Flood Car Scams: Title Washing and What to Look for at the Salvage Auction

Hurricane Harvey will bring tens of thousands of flood cars to the used car market over time. Here’s how you can avoid common scams and what you should look for when buying a Flood Car at the auction for a rebuild project.

**EDIT**- Geico Insures 500,000 cars in the TEXAS AREA that Harvey hit; of which 50,000 will be deemed a total loss.

FREE Total Loss Vin Check Sites:
https://www.nicb.org/
https://www.vehiclehistory.com/

How to get a FREE Vin History Report:

M3’s in Hurricane Harvey Video:

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47 thoughts on “Flood Car Scams: Title Washing and What to Look for at the Salvage Auction

  1. I've bought over 15 cars from auction in the past 2 years, 2 of those were flood cars. First one was a 2015 Scion FRS marked flood when it was just driven into a large puddle that forced water into the engine hydro-locking it (I found this out by contacting the previous owner whose info was in the glove box), no body damage, there was no submersion or water inside the car. Replaced engine and all driveline fluids and the car works perfectly. Second one is a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek that I actually won at auction this morning. It should arrive by the end of the week…I'll add a comment on the condition when it does. Worst case, I'll be at 50% buying flood cars 😉

  2. I like how you included the sites in the video description. Over here in the UK we check a vehicle’s history before buying using HPI. Every day they identify 30-45 cars that are stolen. 25% of the cars identified via HPI have unpaid finance and a further 4% are written off (total loss).

  3. I drove a flooded 98 Avalon (went up to about the top of the front bumper) for 9 months. It was absolutely horrible. None of the electronics worked anymore, it would randomly go under power and was just an all around nightmare. The car was already in bad condition, but I couldn't afford to replace it for a while.

  4. The NMVTIS enables data sharing among state DMVs except for Hawaii, Vermont, Tennessee, Kansas and District of Columbia. If you are living in one of these states and does not have the luxury to pay for vehicle data, you may check previous title records through any free car report sites like VinCheck.info . Simply submit the VIN on one of their free VIN check tools to access title records.

  5. Flood cars are rarely worth the agonies of fixing everything, either to drive or resell…Can be pretty good parts cars for cheap though.

  6. I bought a 01 mustang that was deemed a total loss in 2012 without knowing until I went to trade in, will it affect the registration, it runs n drives fine

  7. When looking for the car I was going to buy, at least 2/3rds of the model I was looking for came up from Houston after Harvey.. Even if they had a clean carfax report, the fact there are so many shady dealerships and insurance companies out there made me just keep on looking. Finally found one and it is under my carport now, it was local to the dealership where I bought it and 1,200 miles NE from TX. It was a 8 hour round trip for me, but it was worth the drive for a 2016 WRX premium with 17,040 miles on it.

  8. If your car has been flooded and water did get sucked into the engine but you were quick to shut it off, you can pull out one of the spark plugs, start the engine and let the engine spit any water that may be inside it out through the empty spark plug hole. That can at least get your engine running but most likely, your computers, sensors and even wiring could still be totally ruined.

  9. Hello guys. TRUCKER DRIVER Here. Ive been dealing transporting flood cars for years. I was told the first thing you check is the power seats. If they move fine the water level most likely was below that point and could not reach the engine and computer. Good luck!

  10. Hi
    I love your show. I'm starting out. First question: how do I get a body shop to work with me; when I assemble the car and need the frame worked and then I will take it and do the assemble and then give it back to them for paint. Thank you so much

  11. I currently own a "Flood car" that came from Texas. Was shipped to Spokane WA to resell. Time frame fits Katrina. My friend bought it for full retail value and no mention was made of flood damage. I ended up buying it for $250 for parts because of numerous problems she ran into and have been repairing and rebuilding it for 3 years with parts from my banged up donor. Undercarriage damage from car moving with flood and interior and electronics intermittent problems from mud in all the electrical connectors. Even found muddy water residue up under the dash cover! The interior smells like a rotten swamp whenever it gets damp or wet. My friend got taken badly on this car and I am still undecided if all the work has been worth it. I still have intermittent electrical problems. Have had to replace ECM, TCM and body control module, rework dash panel and fuse block……. would probably not ever try this again. There are a lot of dishonest auto dealers out there…. and nothing seems to be done about it. Thanks for all your informational videos.

  12. I need helppp… I bought a 2001 Honda Accord with just 55k original miles on it from copart… It has a nonrepairable title. The employee at copart was telling me that a lot of cars during Harvey which were insured by State farm were deemed as "non repairable" just by the zip code they were registered in… I bought the car and brought it home and there are 0 signs of flooding… The car smells brand new, there's no water line anywhere, no rust, carpet and seat foam is completely dry, all the electronics work. Is there any possible way for me to be able to register this car either in Texas or a nearby state? Was planning on selling for parts but this damn thing just runs perfect lol… I truly think this car shouldn't have a nonrepairable title

  13. Viability is really determined by whether it was Fresh or Salt water. If Salt water, the car is NOT worth the effort.

  14. Buying a water flood car is a box of surprises maybe just need to replaced the bcm and some connectors some simple things that will cost just hundreds… On the other hand can find one that needs thousands which is no worth it…i have seen water flood cars runing perfect with 0 problems

  15. Don’t know if anyone did mentioned but the total loss is not necessary a bad thing. If the car was stolen at one point the insurance company will claim it as a total loss. If the car is recovered later the total loss will reflect in the history, but it doesn’t mean the car is bad in anyway. It just means the car was paid off in full by insurance company.

  16. Bought a Katrina flood Crown vic years ago. Biggest piece of shit i ever owned. Never buying a flood car again unless its a a fricking antique without electronics.

  17. Hi i was thinking of getting a 2014 acura rdx that has been in the floods of florida but i have no idea how to tell if ill end up getting a good steal for a new car🤷🏻‍♀️

  18. This one guy on YouTube whose bought salvage cars says when it comes to buying flooded cars he checks everything to see if things that shouldn’t have gotten wet got wet.

  19. I would buy a low water flood car not one completely submergerd. One thing you forgot to mention there is a big difference with salt and freshwater floods..The salt flood car will just keep corroding all the electronics and you can never fix thous properly.

  20. You haven't said a single word about "Salt water"…There is a world of difference between salt water and fresh water flooded vehicles….I wouldn't go within a mile of a salt water flooded vehicle, unless I needed a parts car.

  21. Fuck geico my mom had them for 20+ years and got in 4 accidents (not at fault) they dropped her so we had to get insured with a new policy in a new state

  22. Fuck geico my mom had them for 20+ years and got in 4 accidents (not at fault) they dropped her so we had to get insured with a new policy in a new state

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