Utah buyers asked to remain vigilant for flood-damaged cars

SALT LAKE CITY — Has that used car been damaged by flood? Carfax reports that nearly 7,000 vehicles damaged by recent flooding are in Utah.

That’s the second-highest rate of cars with flood damage in western states.  California has around 20,000 similar cars.

Buyers can protect themselves, though.  Buying a used car from an auto dealer is a good start.

“Dealers are really good about this,” said Jason Gardiner, the state director of public policy for planning and public affairs.  “So if you’re buying it from a dealer, you’re 99% of the time going to be able to trust that that title is what the title says. Private sales, you’ve got to be a little more careful.”

Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s Gulf Coast on Oct. 3, 2024. It then dumped “almost unprecedented amounts of water” on Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. 

Then less than week later, Hurricane Milton hit Florida’s west coast on Oct. 9.  Carfax now estimates there may be 89,000 vehicles damaged by flooding.

Know how to avoid a flood-damaged car

So how do you know if that car you have your eye on is one of them?

“If you pull a Carfax report and you see a vehicle was recently registered in a state that had a major storm or flood, be very very suspicious of that vehicle,” Gardiner said.  

Gardiner said to watch for the words “branded” or “salvaged” on a title. If a vehicle is marked “branded,” Investopedia reports it has a history of significant damage.  

A salvaged vehicle, according to the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles, has been damaged to the point where the cost to repair exceeds the vehicle’s fair market value.

Gardiner said Utah marks the title of a “branded or salvaged” vehicle to protect buyers from unknowingly purchasing a vehicle that was in a flood.

And while Utah requires vehicles with a “branded or salvaged” title to reflect that information, other states don’t.

Simone Seikaly contributed.

Other reading:

• Hospitals mostly rebound after Helene knocked out power and flooded areas
• North Carolina neighbors gather for safety after Helene-triggered flooding
• Utah Red Cross deploys volunteers to Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton

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