How to Tell If a Car Has Had Water Damage

There are some cases when cars that were involved in floods or submerged in water are resold to unsuspecting buyers. In some cases you can't tell off the bat that a car has water damage. But you do not want to buy a vehicle that has been in high water because the parts are most likely damaged beyond repair, and the car will have a short shelf life. To avoid this, you have to look at a few things before you sign on the dotted line.

Instructions

1

Check for a musty or moldy smell inside of the car. Take your time sniffing for strange odors.

2

Get under the car to check for drainage holes. These holes are made to drain water out of a car that has been submerged (since you can't flip the car to the side to drain it).

3

Check for mud in and around the car's parts. Other than a sandstorm, there aren't many ways that dirt and mud would be able to get inside of your car's hood except a flood.

4

Look for signs of rust on the engine and other car components. If the engine looks like it is corroding away, there is a possibility of water damage.

5

Check to see if the selling price for the vehicle is well below the Kelley Blue Book value. If the car is being sold for cheap even though it looks good on the outside and has low mileage, this could be an indication of past water damage.

6

Do a VIN check with CarFax. The VIN number is a 17-digit ID number that is located on the top of the dashboard or inside of the car door. Purchase a CarFax vehicle history report to see if there is a history or water damage or flooding with the car. The vehicle history is not always reliable, but in many cases this information will be reported by a dealership or service station.

7

Take note of the car's last geographic location, which is also indicated on the vehicle history report. If it was located in a state or zone that recently experienced flooding or a serious hurricane, match up the dates to see if it is possible that this car was present in that area during flooding.