Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today

Fixing a car with flood damage is often expensive and extensive, hence, such cars are best avoided.

Hurricane Ian has left a path of destruction in Florida, killing innocent people, destroying properties, and leaving Floridians out of work. According to CoreLogic, a global property data and analytics provider, the total flood and wind losses from Hurricane Ian are between $41 billion and $70 billion. “This estimate includes wind loss, re-evaluated insured and uninsured storm surge loss and newly calculated inland flood loss for residential and commercial properties,” says Forbes. Elsewhere, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has reported that Floridians had filed 335,741 claims, totaling $2.8 billion in estimated insured losses. Of the overall claims, 246,910 claims involved residential property, while the rest included auto-damage claims and other claims. Unfortunately, the numbers keep on rising.

Even though property damage is the worst, losing cars because of floods is another issue that needs to be addressed. As per Karen Clark & Company (KCC), car losses from Hurricane Ian will make up at least 10 percent of total losses. Meanwhile, CARFAX estimates the hurricane has damaged up to 358,000 vehicles. Buyers need to be aware of the dangers that are associated with cars destroyed by hurricanes because insurance companies warn that many of these vehicles will end up back in the market. As per CARFAX estimations, roughly 50 percent of flood-damaged cars will return to the used cars' marketplace. Even prior to Hurricane Ian making landfall, CARFAX estimates showed that there were more than 400,000 water-damaged cars on the road nationwide.

"These vehicles are supposed to be written off by insurance companies and sold for scrap or sold for parts," AAA spokesperson Robert Sinclair told FOX Weather. "But there are individuals out there that are trying to get them running again.”

Related: Hurricane Ian Causes Some Serious Flooding To This Car Collection

Fox Weather explains that scammers will “wash” the title from flooded cars that insurance firms have declared totaled.

"That means they take the VIN number from a similar vehicle that's been junked and attach it to that flooded vehicle," said Robert Sinclair. "And then they can make repairs."

The flooded car will acquire a new vehicle identification number, and an entirely new past without a salvage title. Fox Weather says that companies like CARFAX use the VIN to gather data and compile vehicle histories.

“They get reports from state motor vehicle offices, insurance companies, repair and service facilities, law enforcement, fire departments, manufacturers and similar sources to compile a vehicle history,” says Fox Weather before adding that the report will not include any unreported car crashes, accidents, or repairs.

Flood-damaged vehicles have major problems that dealers can’t cover up for a very long time. For instance, the water can damage the electrical system and short-circuit the electronics on board, and occasionally, these problems are not immediately obvious.

Also, floodwater can lead to corrosion, which destroys the engine and the brakes, putting the life of the driver and passengers at risk. "If they've been flooded, particularly by storm surge, by saltwater, that can just cause a tremendous number of problems, can shut out electrical components and damage the vehicle very heavily. But, you might be able to get it running again," said Robert Sinclair.

On balance, Emilie Voss, spokesperson for CARFAX observed the same thing. “The bottom line on these flood-damaged vehicles is they are literally rotting from the inside out,” said Emilie Voss. “They might look fine cosmetically, but there can be mechanical, electrical, safety and health issues that will show up down the road.”

Related: Hurricane Ian Wreaks Havoc On Cleetus McFarland’s Shop And Garage

If you live on the West coast and believe that a flood-damaged car from Florida won't make it to your market, think again. Unfortunately, con artists and wicked car sellers are not foolish, and they know they will profit the most if they sell these cars outside their home states, so stay alert.

Follow these easy instructions to steer clear of purchasing an automobile that has been flood-damaged. First, choose a respectable car dealer who won't risk losing his clientele or ruining his reputation by selling defective cars.

Next, perform a basic smell test. This may seem absurd because people aren't pooches, but some flooded automobiles have a musty smell that was covered up with potent air fresheners. If the smell seems right, start inspecting the upholstery, door panels, carpeting, and floor mats. Check for stains, mold, sand, rust, and even signs of mud. Also, "if you've got new carpeting or new seats, especially if the vehicle might have 50 or 60,000 miles, and it's got a new interior, that's a warning sign," said Sinclair.

Next step would be to check under the hood for rust-the last thing you need is rust inside the engine block. Also, buyers can find rust on the pedals, console, and dashboard inside the cabin. Last, check the interior lights and instrumental panel for water droplets and places that appear “unseen” such as the seatbelt retractors to see if they are damp or have signs of water. And before starting the engine, check the oil to see if it looks murky.

If so far, everything seems alright, ask a mechanic to inspect the car for you before buying it. Pre-purchase inspections range in price from $100 to $200, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Eugenia Akhim is a luxury car aficionado. She naturally gravitates towards the legendary 911 and the classic Ferrari because they are fun to drive and have a killer aesthetic. In her column, expect to read more about turbo-powered vehicles.