Flood Salvage Cars

If you live in hurricane territory or have even experienced a hurricane you know how destructive and devastating they can be. Not only in the number of lives lost but in property damage. Cars are most likely totaled in a hurricane or at the very least terribly damaged. Once a car has been flooded it is almost impossible to repair and the smell left by the muddy water can be overpowering. Most vehicles that were in the path of a hurricane turn out to be unsalvageable and because of that they are considered “totaled” out by the auto insurance company. If you car is totaled then your insurance company will give you a check for the current market value of the vehicle. If it can be repaired then you will have trouble selling it because it will always have the tag of “salvage” vehicle and you probably won’t want to drive it either because of the musty odor that will stay with the vehicle because of the water damage. It seems like a bad thing to say but, hopefully, your car was totaled and you can start over with a new fresh car.

Believe it or not, there are many criminals that will try to take advantage of people by doing things to a car they’re trying to sell to make it seem like it is okay. Things like painting the vehicle, changing the floor mats, even replacing the front seats and spraying the inside of the car to cover up the overpowering bad smell from the water damage. Scam artists will even go the extreme of transporting the vehicle to a state that has no laws regarding flooded cars and sell them in that state.

There are ways to detect a flood damaged car and the following ways were suggested by insurance companies for you do before you even contemplate buying a vehicle: 1) look for places where mildew might be lurking like under the carpet; 2) check for unusual amounts of rust on metal parts of the car; 3) look for water damage to the door panels or the seat belts; and 4) if the car smells like a strong deodorizer that usually means something is being covered up. If you are considering purchasing a car it is very important to have a professional look at the transmission, the anti-lock brake system and the electronic system.

To protect yourself if you live in hurricane or flood territory you should always have the comprehensive option on your auto insurance policy. This will cover any damage to your vehicle by a hurricane or a flood. If your car is involved in a flood or a hurricane you should call your auto insurance agent as soon as possible with the necessary information. Hopefully, you also have towing and auto rental reimbursement on your policy so that you won’t have extra costs during a time of emergency.

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