Watch Out Atlanta: The Hidden Dangers of Flood-Damaged Used Cars After Hurricane Helene

Watch Out Atlanta: The Hidden Dangers of Used Cars after Hurricane Helene

Hey there, Atlanta! We’ve all seen those heart-wrenching images of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, and while we’re all coming together in the aftermath, there’s a hidden issue that could affect many of us in the coming weeks: flood-damaged vehicles making their way into our local used car dealerships.

That’s right! It turns out that a significant number of cars, particularly those that suffered flood damage, could soon be up for grabs. Many of these vehicles might look all shiny and new from the outside, but they could be hiding some nasty problems under the hood.

The Flooded Car Dilemma

According to estimates, even before Hurricane Helene hit, there were already 543,000 flood-damaged cars on the roads across the country, with around 7,000 of those located right here in Georgia. Experts warn that after the storm, many of these cars may undergo a quick cleanup, then be shipped across state lines, only to be sold to unsuspecting buyers who have no clue they are purchasing a vehicle that might be, quite literally, rotting from the inside out.

Patrick Olsen, the editor-in-chief of a popular car history service company, stresses the primary concern here: “The issue becomes what happens to these cars after the storm is over. A lot of these cars will be cleaned up. They’ll be moved across the country and be sold to unsuspecting consumers.”

How to Protect Yourself

So, how can you make sure that you’re not the next victim of an ill-fated car deal? Here are a few friendly tips to keep in mind:

• First off, consider using Carfax’s free flood check tool to see if the vehicle has been reported as flood-damaged.
• You should also be aware that many troubled cars might end up with clean titles from states like Texas. In Texas, if the repair costs don’t exceed the vehicle’s worth, the original title is retained—so you often won’t find out about any serious issues.
• Another thing to keep in mind is checking the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System or NMVTIS. For a small fee, you can access reports listing major accidents that might not appear on a Carfax report.
• And of course, best practice is to always have your own independent mechanic take a look before you buy a used car.

Not All States Are Equal

To give you a sense of what can go wrong, one Toyota 4Runner sold multiple times across five states over five years, all the while having a critical defect: it was missing side-curtain airbags! This kind of scenario isn’t rare. Another case involves a Tesla Model 3 that had incurred more than $34,000 in damages but didn’t have this noted in its accident history when sold. In both instances, these vehicles were titled in Texas and later ended up elsewhere, leaving buyers blindsided.

Now imagine finding out too late that the car you bought is not just any used vehicle but perhaps a much-trodden path of disasters waiting to unfold. In Georgia, the absence of a lemon law for used vehicles means that if you’ve been fooled, your options for recourse might be limited.

The Takeaway

To sum it all up, folks, as you navigate the post-storm landscape, keep a watchful eye when car shopping. It may be tempting to grab a deal on a shiny “new” car, but be sure to do your homework. A little caution can save you from a world of headaches down the road. Stay safe and savvy, Atlanta!