It’s been two months since Hurricane Sandy hammered the mid-Atlantic region with powerful winds and storm surges that caused flooding in the communities of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. It is estimated that high waters resulted in over 230,000 flooded cars, trucks, and SUV’s, many of which were exposed to damaging ocean salt. While most will be used for salvageable parts and melted down for their rubber and steel, some will end up in used car lots and auctions across the country. Because of differences in state laws, vehicles that should be marked as flooded, often end up in out of state markets where buyers have no idea the vehicle was totaled.

Consumers now have better access to information about flood damaged vehicles thanks to new federal used car regulations. Since 2009, insurers, salvage yards and self-insured companies have been required to register total loss vehicles with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. Still some vehicles will slip through the cracks. If you are purchasing a used vehicle, there are ways you can tell if a vehicle has been flood damaged. If you have even the slightest suspicion a vehicle could be flood damaged, Do Not Buy It! Any problems you may encounter in the future will not be covered by either the manufacturer warranty or the California Lemon Law.