When you're in a major weather event, it's easy to tell which cars are flooded, but a few weeks after the fact, maybe not so much.
With some 10,000 cars flooded in the storms Texas experienced over the past few months, it's possible some of those cars will be cleaned up and sold off to unsuspecting consumers. While it's not illegal to sell a car that has been flooded, sellers can't hide that information from buyers.
Phillip Harris, with the National Insurance Crime Bureau, said he has probably seen hundreds of flooded cars in the course of his work. He explained that after a car is towed to a city's impound lot, if a car owner has insurance, the company decides what happens next.
"It will either be branded as a total loss or it'll be repaired depending on the extent of the damage," Harris said.
From there a car goes to an auto salvage or auction yard. Some will make it to market without a salvage title.
Harris said consumers should be particularly careful about cars bought through online websites.
Before buying any car, make sure you physically inspect it. Harris said one of the biggest issues is smell. If there's a musty or mildew smell, be wary. Also, if there's a heavy smell of cleaning chemicals, that may be an indication that someone is trying to cover up the mildew smell.
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Harris also advises to look for sand and silt in odd places, like cup holders, under rugs and in the trunk. Look for rust, too, in unusual spots like under the seat.
Even a little bit of water can wreak havoc on a car's electrical systems.
When you're buying a car, Harris advises you have a mechanic check it out. Also check the car's VIN number with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
