Flooded cars can be a nightmare for their owners. (image via Gawker.com)

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You’ve driven up to a car dealership. They have a few rows of cars of the specific make and model you’ve been interested in. They are each the current model year or perhaps just a model year behind. They all have low miles, but they’re not “new” cars. And the salesperson just cannot wait to get you into one, your choice of color and options, for a price that seems way below what you were expecting based on your research of the model.

But more than that seems “off” about some of these cars. Some of them seem to smell funny – a bitter, biting and musty smell greets your olfactory system as soon as you open the door, and there’s also a hint of “new car smell” spray and shampoo. In fact, it’s almost as if too much of that spray and shampoo smell has been applied to disguise the musty smells, and they all coalesce into a horrible shock to your senses.

“Don’t worry about that,” says your salesperson. “It’ll be gone in no time.”

Chances are, you might be about to purchase a vehicle that has been flooded.

Before we go further – it is possible to restore and refurbish a car that has been flooded, but it is not for the faint of heart. It requires disassembly of most of the interior, and replacement of all carpets, padding and upholstery. All electrical connections must be replaced.It is by no means a simple undertaking, and it must be done properly for the car to have any serviceable life. And you should know upfront what you’re buying and how detailed the restoration process is, not to mention exactly how the car was flooded. It may have been exposed to water filled with sewage, salt-water or perhaps the windows were down during a torrential downpour. It’s highly unlikely you will ever know.

While some may consider the savings on a flooded car worth the potential risks – just like many do with other automobiles with a salvage title – for most of us, they’re an experience best avoided. Here’s what you need to look for if you believe a car has been subjected to flooding in the past.

Check the Car’s Title.

Your first consideration should be the title. If the car has a clear, rather than a salvage title, make sure the dealership provides you with a vehicle history report based on the car’s VIN from a reputable industry leader, like Carfax, for example.

“Carfax should disclose that if they claim any damage from flooding to their insurance,” said Scott Bratton, a mechanic of 37 years and owner of Auto Check in Katy, Texas.

It is important to note that flood-damaged cars will only have incidents on the vehicle history report if it has been declared a total loss by an insurance company in the past. If the car was not totaled, the title will be clean and the history report may be as well. But the history report is a must, as it is possible for a car to be totaled in one state, and then shipped off to another state where eventually, a clean title is issued for the car.

“I would be concerned if it was a salvaged title. I’d ask why it was salvaged or why it was totaled. That could be due to a flood or a wreck that they went ahead and fixed with cash,” Bratton, whose customers bring in cars to be inspected before they’re purchased, explained. “For the most part I question them about where they’re buying it from. If it’s a Joe Blow lot on the side of the road then I’d really look into how they do business before I deal with them.”

Warning Signs

The musty smell isn’t the only possible hint of a flooded car. Check the car’s lights and reflectors. If they contain moisture, it is possible the car has been submerged. But the real evidence will likely be on the inside of the car.

If you find any of these issues on a car, it has likely been flooded. We’d recommend you walk away, regardless of the potential savings, unless the car has been completely refurbished. If it has been, any reputable dealer would let you know upfront the history of the car with details on how it was restored. If they are hiding or denying any knowledge, despite the evidence to the contrary, then they simply do not deserve your business.

Finally, check out our visual guide to inspecting a car for evidence of flooding. It offers an easy checklist of tips of where to look and what to look for to help you determine if a vehicle has been involved in a flood.