In the recent "0 cases of the Year" flooding in Rhode Island, hundreds if not thousands of cars were submerged in floodwaters. These cars can be recovered? Probably not, according to experts. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) defines a flooded vehicle as one that has been completely or partially submerged in water to the extent that his body, engine, transmission or other mechanical components were damaged.
According Ronny Pucino, a body shop owner in Rhode Island, there are three main elements in a car affected by floods: furniture, motor and electronics. The extent of damage depends largely on the level of water that the car had. Cars that had wheels top level of damage may be able to be recovered if the owner has moved quickly to repair the damage. But when the water reached as high as the dashboard, it is more likely that the motor and electronics have been compromised and the car will be irrecoverable.
Be alert for cars damaged by flooding should be a concern for all buyers of used cars, regardless of geography. Often, damaged cars are professionally refurbished and shipped to other parts of the country to be sold. Experts say cars damaged by floods end up going to places where consumers are not likely to be on alert. Even when cars "clean well," they may well have electrical damage or engine.
Edmunds.com offers some good advice on how to avoid buying a flood damaged car. They have 6 telltale advice, we have summarized, but click on the article for more details.
1. Obtain a vehicle history report.
2. Be alert for unusual odors.
3. Look for discolored carpet.
4. Examine the exterior for water accumulation.
5. Inspect the undercarriage.
6. Beware of dirt in unusual locations.
CARFAX offers more great tips for detecting and avoiding cars damaged by the floods. They also offer vehicle history reports for a fee which could be a worthwhile investment if you find a car you're thinking of buying.
Another customer service is VINCheck the NICB, a free service to the public to help determine if a vehicle has been reported as stolen but not recovered, or has been reported as a rescue vehicle cooperating members NICB. You must have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to search, and up to five VINCheck searches can be performed within 24 hours.
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