How To Tell A Flood Vehicle: 5 Easy Steps

Photo by Stephan Müller from Pexels

If you live in Louisiana or anywhere around the Gulf Coast, you well know the dangers of a flood vehicle. It may look OK on the outside, but under the engine and inside the car you may have a lemon.

Many dealers may have flood vehicles on their lots and not even know it, but there’s a way you can tell.

How Do You Tell That A Used Car Is A Flood Car?

This article will point out several ways you’ll be able to tell a flood vehicle. You don’t necessarily need to have an eagle eye, but you do have to be able to spot the visible signs of flood, namely rust. But there’s more to it than that.

Look For These 5 Signs On A flood Vehicle

Hurricanes are a yearly occurrence in Louisiana and Florida, so those two states especially have to be on guard against a vehicle market that contains flood-damaged vehicles.

You need to especially be on guard against vehicles written off as “salvage” or “totaled.” Their titles might not disclose that they’ve been in a flood. But here’s how you can tell:

1. Check the VIN

You can use a free VIN checker to find to find out the history of the vehicle you’re interested in. A VIN (vehicle identification number) will list the historical data about the car, including the status of its title.

VehicleHistory.com offers a free VIN check so you can find out about a vehicle really quick.

2. Check Under The Hood

Open the hood of the vehicle and look for signs of rusted metal around the engine. The wirings will also show a corrosion or faded color that could indicate flooding.

A glimpse at the gauges under the hood like the water meter and oil filter will also show water signs.

3. Inspect The Car’s Interior

Look inside the car to see if the fabric on the seats is faded or discolored in any way. Also, you’ll want to pay attention to the dashboard and look for cracks (this could also be caused by heat).

The seatbelts may have crud inside the fasteners, so that’s another sign to look out for.

4. Get The Car Examined

See if you can get a mechanic to look at the vehicle for flood damage. The mechanic shouldn’t give the car a simple once over, he or she should thoroughly examine under the car’s hood, the interior and trunk.

If the mechanic says the car does not have any flood damage, there’s still one way you can find out…

5. Ask The Car’s Owner

If you ask the car’s owner if it’s been in a flood, more than likely they will tell you the truth. If they’re not honest, then they will be committing fraud, which is a felony.

Because they have a major incentive to be honest, a quick question about whether the car has been in a flood should suffice in most cases.

Final Word

Flood-damaged vehicles are the biggest problem facing people who are shopping for cars. But you can protect yourself.

Remember to check out the car’s service history. You can do this by either calling the dealership where the car has been serviced or by asking if the previous owner kept the records.

And don’t forget about the free VIN check, which will save you a lot of time.

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Keisha Smith

Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.