Watch Out For Flood-Damaged Used Cars For Sale: AAA

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Cars severely damaged by floods from recent severe weather events, including Post-Tropical Cyclone Ida, are showing up in classified advertisements and on used car lots, AAA is warning its members.

The auto club said there are a few ways to make sure that cherry-looking car at a too-good-to-be-true price didn't spend time underwater before the "for sale" sign was put in the windshield.

Nearly 50 percent of flood-damaged cars eventually make their way back to the used car market, according to Carfax. That number of flood-damaged cars for sale could be even higher now. The vehicle history tracking company reports that more than 200,000 vehicles were damaged by Hurricane Ida, which hit the Hudson Valley especially hard.

The new and used car markets are suffering a historic supply shortage, according to AAA. The string of unprecedented natural disasters coupled with a buyer's market is making it more likely than ever that flood-damaged vehicles will be offered for sale — and unscrupulous sellers might not disclose the sometimes hidden water damage.

A water-damaged car burst into flames in Rye, just hours after Ida floodwater receded in September. (Jeff Edwards | Patch)

AAA offered members a few common sense tips to avoid being soaked on the purchase of a potentially flood-damaged used car:

• Inspect the car thoroughly for rust stains inside the car.
• Odor or mildew should be a red flag
• Look in the trunk and under the spare tire for mud or debris.
• On the other hand, if the spare tire looks like it was just steam-cleaned, be suspicious. A spare tire that has been under a vehicle for a few years should be dusty, not caked with mud or spotlessly clean.
• Look for water in the headlights and taillights.
• Open the hood and look for water stains, mud and dirt in nooks and crannies (the alternator, cooling fan and other surfaces).
• If all of the windows have condensation on a warm day, it could be a sign the interior was recently flooded.
• A mechanic can check for engine fault codes. If the fault codes were recently cleared, this could indicate someone trying to hide something.
• Some states do a better job of identifying cars with reconstructed titles. If you are looking at a local car and it has a recent out-of-state title, be wary and ask lots of questions.
• Finally, AAA warns if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.

In the wake of recent severe weather events, Carfax is letting car buyers check for flood damage often free of charge.