CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
In the wake of flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy, Attorney General Roy
Cooper Thursday warned consumers in the market for a new or used car to watch out
for flood-damaged vehicles.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Sandy, as they face
the difficult task of cleaning up," said Cooper. "We don't want to see even more people hurt
by dishonest dealers who may try to sell flood damaged cars to unsuspecting
consumers."
Following previous
hurricanes and floods, some unscrupulous
businesses and individuals have tried to sell flood-damaged cars without
revealing the vehicle's true history.
Prior to being sold, flooded vehicles are put through a cleaning process
that can make it difficult to tell that the car has been damaged. Water damage may not be immediately apparent
and can takes weeks to appear.
"Thousands of cars have been flooded all along the east coast, and it
won't be long before these vehicles pop up for sale, including in North Carolina," said
Cooper. "Be on guard so you don't get stuck with a damaged car."
Under North Carolina law, if a car has been
damaged during a flood, that must be disclosed in writing before the car is
sold. The law defines a flood damaged
vehicle as one that has been submerged or partially submerged in water causing
damage to the body, engine or transmission.
Violators
of the law can face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and failure
to disclose damage to a vehicle is also a class 2 misdemeanor under state law.
Consumers should also be on the lookout for cars that may have been hit by falling trees
or other debris and then poorly repaired, Cooper warned.
To decrease your chances of buying a storm-damaged car:
- Ask to
see the title of any used car. Check the
date and place of transfer to see if the vehicle comes from a state that
recently experienced flooding, such as New York or New Jersey. Keep in mind that the title will only
indicate flood damage if the insurance company officially totaled the car. Also, consider checking a vehicle's history
with a service such as CarFax.com.
- Ask the
seller directly whether or not the car has been damaged in any way, including
by water or other storm damage.
- Check
for signs of rust and mud in the trunk, glove box and beneath the seats and
dashboard. Look for rusty brackets under the dash and carpet, discolored
upholstery and carpet that fits poorly or doesn't match.
- Test
everything: the lights, windshield wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter and
radio. Check the heater and air
conditioner several times, and look in the vents for signs of water or mud. Make sure all gauges on the dashboard are
accurate and in working condition.
- Think
carefully before agreeing to purchase any car over the Internet sight unseen,
especially if the vehicle comes from an area that has suffered a flood or other
disaster.
- Have the car
examined by an independent mechanic before you buy it.
Consumers who believe that they may have unwittingly purchased a
flood-damaged vehicle can report it to the Attorney General's Office by calling
1-877-5-NO-SCAM toll-free within North
Carolina.
The following is a consumer warning release from Carfax:
While our focus is on supporting our many customers, partners and friends affected by Hurricane Sandy, Carfax is warning used car buyers and sellers about flooded cars from the entire East Coast being cleaned up and resold. Several of the nation's most heavily-populated areas – including New York City – were impacted by the historic storm. To help, Carfax is making the flood damage information in its database available free-of-charge at flood.carfax.com.
Over the coming months, Carfax will be working with law enforcement, state agencies and private companies to make sure all of these damaged vehicles are properly branded. Numerous sources report flood and damage information to Carfax, including all 50 states Department of Motor Vehicles and the District of Columbia.
A few tips to avoid flooded cars:
- Check for signs of water damage on the inside of the car, such as water lines in the trunk or engine compartment, rusted bolts underneath seats, condensation on the instrument panel or brittle wires under the dash.
- Ask the seller for a Carfax Vehicle History Report or purchase one at www.carfax.com. Carfax backs the flood damage and other DMV-reported title brand information with its industry-leading Carfax Buyback Guarantee.
- Have a trusted mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection and look for signs of water damage.
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