Beware of Flood-Damaged Vehicles, Particularly in Texas, Florida, and Other Regional Areas After Hurricanes
In the midst of the 2024 hurricane season, CARFAX data reveals a concerning trend: tens of thousands of vehicles have sustained extensive water damage, from Texas to Vermont. According to CARFAX research, Texas and Florida have the highest number of flood-damaged cars on the road in the U.S., with Texas boasting 64,000 water-damaged vehicles and Florida following closely behind with 62,700.
Faisal Hasan, General Manager for Data at CARFAX, cautions that flood-damaged cars can appear pristine but are actually rotting from the inside out. These vehicles pose significant risks to their owners due to the potential for ongoing mechanical, electrical, health, and safety issues.
Unsuspecting buyers are put at risk by the presence of flood-damaged cars on the market. Floodwater can cause mechanical, electrical, health, and safety issues in a vehicle, even if it was submerged for a short time. As a result of tropical storms and hurricanes from June through August in the U.S., CARFAX estimates that 89,000 vehicles have been affected.
To identify flood-damaged cars, particularly in states like Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee, CARFAX advises consumers to use their Vehicle History Reports and the free Flood Check® tool. These resources flag vehicles with reported flood or water damage based on CARFAX's comprehensive database.
CARFAX tracks flood damage reports nationwide, including heavy flooding impacts in Kentucky and surrounding states in 2025, and alerts buyers about vehicles that may have been rebuilt and resold outside the flood-affected areas, such as Illinois and Tennessee.
Key steps to identify flood-damaged vehicles via CARFAX data include using the Vehicle History Report, which highlights any insurance claims, salvage titles, or damage incidents including flood or water damage recorded in the vehicle’s history. The Flood Check® tool is another dedicated service that checks if a vehicle has a flood damage history based on data from auction houses, insurance companies, and repair facilities.
Physical warning signs listed by CARFAX include damp or mismatched carpets inside the car, rust around pedals, door latches, and under the dashboard, mold or mildew smells indicating water intrusion, brittle or corroded wiring harnesses and connectors, and moisture trapped inside light lenses or instrument panels.
CARFAX offers a free Flood Check tool at carfax.com/flood for consumers to ensure their potential purchase isn't a flood-damaged car. Other states with high numbers of water-damaged cars, according to CARFAX data, include California (20,200), New York (15,300), Pennsylvania (21,800), New Jersey (15,600), Mississippi (12,000), North Carolina (14,300), and Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee (combined total of 64,700).
Before the summer hurricanes and storms of 2023, CARFAX data showed that 454,000 water-damaged cars were already on the road. With the ongoing hurricane season and the risks it poses to vehicles, consumers are urged to be vigilant and use CARFAX's resources to protect themselves from purchasing flood-damaged cars.
In light of the increased number of flood-damaged cars, particularly in states like Texas and Florida, it's essential to be aware that these vehicles can cause mechanical, electrical, health, and safety issues, as cautioned by Faisal Hasan from CARFAX. To mitigate this risk, buyers can utilize CARFAX's Vehicle History Reports and the free Flood Check® tool, which flag vehicles with flood or water damage based on extensive data.
