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NEW YORK (AP) - Upward of half a million cars and trucks were damaged when Katrina and other hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast and Florida last year — and many have been fixed up and put onto used car lots or for sale on the street. If you're in the market for a used car, shopping carefully will help you avoid ending up with a water-damaged vehicle.
Sales of salvaged vehicles to unsuspecting buyers is nothing new. Dishonest and unscrupulous dealers — as well as individuals — have profited for years by taking cars damaged in accidents, doing cosmetic repairs and getting fresh titles, and selling them to unsuspecting buyers. The vehicles may not be safe, or they may require extensive and expensive mechanical repairs.
Water-damaged vehicles are especially dangerous because there can be hidden damage to electrical systems, and the potential for buyers getting scammed is greater now than in recent times.
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