Last year I warned readers about the dangers of unwittingly buying a flood-damaged car, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. It looks like the problem is still very real. Old NFO passed the word that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has just issued this warning (link is to an Adobe Acrobat file in .PDF format):
More than eight months after Hurricane Harvey damaged an estimated 500,000 cars and trucks, Texans are still at risk of unknowingly purchasing flood-damaged vehicles.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is urging Texans to do their research before buying a new or used car.
“Too many Texans already get taken advantage of by people selling flooded, salvaged, and rebuilt vehicles as though they are in perfect condition,” said TxDMV Executive Director Whitney Brewster.
TxDMV uses a national title database under the United States Department of Justice to help stop title fraud and urges consumers to learn how to protect themselves when buying a vehicle. Brewster cautioned, “Don’t find a problem after you bought the vehicle. Protect yourself before you buy.”
There's more at the link, including a useful checklist of what to look for to identify suspect vehicles.
If you look at my earlier article, there's an impressive video clip of flood-damaged cars lined up nose to tail, awaiting disposal. Don't buy one!
Peter
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