Q. What advice may BBB provide about purchasing a used automobile?
A. As you watch the national news lately, it is hard to miss the images of flooding in Texas and other areas of our country. These stories contain images of houses almost entirely under water and cars submerged in swollen riverbeds.
As with other natural disasters, the Better Business Bureau wants to remind you that scammers often use someone else’s personal tragedy for their own gain. So, in the wake of recent flooding, used car buyers should be cautious of unscrupulous businesses and individuals who may try to sell flood damaged cars without revealing the vehicles’ history. Keep in mind that these automobiles will be sold through wholesale auto auctions and then relocated across the United States. Additionally, scheming individuals will purchase and resell automobiles on the internet. Craigslist is an example.
Flood damaged cars will invariably be unreliable. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, rebuilders may be able to hide most of the cosmetic flood damage, but it is difficult to completely repair an engine that has been flooded.
BBB offers these tips and strategies that consumers can use to determine if a car is flood damaged: