Regardless of where you live, you probably have to deal with your fair share of bad weather at least once a season. Whether you live in the warmer climates or you prefer the cooler months that the northern states can bring, each season brings with it a variety of rain, sleet, snow and even hail depending on where you live. While snow and sleet may be nothing more than an irritant during the winter months, the rain and the havoc it can cause can be enough to give anyone a bad day. If you have lived in an area that is below sea level, or has poor drainage, odds are you know how much damage a large amount of rain in a short amount of time can cause.

While homes and basements are most commonly the victim of the floods that can be caused by excessive amounts of rain, hurricanes can cause vast amounts of damage since they can flood a large amount of area in a short amount of time. Although most never give it a second thought, cars are one of the biggest victims of flooding with millions of dollars worth of automobiles being written off by insurance companies as total losses each year. While this may seem like a huge loss for the auto makers of the world, what many don’t realize is that flood damaged cars can help you save hundreds if not thousands on a car provided you choose wisely.

Depending on how bad the flood was, the damage can range from cosmetic to electrical and other safety mechanisms that we all depend on in the event of a crash. If you have ever had a lot of standing water in your basement or other areas of your home due to bad weather, you know how much damage flooding can cause on a variety of different surfaces. If you are considering picking up a flood damaged car, there are some key elements you need to watch out for in order to get the best value for your money.

One of the most common signs of flooding will be the remains of moisture in sealed components such as the dash and overhead dome lighting. You will also want to be on the lookout for excessive gritty dirt that is most commonly leftover after a flood. Make sure to check under the hood, in the glove compartment and any other areas that would be moisture prone so you can assess the level of damage that occurred to the car in question. You will also want to check for rust under the hood as well as on the body and frame. If you find excessive amounts of rust damage to critical components to the car such as the frame, it may be best to look elsewhere. Rust can possibly be a symptom that the car was submerged for an extended period of time, running you the risk of purchasing a car that may not be salvageable.

Second, you will want to perform the sniff test. If you have ever been in a basement that is prone to consistent dampness, you will probably have no problem recognizing the musty, mildewy odor that a damp enclosed space can have. Depending on how deep underwater the car was, odds are the carpets, seats and other soft surfaces are still quite wet since they are nearly impossible to dry in a short amount of time. This dampness ends up being a breeding ground for mold and mildew which can possibly be toxic if the levels of mold have gotten too high. Too much water can cause the entire interior of a car to be a total loss, and can also be an indicator of other problems, especially if the upholstery is still damp months after the flood waters had subsided.

Third, you will most definitely want to take the car for a drive. First and most important you will want to check and make sure that the engine will turn over and it idles normally without causing a variety of warning lights to appear on the dashboard. You will also want to check every electrical element that exists in the car to make sure it is functioning correctly. Turn on the headlights, hazard lights, and every other functioning electrical device that exist on the exterior of the car. When it comes to the interior, you will want to play with the radio, check the gauges and make sure everything is in working order. If something ends up being broken, investigate it in further detail and determine whether the failure was caused by the flood or just a malfunction. If you are unsure about performing the analysis yourself, consider bringing along a trusted technician as they will be able to give you the lowdown as to whether or not certain failures can be fixed and how much the repairs may actually cost. That way you can realistically determine if the cost to repair makes the car really worth the money.

Lastly, make sure you get the history report from Carfax. If the car you are considering was part of a large lot of cars that were considered a total loss by an insurance company, then that car will have been classified as a salvage vehicle. These vehicles will have a salvage title associated with them and this information should show up on the report for the car in question. Just be cautious when making your choice because the Carfax report may not always be 100% accurate. It is possible for a car to have flood damage that may have never been reported. Make sure you do your due diligence and check every possible element of the car so as to avoid being ripped off by a flood damaged car that can possibly be a lemon.

If you find yourself in the market for a flood damaged car then you will want to make sure you keep these tips in mind. Watch out for mold, and be wary of excessive rust and other physical damage, and you are sure to find the right car that will meet your needs for many years to come.

There are many things to consider when you're in the market for a car with salvage title, here are a few of them.

If you are mechanically inclined, you can get yourself a lot more vehicle for a lot less money than the average person can. That is because you are able to take something that is in various stages of non-repair and turn it into a functioning item. That can go from some vehicle that is just mildly dysfunctional to one that has [pretty much been given up for dead. Obviously, the worse off the vehicle the less money that you are going to spend on buying it but then again there is more potential expense in fixing it. Although if you know what you are doing you are still going to come out ahead in the deal in the long run when all is said and done.

A lot of times, these cars are ones that have survived hurricanes or other natural disasters and have literally been written off as junk by the insurance company because the cost of repair, by their standards, is more than the cost of replacement. This leaves leeway for you as a mechanical person to get a great deal with some fairly hefty profit potentials.

When this happens, the vehicles become what is commonly known as a salvage vehicle with a salvage title. The usual way that a person would buy these would be through auction at an auto salvage sale. The trick in this endeavor is to be sure that you inspect the vehicle well and know as much about it as you humanly can find out. One source of such information as to what has happened to the car would a Carfax report. It is not infallible and there may be issues that don’t show up there but it is a starting point that will give you a point of reference.

You may want to be cautious because while most states require that once a car has been written off, it has to be issued a salvage title to identify it as having potential issues, there are still some states that will allow a clean and clear original title for such a vehicle .

The states that may currently allow for this type of title are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont. NOTE: This is information is not legal advice and may be incorrect by the time you read it. Its your responsibility to check the relevant state law at the relevant time.

While it is advisable to use caution when buying a used vehicle in these states, especially within a few months of a large disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, for example, if you know what you are doing, you can get some phenomenal bargains and buy something that is going to give you the potential for a fantastic deal that can either make a great project vehicle or at the very least, the potential for a nice tidy profit when you have completed the car.

What is interesting to note here is that during some of these large scale disasters, the insurance companies have been known to batch salvage a bunch of cars rather than to go out and physically inspect each and every car and truck that has a claim filed against them because it is more cost effective than sending out all the claims adjusters when it is a known disaster. In cases like this, it is possible that some of those vehicles that are listed as total losses are actually in good shape with very minimal cosmetic damage.

The vehicles that you might find that have a salvage title are likely to be newer and many are more than worth the time and effort to repair depending of course on your reason for getting the vehicle and your level of mechanical prowess. The thing here is that the damage can range from simply cosmetic and body damage as you might find from a wreck or hail damage. You might find that water damage from something like a hurricane or flood has totally ruined both the interior and the electronics of the vehicle. While it is not common for the damage to extend to the actual mechanical areas such as the engine, transmission and rear-end you should take care to make sure that the fluids have been drained and replaced prior to attempting to operate them. If the damage was water related then a total disassembly and clean out would most likely be in order to ward off potentially damage resulting from operating an engine or component that may have been immersed in water and have internal rust damage.

Locating a salvage vehicle is fairly easy and you can even contact a local insurance agent to find out how you can get a list of vehicles that are available locally and where they are to be auctioned off. If you are not a mechanic then it is highly advisable that you take someone with you to the auction that can make a qualified assessment and decision as to the overall general condition of the vehicle and what repairs can be needed.

Hidden damage in this type of vehicle can be very hard to predict even if you are an expert and having a second pair of eyes to look over the vehicle is never a bad idea to give you a little more peace of mind and we all know that a=someone else might see what you have missed.

Keep in mind that there are no warrantees or guarantees with this type of vehicle purchase so once you have laid out the cash it is yours. You get the glory if it is a great buy and the headache if it is not. You are going to have the opportunity to get a great project no matter how you look at it. The investment can range from somewhat cheap to moderately price and no matter what it is going to be a great learning experience for you.