Don’t become a further victim of floods

With insurance companies expecting flood damage claims to reach £2.5 billion, thousands of householders are counting the cost of damage not only to their homes, but also to replace their wrecked cars. Insurance companies estimate that there will be £100m for car claims alone.

The worst hit areas for flooding at the end of July were Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire – although the impact could send shockwaves across the UK’s used car market. The AA is concerned that many damaged cars might find their way onto the used car market and are warning motorists to be extra vigilant when looking for a second-hand car.

The AA attended a record 3,700 breakdowns in these areas between 20 and 26 July - three-quarters of which were flood-related. The number of breakdowns was 70 per cent higher than the AA’s average workload.

Ian Clark, Operation’s Director for AA Vehicle Inspections, says: “While a car can be dried out with no obvious damage, immersion in flood water stores up a range of potentially dangerous problems that will emerge at a later stage. Catalytic converter and exhaust system life can be seriously reduced, wheel bearings could seize, brakes could be affected and alternator and starter motors could fail. Immersion in water will also seriously affect electrical and electronic systems including the airbags – all costly and dangerous if not addressed.”

Janet Pell, Head of AA Car Insurance, adds: “Many vehicles will have been seriously damaged by immersion in flood water and insurers go to stringent efforts to ensure that they are properly disposed of and don’t reach the open market. But the fraudulent sale of cars is a growing problem and seemingly ‘clean’ but flood-affected cars will be an easy gain for criminals.

“Apart from insurance write-offs, some owners whose vehicles appear not to have been seriously damaged by water may simply sell their cars on without making an insurance claim. But these, too, could be storing up longer-term problems for unwitting buyers. People buying from private vendors especially should take care that they’re not buying a flood-affected vehicle.”

In response to this potential problem, the AA has offered some simple steps to help identify cars that might have recently been involved in floods:

How to spot a flood-damaged car

If a used car has the windows open it may be to let out the smell of damp. Feel the carpets – and if the interior smells of air-freshener, it may be hiding something worse!

If the windows are even slightly steamed up, there is moisture inside the car.

Take the oil filler cap off and check underneath the cap. If there is whitish deposit, water may have got in to the engine.

Start the engine and turn the heater blower on to the windscreen. If the glass steams up there is moisture in the system. The air may also have an unpleasant odour.

Check to see if air bag sensor lights work. If air bags have been submerged they may fail or could go off while driving.

If the car is simply a category C insurance write-off (rather than a category A or B which means the car is too dangerous to be allowed back on the road) this should be recorded on the V5C registration document.

If in any doubt

Consider carrying out an AA Car Data Check – powered by Experian, the global information solutions company – to find out whether the vehicle has been registered as a write-off by insurance companies and the DVLA. In addition, make sure that the V5C form matches the details in the check and has a valid watermark.

Have an independent professional inspection on the car of your choice. An AA vehicle inspection can identify existing issues with a car, such as electrical problems and bodywork damage

Make sure you are given a valid receipt – a trader should supply a formal printed document. If buying privately, document all details of the car and its vendor

On newer vehicles, check the manufacturer’s warranty. Where the vehicle is known to have been flood damaged, the manufacturer may have voided the warranty.