AUTO
BEWARE OF FLOOD DAMAGE WHEN BUYING A USED VEHICLE
R
ecent storms have given Arizonans in the market for used cars even more reason to pay close attention to a vehicle’s condition and history, especially in private sales. Cars damaged by floodwaters such as those resulting from Hurricane lorence can sometimes find their way to Arizona to be sold. If a vehicle is flood-damaged, the title should say salvage or flood damage. But scammers can and do fraudulently remove flood history from vehicle titles. e want to make sure potential buyers remain vigilant when looking at used vehicles and not sign anything until the vehicle has been checked over bumper to bumper, said illie Hall, detective sergeant with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, which investigates fraud involving titles and vehicle sales. lood-damaged vehicles that have been repackaged and dressed up are a common scam after major weather events like what we’ve seen recently. Potential buyers should closely inspect vehicles and be prepared to walk away if things don’t smell right – uite literally in some cases. • Check out all of the vehicle’s nooks and crannies. Look inside under the carpet and floor mats and examine the
trunk for dirt, silt and mold. Check under the dashboard and other hard-toreach places as well. Criminals usually don’t clean all of those places. inally, take a good whiff in those areas. ater damage leaves a distinctive smell. • Check the electrical and mechanical components. ater wreaks havoc on electrical systems, so check to see if any of those systems aren’t working uite right. Also check the engine for signs of rust or even random new parts. Get under the vehicle and check the suspension for water damage. Any of those things could be a sign that you’re in danger of buying a flooddamaged vehicle. It’s always a good idea to have any used vehicle you’re looking at buying checked out by a trusted auto mechanic. A vehicle identification number can be used to obtain the vehicle history through an online service that may charge a fee. This check can uncover a vehicle’s status as salvage or nonrepairable, as well as maintenance problems, collisions, insurance claims and titles issued in other states. or more information azdot.gov CarBuyingTips, 24-hour fraud hotline at 02-2 4 or . 12.2 0 (outside Phoenix) or email fraud azdot.gov.
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7/19/18 9:25 AM
NORTH TATUM TIMES • November 2018 • 13
