It's a tragedy that these cars can be resold to unsuspecting buyers.
Tonja, SC

Beware of cars and trucks with salvage or other "non-original" titles. Insuranse companies will pay off owners to gain titles,then ship them all over the country to sell them and recupe part of thier losses.
This goes for heavy trucks and construction equipment as well.

this is CLEARLY a case where the govt should Flag the titles/registrations of all flood-effected vehicles so that prospective buyers will know of the problems in advance. Cars that are Lemons should be destroyed or returned to the manuf., not moved from state to state.

The sad part of this topic for me is the older classic cars of all types that were destroyed by the hundreds in one fell swoop by this storm. In the TV news photos flashing by on screen, I think I recognized what remained of one like I have, a British convertable sports car called a Triumph Spitfire. If you saw it and can find a photo, email me please. I think it was in the Mississippi areas. Some of our British car club members lost cars due to Hurricane Ivan last year, but this storm covered a much larger area.

Check CARFAX for a Used Vehicle History Report. They can tell you if the vehicle was registered in a county deemed FEMA Flood Disaster, plus they can give you additional history. CARFAX has been in busy for 20 years and has more sources for vehicle history than any competitors. www.carfax.com

THANKS TO ALL who've passed this sales cautionary along. The resale of water and salt damaged vehicles was fully predictable .... (It's happened after other flooding disasters) .... and will flourish UNLESS the warning message becomes common knowledge both near and far. Here in the Northwest, one might reasonably believe that a used car purchase would be unaffected by Katrina, but NO! I've already heard of three instances in which people have purchased salt damaged autos brought in from Louisiana and Mississippi. And how did they get here? That's right. They were either towed or trailered.

You should see all the cars that New Orleans and area had destroyed! They are trucking them out by the dozens. The water lines are still visible; however, you just know some idiot that wants to make an easy buck off some poor person that needs a vehicle is going to clean them up and sell them.

Everyone be cautious! If Autocheck is not what you want to do....do a Carfax report! Save yourself the greif and cost of buying one of these cars!

I feel so sorry for these people and even more for the people who would try and sale a car with that much damage.Its so unfair to the buyers.Please do a history check people.

Keep in mind when an insurance company declares a vehicle a total loss it is sold to a auto salvage company. It is unlikely Katrina Vehicles with end up on a dealers lots. I would be more concerned about buying used parts computers out of cars damaged by water.

I advise anyone looking at a used car to have the dealership you are dealing with provide you with a carfax report on the vehicle. Also, look in the trunk under the carpeting for water lines.

How does one tell if a car has had water damage. I know the obvious, stains in the trunk and undercarriage etc, but wat are the other signs..c'mon car brainiacs fill us in

How can we expect the goverment to control sales of flood damaged vehicles when they can't even control themselves (FEMA)? Someone should dedicate a web page to list known "Bad" car dealerships and start from that angle.

Take the car to a technician you trust! Pay to have them pull a door panel! Spending a little money to have it checked out first by an authorized technician can save you a lot of $ down the road. Don't take the dealers word for it!

Just a list of things to look for on flooded vehicles. Rusting screws in interior trim pieces off the floor, sediment in small areas (around seat belts, seat frames etc. Sediment or dirt underdash (often removing glove box, ashtray gives quick access behind dash). Most carpet can be pulled back in vehicles interior, look for rusting mildew and a lot of dirt.
As a dealer none of us want these vehicles on lots, its just bad for everyone involved. Unfortunately there are a lot of people looking for a quick buck and they will slip in, protect yourself.

WHEN BUYING A USED VEHICLE MAKE FOR SURE YOUR CHECKING FOR ALL DAMAGE, WHEN WE RECEIVE A TRADED IN VEHICLE WE ALWAYS SEARCH FOR ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR FLOOD DAMAGE. THESE VEHICLES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. STAY AWAY FROM THE SMALL FLY BY NIGHT DEALERS THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE FOR THESE VEHICLES TO BE SOLD TO AN UNAWARE PUBLIC.

wow that is all i have to say this makes me feel bad driving a bentley and a bmw!

Where are folks buying all these flood cars to resell ?

Who is hauling all these cars away and where are they taking them ?

What's going on with the wrecking yard industry down in the effected areas ??

The cars that have been deeply submerged could never be sold hole. They will not run. So many parts will have been exposed to salt causing rust and damage. Body damage from flying debris and floating debris will total it. The cars that just got the ankles wet will be an issue with rusty brake systems and suspension. Parted out cars will be the main issue. Corrosion of those parts will range from obvious to questionable.

Those that have two bolts holding the rear seat in - remove the bolts and the seat and look for mud and sediment under the rear seat. That is where I found evidence of flood damage in Chevrolet that I bought one time. Whoever cleaned the car missed that area.

Most of the cars from Jackson County, MS are/were hauled off by the insurance companies to Mobile, AL and auctioned off. Over in Hancock County, MS there is a large field near one of my co-workers home where cars are being auctioned off for "salvage" and he reported that there are all types of trucks and trailers leaving daily with tags from all over the USA and Canada with these vehicles on them. You not only need to beware when buying used vehicles but also when getting "used" parts from any salvage yard, especially today with the internet and many of them being somewhat "partnered" in used-parts networks.

I WORK AS A MECHANIC IN ST.PETERSBURG FL. AND I HAVE NOT READ ALL OF THESE LISTINGS BUT THIS TRULEY CAUGHT MY EYE. I HAVE SEEN 2 CARS ALLREADY COME INTO THE SHOP I WORK AT FROM EITHER USED CAR SALES OR WHOLESALE BUYERS. I CAN TELL ANYONE THAT READS SOME OF THESE BLOGS OR COMENTS THAT THIS IS THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO BUY. WITH TECHNOLIGY THE WAY IT IS TODAY WATER INTRUSION IS THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A COR OR TRUCK!!! NO MATTER HOW WELL ITS CLEANED AND DETAILED IT WILL BE A CONSTANT REMINDER OF HOW YOU SHOULD OF WALKED PAST THIS DEAL. UNFORTUNATLY TITLE SEARCHES AND CAR FACTS DO NOT SHOW EVERYTHING BUYER BEWARE THAT IF YOU THINK YOU GOT A GREAT DEAL JUST REMEMBER YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!! THERE SHOULD BE A LAW AND IN ALL REALITY THERE IS BUT FROM WHAT I KNOW AND FOR WHAT IVE SEEN BE SURE YOU GET YOUR ONCE IN A LIFE TIME DEAL CHECKED OUT BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC. IF ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CHEEP NEW CAR TELL YOUR TECHNICIAN TO PULL SOME CARPET BACK OR LOOK INSIDE THE DASH BEFORE YOU COMMET TO YOUR NEW UNBELEIVIBLE NEW CHEAP RIDE. A CONCEARNED TECHNICIAN IN ST. PETERSBURG FL.LUKE CARES

It isn't just cars, appliances and number of other
items will be showing up for sale. Some people will
buy anything without looking at it twice. Be supicious of all bargains!

Got a good idea. Instead of having the cars resale and having people getting ripped out. Have them put back into the salt water (Gulf) as reefs for the Gulf coast.

If the price sounds too good to be true then RUN. Regretfully, I bought a used Mercedes on Ebay only to discover after the fact that the car was a Katrina car. It cost me an extra 10 thousand to fix.

What a mess. Most of those vehicles can be recycled into other goods that can be used by the public. There are vehicle recycling programs throughout North America.
Seeing the other debris around is very upsetting. Someone once lived in what is now that pile of rubble. People need to help more to fix this "mess" up and to give people their homes back.
Unfortunatly, not everyone thinks the way I do. I'd do more to help, but I'm a student and do not have a way to get to this area that's still in ruin.