It shouldn’t be a surprise that in Florida − which is regularly flooded by storm surges, daily rainfall, saturated ground and hurricanes dumping water everywhere − a study finds there are more water-damaged cars than anywhere else in the United States.
Out of an estimated 482,000 flooded vehicles in the country at the start of 2025, online car dealer Carfax said in an Aug. 6 release that about 82,100 were in Florida. That’s nearly 20,000 more water-damaged vehicles than the next state (Texas).
It’s not just Florida’s flood problems that may contribute to the state having lots of water-damaged vehicles on sale lots.
Carfax estimated that as many as 45,000 vehicles have been damaged by flooding from mid-year storms this year in Texas, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Many of them may pop up all over the country on used car lots, at auto auctions and in classified and social media ads.
“Flood-damaged cars don’t just stay in storm-hit areas; they show up all over the country, putting unsuspecting buyers at serious risk,” said Faisal Hasan, Vice President of Data Acquisition at CARFAX. “The same vehicles pictured in one state, floating in floodwaters, can get cleaned up by scammers and sold elsewhere.
“And while these rehabbed cars may look showroom fresh, they’re literally rotting from the inside out.”
Floodwater can cause mechanical, electrical, health and safety issues in any vehicle even if it was only under for a short time.
How can you tell if a car has been flooded?
Once a flooded car is totaled it gets a new title called a “salvage title” and is typically sold at auction to junkyards and people looking for parts. But that status isn’t always passed on to potential buyers.
Some unscrupulous sellers also may transport the vehicles well out of the flooded area where would-be buyers might not be suspicious enough to look too closely, and they may hide the vehicle’s history of flood damage through what’s known as ‘title washing,’ according to Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau. Some may straight-up tamper with the documentation to trick buyers into believing the cars are in good condition.
And some water damage can take years to surface, after the seller is long gone.
Electric vehicles have more immediate problems with water
The big lithium-ion batteries in EVs are sealed, but they’re still susceptible to water, especially seawater. Water damage can cause short-circuits and instability and they can even catch fire.
In 2022, 3,000-5,000 EVs were affected by Hurricane Ian with 600 of them ruled a total loss and around 36 catching on fire, sometimes while being towed, according to a 2024 study by the Idaho National Laboratory.
Spontaenous EV fires have also been reported after accidental EV immersion, such as at boat ramps, the study said.
What does flooding do to a vehicle?
“The real danger is that these cars may look fine and run well for a while, but sooner rather than later major problems are likely to occur. Flooded cars literally rot from the inside out and the damage is often difficult for untrained eyes to detect,” Carfax spokesman Chris Basso said.
The immediate effects are obvious: foul or musty odors, rust, discolored interiors, engine smoke, odd noises and electronic damage.
In the long term, water can permanently damage computers and electrical systems that control gas and brake pedals, steering and gear shifts, airbag controllers, and safety and warning sensors, and corrosion may not be apparent for months or years when your vehicle abruptly develops problems or just stops working. And then you’re stuck.
How to tell if a car was flooded or flood-damaged
Ask to see the title. If the title is stamped “salvage” or the vehicle is from a recently-flooded area, or there’s only a bill of sale, you should probably ask the seller some questions.
Check the vehicle history report. After insurers cover flood damage on a vehicle, the vehicle history report will note its status as a salvaged car. Carfax has a free flood check tool just for that purpose, or you can check the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. The National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) free database lists flood damage and other information, but if the vehicle was not insured it may not appear there.
Use your nose. Any musty or strange smells inside the vehicle? That could indicate the past presence of moisture. You may also want to be suspicious of strong cleaning solutions or disinfectant odors since that may indicate a lot of covering up. Be sure to turn on the A/C and take a whiff; it’s harder to hide foul odors in the vents.
Check the dashboard. Make sure every gauge and electronic device works and is accurate. Look for signs that the dashboard has been removed and check for water or condensation in the dials of older vehicles. Test the lights, windshield wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter, power locks, windows, radio, heater and A/C several times.
Pull back the carpet. Check for signs of water or mud. Is the carpet or upholstery discolored, faded or mildewed? The carpets can’t be replaced without removing the seats, so look for evidence that those screws were removed recently. Possibly more troubling: Is the carpet obviously brand new?
Check the interior spaces. Look in the trunk, glove compartment, and beneath the seats for signs of mud, rust or water damage. Look for mud and dirt on the underside of the dashboard where it’s difficult to clean, and for rust, mud or discoloration in body seams and out-of-the-way crevices in doors, under the hood and inside the trunk. Another telltale sign: were the rubber drainage plugs under the car and on the bottom of doors removed recently?
Pop the hood. Look for standing water, mud or sand around the engine compartment. Try bending some of the wires there and under the dash to see if they bend or crack as wet wires tend to become brittle when they dry.
Check the lights. Any fog or moisture beads in the interior lights, head- and taillights, or in the instrument panel?
Hunt for rust: Look for corrosion anywhere on the vehicle, especially underneath. It may take time for rust to show up, though. One good place to check is the heads of unpainted, exposed screws under the dashboard.
Hit the road. Don’t take the seller’s word for anything. Take the car for a test drive.
Get it inspected by a trusted or AAA-approved mechanic. They’ll know what to look for.
Check out the dealer. If you’re looking at a vehicle from a dealer, it’s a good idea to check out their Better Business Bureau profile at bbb.org.
Is a flood-damaged car fixable?
That depends on the extent of the damage.
Minor flooding that was quickly drained may not be as much of an issue, but any vehicle that was severely flooded or that was partially or fully submerged for days is considered a total loss by insurance companies.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida has most flood-damaged vehicles in US, study says. How to tell before you buy
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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