Hurricane Ian-damaged cars in Texas car lots

TEXAS, El Paso - Over 400,000 water-damaged cars were already on the road nationwide before hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida, according to CARFAX. Hurricane Ian is estimated to have 358,000 flood-damaged vehicles.

Carfax data shows Texas is the state with the most flood-damaged cars found on the market with 67,000 vehicles. Florida is 2nd with 33,500.

When looking to purchase a used car you want to look out for things like rust, mud, musty odor, and stained carpets. 

With a water-damaged vehicle Mold and waterborne bacteria will form in the seats, and breaks can warp and rust. Flood damage can even cause the engine to overheat. 

A damaged car may still show a clean title. Scammers will take the VIN number from a similar vehicle that’s been junked and attach it to a flooded vehicle. 

Getting a vehicle’s history report is a smart idea but buyers should always inspect the car themselves and get a second opinion if they are still unsure.