefits. And when you purchase used from a dealership such as Fred Martin, you can have a peace of mind that your car will be in top shape! Buying a used vehicle can be daunting. Sometimes when the price seems too good to be true, there is a reason why. With hurricane’s and large storms ravaging our southern states, vehicles are often damaged and submerged in floods and rising waters.
Once a post-flood clean-up and rebuilding begins, flood-damaged vehicles most often are sold for scrap or recycling. Occasionally, however, they find their way into the marketplace for sale to unsuspecting buyers.
While there is no sure way to know if a vehicle has been damaged by a flood, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) offers the following 10 inspection tips to prospective buyers to spot flood-damaged vehicles:
BEFORE GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL
1. Check a vehicle’s title history using the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s VinCheck, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System or a commercially available vehicle history report service, such as Experian or Carfax, etc. Reports may state whether a vehicle has been flood damaged.
2. Examine the interior and the engine compartment for evidence of water and grit from suspected submersion.
3. Check for recently shampooed carpeting.
4. Look under the carpeting for water residue or stain marks from evaporated water not related to air-conditioning pan leaks.
5. Inspect for interior rust and under the carpeting, and inspect upholstery and door panels for evidence of fading.
6. Check under the dash for dried mud and residue, and note any mold or a musty odor in the upholstery, carpet or trunk.
7. Check for rust on screws in the console and in other areas water would normally not reach unless the vehicle was submerged.
8. Look for mud or grit in alternator crevices, behind wiring harnesses and around the small recesses of starter motors, power steering pumps and relays.
9. Inspect electrical wiring for rusted components, water residue or suspicious corrosion.
10. Inspect other components for rust or flaking metal not normally found in late model vehicles.
LOOK AT A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT!
CARFAX is a great way to view this information. Ask questions about items that concern you. A vehicle with more than one owner per 4 years should raise a RED FLAG. Ask the seller to provide you any service records they have. Look the service records over, if they don’t have any, this may be a RED FLAG. Look for any unusual repair items. Flood and frame damage are considered major issues that greatly reduce the value of any car.
HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN
Make sure to have the vehicle inspected by a certified technician that is familiar with the vehicle you are interested in. Make sure at the time of purchase you get the exact miles and VIN number off the vehicle on the day you purchase it. Check it against the title. Never pay for a vehicle from a person-to-person transaction without receiving the title in-hand when you pay for it. The day you receive the title is the day you should go have it put in your name. Understand the risks involved with purchasing a vehicle with a branded title, a manufacturer buyback, or a salvage title. A branded title will lower the value of the vehicle and cause you headaches in the future.
COMPARE THE PRICE TO SIMILAR VEHICLES
CONSIDER THE WARRANTY
You will likely find any issues with the vehicle within the FIRST FIVE DAYS OF PURCHASE. If buying the vehicle from a car dealer make sure they offer you the following options in writing. If the dealer does not offer these options, leave and find one that does.
- FIVE-DAY OR GREATER RETURN POLICY
- ONE-YEAR OR GREATER WARRANTY
WE’RE THE FRED MARTIN CAR GUYS, WE KNOW CARS!
Are you looking for quality used cars for sale near Cleveland, OH? Then you’re in the right place! At Fred Martin Superstore, we are proud to be your local Chrysler dealership serving Canton, OH, and Akron, OH with the finest selection of new and used cars on the market. From a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee to a used RAM truck, we are sure to have the right vehicle for you.
Not sure if a used car is what you’re looking for? Check out the used car buying tips above! Fred Martin Superstore only stocks the highest quality cars possible, but these tips will ensure that the vehicle you drive home is up to your standards as well. Be sure to pay attention to how the car drives, any noises you hear, and always check its CARFAX report. We are also happy to do onsite vehicle inspections for any car you are considering buying. Simply search “used car dealership near me” and then head over to our dealership in Barberton, OH today!