The Louisiana Department of Insurance is warning Louisiana car shoppers to be on the lookout for flood-damaged vehicles coming in from Texas. Department of Insurance spokesperson John Tobler says in Louisiana if a vehicle is flooded and totaled the vehicles have to submit a certificate of destruction, but that’s not the case in Texas.
“Because they are coming from Texas, the title would be a salvage or a non-repairable title, which doesn’t always mean the same thing in other states,” said Tobler.
Many of the vehicles were flooded as a result of Tropical Storm Imelda one month ago. Tobler says once a vehicle’s engine and electronics become waterlogged, it is almost impossible to correct those issues, so look for red flags like stains, mildew, rust, mismatching carpet, and discoloration.
“Knowing where it is from, checking the VIN and the title, and those signs of water damage can be a big plus to make sure people don’t buy an asset that they’re expecting to be something other than what it is,” said Tobler.
Tobler adds if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If someone believes they may have bought a flood vehicle already, he recommends contacting some different agencies as soon as possible.
“Their first step is probably the Better Business Bureau, potentially the Attorney General’s office, but also the Office of Motor Vehicles,” said Tobler.
