FYI - free "Katrina flood cars" VIN check
12-19-2005, 11:52 AM
#1
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FYI - free "Katrina flood cars" VIN check
Quote from a Car and Driver article:
<http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=10400>
"To help stop flood cars from becoming fraud cars, Carfax is making all its flood information available to consumers and dealers free of charge on a special page at www.carfax.com/flood.
At the Web site, potential buyers or interested parties can enter the VIN of a car and search Carfax’s records for any evidence of Katrina damage. Carfax has also tagged all vehicles whose last registration was in the ZIP Code of an area affected by the disaster and attached a special consumer advisory suggesting the car be checked by a mechanic because of the possibility that it was damaged in the disaster.
In addition, the National Insurance Crime Bureau has set up a special search engine at its Web site, www.nicb.org, where anyone can enter a VIN number and determine whether that number matches any of the hundreds of thousands of VINs collected from cars in the disaster zone."
<http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=10400>
"To help stop flood cars from becoming fraud cars, Carfax is making all its flood information available to consumers and dealers free of charge on a special page at www.carfax.com/flood.
At the Web site, potential buyers or interested parties can enter the VIN of a car and search Carfax’s records for any evidence of Katrina damage. Carfax has also tagged all vehicles whose last registration was in the ZIP Code of an area affected by the disaster and attached a special consumer advisory suggesting the car be checked by a mechanic because of the possibility that it was damaged in the disaster.
In addition, the National Insurance Crime Bureau has set up a special search engine at its Web site, www.nicb.org, where anyone can enter a VIN number and determine whether that number matches any of the hundreds of thousands of VINs collected from cars in the disaster zone."
12-20-2005, 09:13 AM
#2
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Nice thing to do. I'll bet a lot of these show up on the lots. I passed on a grea looking (but previously) flooded car once. Almost bought it but noticed some gravel in places on the frame where gravel usually doens't accumulate.
Harvey
Harvey
12-20-2005, 09:18 AM
#3
So college students going to school in LA will not be on the list (and should), while students going to school out of state but with LA plates may be on the list (and should not).
Wonder what happens to a dealer car that was never titled.
Might not be a big problem, but I guess this list is better than nothing.
Wonder what happens to a dealer car that was never titled.
Might not be a big problem, but I guess this list is better than nothing.
12-20-2005, 01:48 PM
#4
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Yeah, no big thing since you should get a PPI/CarFax before buying a p-car.
But if you see a great deal on a 944, it's a quick/easy/free way to do a check for flood damage.
IIRC, they had police going through NO taking down VINs, and were getting VINs from insurance companies when claims were made.
the big problem was when the po didn't have insurance coverage and some carpet bagger offers them $500 for their flooded 944...
But if you see a great deal on a 944, it's a quick/easy/free way to do a check for flood damage.
IIRC, they had police going through NO taking down VINs, and were getting VINs from insurance companies when claims were made.
the big problem was when the po didn't have insurance coverage and some carpet bagger offers them $500 for their flooded 944...
12-24-2005, 05:58 PM
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Some idiot left a 78' 930 in a garage that flooded. The car was completely under water for over 10 days.
Is there any chance of salvaging the car? I was thinking about offering the guy 2k for it.
I wonder if the insurance company will crush a vehicle like this or sell it at auction?
I would imagine the entire electrical system has to be replaced.
Is there any chance of salvaging the car? I was thinking about offering the guy 2k for it.
I wonder if the insurance company will crush a vehicle like this or sell it at auction?
I would imagine the entire electrical system has to be replaced.
12-24-2005, 08:28 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by Hughett
Nice thing to do. I'll bet a lot of these show up on the lots. I passed on a grea looking (but previously) flooded car once. Almost bought it but noticed some gravel in places on the frame where gravel usually doens't accumulate.
Harvey
Harvey
12-24-2005, 09:49 PM
#7
Drifting
When the water recedes, it sometimes leaves debris on the car. Pull the carpets. That used to be a good way to find flood cars. The quick sale guys usually don't take the time/money to do it.
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12-25-2005, 12:39 AM
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I want a Katrina flood car. Maybe a nice 2003 Z71 Tahoe for a tow vehicle. If I could talk my way into one for say... 6-7K I would not mind bringing it back up to running condition.
12-25-2005, 01:58 AM
#10
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My boss left his pristine '87 928S4. Guards with Linen interior. Sat in 13' of water for over a week. Car was in almost perfect shape. I nearly killed him when he said that he didn't put it in a high rise garage.
