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If you need a car, but don’t want to spend the money for a brand new vehicle, a used car is generally a great option. Buyers should always be careful when buying used cars—checking CARFAX for the vehicle’s history, total mileage, and whether it was in any accidents.
One thing buyers don’t always think about when looking for a used car is whether the vehicle has incurred any water damage. With storms and hurricanes affecting large parts of the country, water-damaged vehicles will be entering the marketplace and sellers may not be forthcoming with this information.
Recent hurricanes
In mid-August, Hurricane Erin formed in the eastern and was the fifth named storm of the season and the first major hurricane of the 2025 hurricane season. This event affected the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Virginia, and several other states along the east coast.
In late June 2025, Tropical Storm Barry swept through Mexico and Central America, contributing to deadly flooding in Central Texas. Thunderstorms and heavy rains from this event resulted in 20 inches of rain in some areas and over $5.9 million in damages. Tropical Storm Chantal lasted from July 4 through July 8. It primarily affected the southeastern United States, bringing flash floods and heavy rainfall that caused $56 million in damage.
With flooding affecting large areas across the country, thousands of vehicles are at risk of water damage. Many flooded vehicles will be inoperable, with others sustaining less severe damages. However, even vehicles with seemingly minor water damage can experience major malfunctions in the future. Water-damaged vehicles will appear on used-car lots after major storms, and it’s important that car-buyers know how to spot them.
Purchasing a water-damaged car is something you want to avoid as it can continually take money out of your pocket. What’s worse is that sometimes you won’t be able to tell if a car has water damage just by looking at it. The following tips will help you avoid buying a water-damaged used car.
Identifying water damage in cars
- Check the title
When hurricanes and strong storms hit, thousands of cars feel the blow. If the cars were insured, insurance companies handle the water-damaged vehicles by auctioning the vehicles off to dealers around the country. When a company or dealer is trying to resell a vehicle, the title must indicate whether it is a salvaged vehicle, indicating it was involved in a major accident or natural disaster.
Additionally, it’s critical to be aware that people may experience water damage but never report the damage to insurance, instead “fixing” it themselves and selling the car privately. If you are involved in a private sale, you are putting yourself at risk for purchasing a car with unreported water damage.
- Look for gaps in vehicle history reports
Checking the car title for “salvage” should be a fool-proof way to avoid buying a used car with water damage, but sometimes it’s not enough. To go the extra mile, look at vehicle history reports such as CARFAX or AutoCheck.
If the car was in an accident it should be on the report, but water damage may not always be indicated. If you notice that there are gaps in the report, you’ll want to dig a little deeper. Ask questions and try to get answers on what happened during that timeframe. If you see the car was recently purchased from an auto auction in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or other places where recent flooding may have occurred, you may want to reconsider your interest in the car.
When looking at reports, you also want to be wary of a vehicle that has multiple registrations in different states. Some states do not require certain information to be recorded, so sellers may just be finding loopholes to hide the ugly parts of the vehicle’s history.
- Look for signs of water damage
Though this tip may seem obvious, signs of water damage are often hard to see. Individuals and companies can make cosmetic changes to a vehicle to hide the fact that it was damaged. The following will help you spot clues that there may be existing water damage:
- Check below the seats, trunk, glove compartment, and dashboard for rust, mud, or dirt
- Make sure the color of the interior upholstery is the same throughout. If not, it can indicate replacements. If parts are stained or dirty, it can indicate water damage
- Make sure all electrical parts of the car work properly. Test the radio, windshield wipers, heating, air conditioning, and turn signals
- Examine headlights and tail lights for water or condensation
- Check for smells of dampness or mildew
- Have a mechanic check the vehicle for an inspection before purchasing
Even after taking the three steps above, there are still plenty of water-damaged vehicles that slip through the cracks. If you have a flooded or water-damaged vehicle, there is a huge unknown in terms of how well it will operate over time.
When purchasing a used vehicle, you can protect yourself as a consumer with an extended warranty, or take it to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection or appraisal. It’s especially important to take these measures if you live in a state with higher risk of flooding.
If your car has suffered water damage or was flooded in recent storms, there are steps you can take to prevent further damage. Learn what to do if your car is flooded.
Buying a car is exciting and a large investment. Before you put any money down on a used vehicle, make sure you do your homework and check everything you can to ensure your car doesn’t have water damage.
