Used car buyers are being warned to watch for signs of flood-damaged cars, as new CARFAX data estimates that nearly 45,000 vehicles have already been damaged by mid-year storms.
Heavy rains and flash flooding that took place between April and July swamped thousands of cars in Texas, Kentucky, and West Virginia, and many of those vehicles are expected to resurface for sale in the used car market, the vehicle history provider stated.
The expected influx of flood-damaged vehicles adds to the estimated 482,000 water-damaged cars already on U.S. roads at the start of 2025.
“Flood-damaged cars don’t just stay in storm-hit areas; they show up all over the country, putting unsuspecting buyers at serious risk,” said Faisal Hasan, vice president of Data Acquisition at CARFAX. “The same vehicles pictured in one state, floating in floodwaters, can get cleaned up by scammers and sold elsewhere. And while these rehabbed cars may look showroom fresh, they’re literally rotting from the inside out.”
Here are the top 10 states that are estimated to have the most water-damaged cars:
Florida and Texas lead the nation in the number of flood-damaged cars already on the road. But CARFAX research shows these vehicles often turn up in states where flooding isn’t top of mind for car shoppers, including places such as Pennsylvania or Illinois.
Consumers should look for these signs of flooding when considering any used car:
- Damp or loose carpentry, or carpentry that’s mismatched from the upholstery
- Rust around doors, under the dashboard, on the pedals, or inside the hood or trunk latches
- A musty odor, potentially of mold or mildew
- Mud or silt in unusual places such as the glove compartment, under the seats, or up high
- Brittle wires under the dashboard
- Fog or moisture beads in the interior lights, head- and taillights, or in the instrument panel