After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, water-damaged vehicles may flood used car market

Hurricane Helene flooded as many as 138,000 vehicles when it rampaged up into the Southeastern U.S., including more than 60,000 in Florida, according to a release from Carfax Thursday .

"That's on top of the estimated up to 89,000 vehicles already hit with water damage so far this year," according to Carfax estimates, and before Milton barreled across Florida with a wall of storm surge and widespread flooding across the state.

And that means buying a used car for the next few months will get a little more complicated, as some of those cars you saw floating in videos — or in your own neighborhood — may end up on used car lots, at auto auctions and in classified and social media ads.

"After cleaning up the cars and moving them across the country, these scammers will try to lure unsuspecting buyers into thinking they're getting a great deal," said Faisal Hasan, Vice President for Data at Carfax. "These cars may look showroom fresh, but they're literally rotting from the inside out."

How many vehicles were damaged due to flooding from Hurricane Helene?

According to Carfax:

1. Florida: 60,700
2. South Carolina: 27,500
3. North Carolina: 22,900
4. Georgia: 16,800
5. Tennessee: 4,900
6. Virginia: 4,900

Carfax has not released numbers for Milton yet.

What does flooding do to a vehicle?

Floodwater can cause mechanical, electrical, health and safety issues in any vehicle even if it was only under for a short time.

The immediate effects are obvious: foul or musty odors, rust, discolored interiors, engine smoke, odd noises and electronic damage.

In the long term, water can permanently damage computers and electrical systems that control gas and brake pedals, steering and gear shifts, airbag controllers, and safety and warning sensors, and corrosion may not be apparent for months or years when abruptly your vehicle develops problems or just stops working. And then you're stuck.

Once a flooded car is totaled it gets a new title called a "salvage title" and is typically sold at auction to junkyards and people looking for parts. But that status isn't always passed on to potential buyers.

Some unscrupulous sellers also may transport the vehicles well out of the flooded area where would-be buyers might not be suspicious enough to look too closely, and they may hide the vehicle's history of flood damage through what’s known as ‘title washing,’ according to Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau . Some may straight-up tamper with the documentation to trick buyers into believing the cars are in good condition.

And some water damage can take years to surface after the seller is long gone.

How can I tell if a car was flooded or flood-damaged during Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton?

• Ask to see the title. Look for a "salvage" stamp. If there’s only a bill of sale, you should probably ask the seller some questions.
• Check the vehicle history report. Carfax has a free flood check tool just for that purpose, or you can check the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System .
• Inspect the car carefully.
  • Use your nose. Any musty or strange smells inside the vehicle? Or any really strong disinfectant odors? Turn on the A/C and take a whiff; it's harder to hide foul odors in the vents.
  • Check the dashboard. Make sure every gauge and electronic device works and is accurate. Look for water or condensation in the dials of older vehicles and test the lights, windshield wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter, power locks, windows, radio, heater and A/C several times.
  • Pull back the carpet. Check for signs of water or mud. Is the carpet or upholstery discolored, faded or mildewed? Possibly more troubling: Is the carpet obviously brand new?
  • Check the interior spaces. Any water or visible waterlines in the headlights or taillights? Look in the trunk, glove compartment, and beneath the seats for signs of mud, rust or water damage. Look for mud and dirt in odd, hard-to-reach crevices.
  • Pop the hood. Look for standing water, mud or sand around the engine compartment. Try bending some of the wires there and under the dash to see if they bend or crack.
  • Hunt for rust: Look for corrosion anywhere on the vehicle, especially underneath. One good place to check is the heads of unpainted, exposed screws under the dashboard.
• Hit the road. Don't take the seller's word for anything. Take the car for a test drive.
• Get it inspected by a trusted or AAA-approved mechanic. They'll know what to look for.
• Check out the dealer. If you're looking at a vehicle from a dealer, it's a good idea to check out their Better Business Bureau profile at bbb.org .

Is a flood-damaged car fixable?

That depends on the extent of the damage.

Minor flooding that was quickly drained may not be as much of an issue, but any vehicle that was severely flooded or that was partially or fully submerged for days is considered a total loss by insurance companies.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, water-damaged vehicles may flood used car market