Flood-Damaged Vehicles May Be Headed To Oklahoma

Drivers looking to buy a used vehicle should beware of flood-damaged vehicles for sale, according to AAA. The damaged vehicles may be moved out of flood-ravaged Louisiana, cleaned and put into the used vehicle market.

“We’ve seen this happen before,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Water-damaged vehicles are moved quickly out of the flood zone, cleaned up and put into the used car market stream through private dealers, on resale sites like Craigslist and via auction houses.”

When vehicle shopping, AAA advises buyers to deal with reputable dealers, check for any musty or damp odors inside the vehicles, check for new carpet in used vehicles and to pull the carpet back to check for signs of mud, dirt and water stains, make sure all electric components of the vehicle work properly and check under the hood, in the trunk and doors for corrosion, dirt or discoloration on door frames, hinges and under weather stripping.

Buyers should also request a qualified technician to put the vehicle up on a lift to check for water damage under the vehicle.

Mai said dirty flood water contains a variety of chemicals and can be highly corrosive and that once drivers buy a used car, it’s theirs since there is no Lemon Law on used vehicles in Oklahoma.