Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning consumers, in the wake of major flooding caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton, to be on the lookout for flood-damaged vehicles that soon may be entering the used car market.

Preliminary industry estimates indicate the hurricanes flooded thousands of vehicles in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. That damage included new and used vehicles on dealership lots, as well as cars and trucks owned by individuals and companies.

“Thousands of flood-damaged vehicles due to hurricanes Helene and Milton could potentially arrive for sale across Illinois. Flooded cars are often shipped to places hundreds of miles from areas hit by storms and may be dangerous to drive or pose health risks,” Raoul said. “I urge consumers to only buy from a seller they trust and to not rush into a sale because it seems like a good deal.”

Raoul said while most automobile dealers are legitimate, there are some dishonest businesses and individuals who may try to sell flood-damaged cars without revealing a vehicle’s true history. Bad actors may be further motivated to sell flood-damaged cars due to the nationwide shortage of new and used vehicles for sale. Scammers put flooded vehicles through a cleaning process that can make it difficult to initially tell that the car has been damaged by water.

Raoul also warned used-car buyers to be cautious of scammers who “title wash” a flood-damaged vehicle to conceal the vehicle’s history of damage by moving the vehicle and title through several states.

Raoul recommends consumers exercise caution in coming months, especially if cars are purchased from online auction sites, individuals or second-tier used car lots. To avoid purchasing a flood-damaged car, Raoul encourages buyers to consider the following tips:

• Before you buy any used car, have it inspected by a mechanic you trust.
• Buy only from reputable dealers or individuals and be sure to get a written title guarantee from the seller.
• Avoid purchasing a vehicle sight unseen, especially from a seller through an online marketplace or social media.
• Ask the seller whether the car has been damaged by water or anything else and have them put the answer in writing.
• Check for damp or musty odors inside the vehicle and in the trunk.
• Check for signs of rust and mud in the trunk, glove box and beneath the seats and dashboard. Look for rusty brackets under the seats or on the carpet. Also look for discolored upholstery or carpet that fits poorly or does not match exactly.
• Check under the hood; look for a water line that was marked by mud or silt.
• Check for signs of water or silt in the gas compartment and the vehicle’s fuse box.
• Make sure all gauges are in working condition.
• Test everything: lights, windshield wipers, turn signals and radio.
• Check heater and air conditioner several times; look in the vents for signs of water or mud.
• Ask to see the title of the car. Check the date and place of transfer to see if the vehicle might have come from a state that recently experienced flooding. Keep in mind that the title will only indicate flood damage if the insurance company declared the car to have been totaled.
• Request a vehicle history report from the dealer. A vehicle history report may reveal that a vehicle’s title has been branded as salvaged or flooded. If a dealer does not have access to a title history report or refuses to provide a title history report, consumers should obtain this information on their own before purchasing a vehicle. Buyers can use an automobile’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to obtain a vehicle history report for a nominal fee from sources such as the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System; Carfax or Auto Check.

Attorney General Raoul encourages those who believe they have been the victim of fraud to file a complaint on the Attorney General’s website or to call one of the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotlines:

1-800-386-5438 (Chicago)
1-800-243-0618 (Springfield)
1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale)
1-866-310-8398 (Spanish-language hotline)

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