Recent floods in Texas, Kentucky and West Virginia pushed the total of vehicles suffering water damage in the first half of the year to more than 500,000.
Research from CARFAX estimated that as many as 45,000 vehicles were damaged in flash floods between April and July to push the total past half a million for the year.
Florida led the nation in vehicles damaged, with 82,100. Texas had 63,000 vehicles damaged by water and Kentucky had 32,000.
The CARFAX report notes that consumers and dealers should keep an eye out for vehicles with damage on the used vehicle market.
“Flood-damaged cars don’t just stay in storm-hit areas; they show up all over the country, putting unsuspecting buyers at serious risk,” said Faisal Hasan, Vice President of Data Acquisition at CARFAX. “The same vehicles pictured in one state, floating in floodwaters, can get cleaned up by scammers and sold elsewhere. And while these rehabbed cars may look showroom fresh, they’re literally rotting from the inside out.”
CARFAX points out signs of flood damage in a car are:
- Fog or moisture beads in the interior lights, head- and taillights, or in the instrument panel
- Damp or loose carpentry, or carpentry that’s mismatched from the upholstery
- Rust around doors, under the dashboard, on the pedals, or inside the hood or trunk latches
- A musty odor, potentially of mold or mildew
- Mud or silt in unusual places, such as the glove compartment, under the seats, or up high
- Brittle wires under the dashboard
