WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Hurricane Helene, the strongest such storm to strike the Big Bend region of Florida and responsible for devastating parts of the Southeastern United States, has tragically resulted in over 100 deaths and millions upon millions of dollars in property damage.
And among those losses are countless numbers of now water-damaged cars – one dealership in Florida alone reported an astonishing 672 Kias totaled due to flooding – which may eventually result in a consumer nightmare, as it is very likely that the thousands of vehicles that took on excessive amounts of water during Helene will be heading to used car lots near you.
It’s not just residents of flood-prone regions that need to worry when heading to their local pre-owned dealer in the coming months, as water-logged vehicles can be shipped anywhere nationwide – with out-of-state scammers traveling to flooded areas and offering to buy damaged cars for a discount – and if you don’t know the signs to look for and end up with one, it could result in repair bills costing thousands of dollars.
While many dealerships are trustworthy, there are also ones that are not, and these unscrupulous businesses will go to great lengths to conceal the status of a flooded vehicle, drying them out and cleaning them up before slapping that price sticker on the windshield.
But fear not- there are ways to make sure you’re getting the genuine article when shopping in the pre-owned market in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
The engine bay on water-damaged vehicles will often show no noticeable signs of wear, as dealers will normally pressure wash them. However, you can check for moisture trapped within headlights and taillights and look under the dashboard for mud and/or rust on wiring, as well as rust on the gas pedal, which normally is very uncommon.
Consumers should also take a close look at the car’s carpet – especially underneath the seats – and in the lowest points of the trunk under the spare tire, where sand and mud can accumulate.
One of the most common problems in flooded cars is damage to their computer modules, which can’t be repaired, only replaced; this can be a very costly reminder to do your due diligence when shopping pre-owned after a major storm – even if you don’t live in the same state where it took place – or incur a pricey lesson.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.