Auto Dealer Fraud

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Hurricane Irma damaged nearly 70,000 vehicles, and Hurricane Harvey damaged about 270,000. Salvage auction companies are gathering the totaled cars and selling them to buyers. As a result, before purchasing a used car, you should look up the car’s history by tracking its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This number should let you know if the vehicle has been branded as flood-damaged, salvaged, or beyond repair at any time in its history. While consumer laws require sellers to disclose information concerning vehicle title history, some dealers may try to slip through the system. After a hurricane, you must beware of nice-looking cars with hidden water damage when going to a used car dealership.

Here are some signs of flood damage you can look for when buying a car:

• Musty or muddy carpet
• New carpet in an old car
• Rusty screws under the dashboard
• Drain plugs that have been removed on the bottom of the car doors (to drain water)
• Mud or debris in hard-to-clean places, such as in the panels of the trunk
• A water line on the reflector or lens of the headlights

If looking up the title history from the vehicle’s VIN does not work, these signs of water damage can alert you to a fraudulent car sale. The floodwaters of the recent hurricanes have damaged or destroyed thousands of vehicles. That is why it is essential to do your research before purchasing a car.

Flood damage can cause corrosion and rust in a car’s electrical system, which could cause it to short circuit. It is essential to be wary when buying a vehicle after Hurricanes Irma and Harvey and conduct a thorough inspection of the car before purchasing it. You should also pay attention when going to the body shop to get parts for your vehicle. Some businesses may cut corners and use flood-damaged parts to repair your car. However, these parts may not last and may end up costing you more in the long run.