How to Tell if a Vehicle Has Flood Damage: A Comprehensive Guide

Flood-damaged vehicles can present numerous hidden and potentially hazardous problems, from compromised electrical systems to mold and rust. You definitely want to avoid buying a flood damaged car—but that’s easier said than done, right?

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As a potential buyer, it’s essential to identify flood damage before purchasing a used car—especially if you’re located in–or a vehicle you’re interested in originates from–a flood-prone part of the country. Coastal areas and inland residential zones along rivers, particularly major rivers and their tributaries, can oftentimes be especially high-risk. It’s also worth noting that, according to FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, more than three-quarters of the agency’s insurance payouts happen in five states: Florida, Texas, Louisiana, New York and New Jersey. 

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), almost 640,000 flooded vehicles were impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma alone!

Signs of a Flood Damaged Car

1. Musty or moldy smell: The nose knows! Check for a strong, musty odor inside the car, which could indicate the presence of mold or mildew caused by water damage. Musty scents may be more profound during the warmer months as a vehicle’s interior heats up, but cranking up the heat may be able to accentuate any smells from water damage. The trunk can be especially telling because, it’s often the slowest area of a car to dry and the least frequently aired out.
2. Water lines or stains: Inspect the interior, engine compartment, trunk and frame for visible water lines or stains, which may be a sign of past flooding. Clear areas of discoloration of fabric or paint, and visible lines of any kind, are immediate red flags if there’s no other self-evident explanation.
3. Rust or corrosion: Look for rust or corrosion in areas not typically exposed to water, such as under the dashboard, inside the glove compartment, on bolts or screws (especially on interior panels), or on seat rails. Rust in the lower portions of the engine compartment is also a troubling sign, as are excessive rust or corrosion on the lower exterior portion of doors. Be sure to check any exposed metal on the vehicle’s floor, under floor mats or removable panels in the trunk.
4. Damaged or brittle electrical components: Floodwater can cause extensive damage to a vehicle’s electrical system. Check for corroded or brittle electrical components, such as wiring, connectors and fuse boxes. To ensure proper functionality, you should test every electrical switch, control, button and screen. And check to make sure the vehicle’s radio, odometer, and display panels are all functioning correctly and responding to inputs. It’s best to run extended tests of essentials like lights (both exterior and interior) before purchase, because some electrical faults only manifest after extended use.
5. Upholstery or carpet discoloration: Examine the vehicle’s upholstery and carpeting for discoloration, which may indicate water exposure. Also, be suspicious if the carpet appears newer than the rest of the interior or if panels, carpeting, and floor mats are mismatched. Be sure to examine the underside of mats or any detachable fabric panels for signs of mold or discoloration.
6. Silt or mud: Inspect hard-to-reach areas, such as under the seats and interior carpeting, or in the spare tire well for silt or mud deposits left behind by floodwater. Hinges, clasps and other joints are likely spots for detritus to accumulate, so take a careful look around the edges of doors, the trunk and the hood.
7. Foggy headlights and taillights: Moisture trapped inside the headlights or taillights can be a telltale sign of flood damage. This kind of fogging may not be immediately evident until the lights are activated–another good reason to be sure to turn on all the vehicle’s lights during inspection.
8. Fluid levels and condition: Inspect the engine oil, transmission fluid and coolant for contamination or a milky appearance, which may indicate water intrusion. Fluid separation is perhaps the most obvious indicator, but any obvious variation to color or consistency should be investigated.

Verifying a Flooded Car’s History

To further investigate a vehicle’s history and uncover possible flood damage, make use of our comprehensive tools and resources:

1. Vehicle History Report: Always start here. A vehicle history report (that’s accurate and hasn’t been altered) is the easiest way to spot a car that’s undergone significant repairs for flood damage. It also gives you a valuable overview of reported accidents, the state(s) where it was registered,, previous owner quantity, and maintenance records.                                  
2. License Plate Search: By entering the license plate number, you can access essential information about the vehicle, including registration details, title history and owner information. This is especially useful for vehicles formerly registered in hurricane or flood-prone states across the South, Midwest, and East Coasts, including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois, Michigan, New York and New Jersey. But don’t count out California or the other West Coast states for flooding and mudslide damage too!
3. VIN Decoder: Decode a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to uncover important details about the car, such as its color, options, make, model and production year. This can help reveal whether a vehicle had its seats, interior or even paint changed because of water damage from flooding. Look for long, unexplained gaps or any inconsistencies with the information the owner has provided. Even if water damage isn’t specifically indicated, significant repairs can also be a red flag.
4. Car Title Search: Delve deeper into a vehicle’s title history to reveal possible issues, such as salvage titles or flood damage. Vehicles that have suffered significant damage, but not so extensive as to require a write-off, will have branded titles, indicating that it has been repaired to the point that it’s safe to drive legally. Twenty US states require this title designation for vehicles that have suffered excessive flood/water damage. The other designation to be wary of during a title search is “salvage,” which means that a car has suffered damage extensive enough that repair costs would exceed fifty percent of its value. Cars with this designation are no longer considered roadworthy and should only be sold for parts, so you should always be wary of a car with the salvage designation on its title.
5. VIN Lookup: Access comprehensive vehicle data using the vehicle’s VIN to try to ensure you have accurate and up-to-date information on the car. Our VIN search reports often include state-based DMV information that can be especially revealing when it comes to flood damaged vehicles.

Final Advice on Flooded Cars

Bumper Marketplace provides a platform for buying and selling used cars with ease. As a buyer, don’t hesitate to ask questions and request more information about a car’s history. When it comes to flood damaged vehicles, the Bumper team emphasizes two final tips:

1. Be wary of low prices: If the price seems too good to be true, it might be a sign that the seller is trying to unload a flood-damaged car quickly.
2. Trust your instincts: If something feels off or the seller seems evasive when answering questions about the car’s history or origin, walk away!

Detecting flood damage is crucial when purchasing a used car because it can lead to numerous hidden problems. By inspecting the car for signs of water damage and using our tools and resources to try and better verify its history, you can hopefully make a more informed decision to better ensure your next purchase isn’t a costly mistake.

Above all, remember that while following all these steps may seem onerous before committing to a purchase, in the long run they can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, so the more thorough you are upfront, the happier you’ll likely be down the line.