Top 7 tips to help buy a vehicle without flood damaged

Have you ever gone to a car lot or saw a vehicle that you thought that the price was too good to pass up? Before you dig your money out and sign that paper work, you may want to pay attention to this.

Whether you know it or not, most vehicles that are sent to a salvage yard with flood damaged are clean up and then put back on car lots. Flooded vehicles may have water that leaves lasting damages, like electrical and mechanical components that may fail earlier than they’re suppose to. Mold and mildew aren’t easy to eliminate in vehicles. Most of the time the remaining warranty doesn’t cover flood damaged. Believe it or not, there are car dealers that sell flood damaged vehicles to unsuspecting buyers that think they’re getting a great deal.

Here are the top seven tips to help you avoid buying a flood damaged vehicle.

1. Look for Moisture and Dirt: Watch for breads of trapped moisture in all the vehicle’s lights. Lookout for signs of dampness and gritty dirt that’s leftover from a flood in the glove compartment, console, trunk and on the floor broads. Look for signs of rust and accumulate dirt under the hood. Slide your handunder the seat to check any signs of moisture.

2. Take a Sniff: Does the vehicle smell like a sour, mildew-like order? A vehicle will have an unpleasant order if the carpeting and seats were socked with or had water in the vehicle. The order is outstanding if the vehicle has been out in hot and humid conditions.

3. Look for New or Mismatched Interior Components: A good indication that a vehicle had flood damaged is the carpet’s condition. The carpet may look newer than the vehicle itself. Another indication that a vehicle have flood damaged is the seats. Do they have seat covers on the seats? Why? Is it because they go with the vehicle, matches the color scheme? Or does the seat covers seam to be out of place, different colors? It may be a possibility that the whole seat(s) themselves have been replaced. Another thing to look for in the interior, is for any new or different colored components; like dashboards, gauges, vanity mirrors, etc.

4. Get a Vehicle History Report from Carfax: Carfax does a great job of researching a vehicle’s background by its VIN number. A clean slate is not a 100% guarantee that the car or truck hasn’t suffered water damage. Look for signs that the vehicle has been titled in multiple states, a clue that the owners are attempting to clean up a negative notation on the title, such as salvaged or totaled, is by shuffling it into and out of areas where damaged disclosures differ or don’t exist.

5. Turn it On and Go for a Drive: First thing you do is turn the vehicle to the on position and check everything that is electrical that you can, including exterior and interior lights, gauges, clock and audio system, and dash lights that displays air bag and seat belt etc. information. Next, start the vehicle and take it for a test drive, Make sure that all the electrical components are working correctly.

6. Let your Technician Examine the Vehicle: Take the vehicle to your mechanic or someone you trust, and ask for a thorough examination. Experienced technicians will know what to look for any signs of flood damage. (If the vehicle still has a new car warranty, and your technician find evidence of flood damage, the warranty is invaild.

7. Don’t take a chance: If the vehicle that you are looking at has flood damage, WALK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. The money that you save will become the money you will spend to replace components in the vehicle, even if the vehicle is under warranty. DO NOT CHANCE IT. Find a vehicle that you can depend on.