Hurricane Sandy was one of the most memorable storms in the U.S. history, and with it we saw a lot of destruction. Two years have passed since that fatal storm, but its aftermath is felt in the form of damaged property. However, there is one thing that made the recovery quite swift. Cars, yes the damaged cars. As you can expect in a hurricane, thousands of cars were damaged during the natural disaster. However today, according to an estimate, more than 212,000 damaged cars are back on the road.
Generally, most of the flood-damaged cars are cleaned up and sold again. The external damages to these cars are easier to detect while the extent of damage to the interiors can only be ascertained after inspection by a mechanic. These vehicles could be rotting from the inside and corrosion by the floodwater could be dangerous to the car. Not just the interiors, even the electrical, mechanical and safety features could get damaged. A buyer can easily become the victim of fraud and unknowingly buy a damaged vehicle.
That is why it is important to check the VIN number of the car before purchasing it. There are many free services that you can use to learn the entire history of the car. In fact, it should be the first step in determining whether the vehicle is flood damaged or not.
Here is an important sign that you should look for to know whether the car is damaged by floodwater or not. If its carpeting or upholstery has been discolored or is loosely fitted or mismatched, it is a sign that the car has been affected by floodwater. If the dashboard lights, radio, exterior lights, wipers, AC, heater or airbag system are faulty, you know the car was damaged in the flood. Even if the interior is slightly musty, it may be a sign of a serious damage.
Not all of these cars are badly damaged and unsafe to be driven on the road. In some cases, the damage may not be that severe, but the car still gets tagged as damaged beyond repair by the insurance firm. Many times the insurance company declares a car salvaged or “totaled”. This happens when the cost of its repair exceeds the cost of the car. You can buy these cars at dirt cheap prices and easily use them for driving or to sell their parts.
You can buy such cars from reputed online auction sites. These sites also give you an option to get the vehicles inspected by a trusted mechanic before placing bids.
Insurance Auto Auction 