After a series of tropical storms and hurricanes hit the U.S. from June through August, CARFAX estimates that extensive flooding from Texas to Vermont has left as many as 89,000 vehicles with water damage. That’s on top of the estimated 454,000 water-damaged cars that CARFAX data shows were already on the road in 2023 – before any of these summer hurricanes and storms hit.
Texas and Florida lead the nation when it comes to the number of flood-damaged cars already on the road. CARFAX research shows these vehicles often pop up in states where flooding might not be top of mind for car shoppers, including places such as Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee.
“We see these flooded cars show up all around the country, putting unsuspecting buyers at risk,” said Faisal Hasan, General Manager for Data at CARFAX. “These cars may look showroom fresh, but they’re literally rotting from the inside out.” Floodwater can cause mechanical, electrical, health and safety issues in a vehicle even if it was submerged for only a short time.
CARFAX data shows these 10 states have the most water-damaged cars:
- Texas 64,000
- Florida 62,700
- Kentucky 30,200
- Pennsylvania 21,800
- California 20,200
- New Jersey 15,600
- New York 15,300
- Illinois 14,500
- N. Carolina 14,300
- Mississippi 12,000
For consumers who want to make sure the car they’re buying hasn’t been labeled a flood-damaged car, CARFAX has a free Flood Check® tool at carfax.com/flood. Consumers should look for these 7 signs of flooding when considering any used car:
- Damp carpets
- A musty odor in the interior, sometimes covered up with a strong air-freshener
- Upholstery or carpeting that may be loose, new, stained or that doesn’t match the rest of the interior
- Rust around doors, under the dashboard, on the pedals or inside the hood and trunk latches
- Mud or silt in the glove compartment or under the seats
- Brittle wires under the dashboard
- Fog or moisture beads in the interior lights, exterior lights or instrument panel