准备购买二手车的朋友要注意了，一定要事先检查一下所要购买的车的记录

[Fisher2004]

今天GLOBAL TV报导了一则新闻，安省一辆曾经两次被水浸泡过的跑车被保险公司买断后又辗转被DEALER收购，经维修后又卖给了另一个人。DEALER并没有告诉那人该车曾经被水浸泡过。DEALER声称他们不知道这车的历史，但GLOBAL TV得到的证据显示该车在拍卖场地被拍卖时，拍卖员曾清楚的提到该车是Water-damaged.

所以建议买二手车的朋友一定要事先花几十元钱检查一下所要购买的车的历史及维修记录。比如：CARFAX

相关新闻：
They're baaack! Storm damaged cars return

Consumer Alert: Check vehicles for flood damage before you buy ----Water-damaged vehicles from New Orleans and other flood-affected areas may find their way to Alberta


提示与技巧：
Tips For Spotting Flood-Damaged Vehicles!

 

[Fisher2004]

They're baaack! Storm damaged cars return

They're baaack! Storm damaged cars return
Scam artists are trying to unload vehicles damaged by Gulf Coast hurricanes in auctions elsewhere.

January 30, 2006; Posted: 9:14 a.m. EST (1414 GMT)
RESEARCH A NEW CAR

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Call it "Return of the Soggy Sedan" or "The Night of Waterlogged Wheels", but unlike a zombie flick, the horror of flooded vehicles returning to the used car market seems to be very real.

Over four months after hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast, scam artists are already trying to pawn off flooded vehicles as your standard secondhand car, according to industry experts.

"Consumers need to be aware that these cars will be hitting the market," said Chris Basso, a spokesperson for Carfax, a vehicle history tracking firm. "They could pop up anywhere."

Recently, swindlers tried to pawn off 14 flood-damaged cars at an auto auction in the Los Angeles, Carfax said.

And with the National Auto Dealers Association estimating that over 571,000 vehicles were damaged from Hurricane Katrina alone, similarly damaged goods are expected to start popping up in regions of the country where buyers aren't used to looking for flood damage.

While cleaning up flood-damaged cars and reselling them is by no means a new scam -- damaged cars were unloaded after Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Floyd in 1999 -- Basso said that in most cases hucksters will buy vehicles that should have been scrapped or sold for parts, cleaning them up and shipping them to another part of the country where they can alter the title and pass them off to unsuspecting buyers.

Such cars may look fine at first glance, but in many cases the safety and electronic systems can be compromised.

To avoid buying one of these nightmares, Carfax recommends looking for standing water in the spare tire wheel well or rust around the engine compartment as well as having a mechanic look it over and, of course, ordering a report of the vehicle's history. That can let you know if the car was titled as "salvage" in another state, even though the current title may not indicate that.

For more tips on how to make sure you aren't buying a water damaged car, click here.

 

[Fisher2004]

Used cars could hide storm damage

Used cars could hide storm damage
'Title-washing' is one way crooks pass off flooded or otherwise ruined cars as nearly new.

October 11, 2005; Posted: 10:01 a.m. EDT (1401 GMT)
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN/Money staff writer
RESEARCH A NEW CAR

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - It looks like a bargain. A practically new car with very few miles on it for thousands less than its original sticker price.

But there's something hidden in the vehicle's past. Something very, very wet.

Some fresh upholstery and new carpeting could be covering up a brush with a hurricane. When a hurricane like Katrina or Rita tears through a huge swath of American real estate, it smashes up a few auto dealerships along the way. In the process, it dumps gallons on a whole lot of cars.

The National Automobile Dealer's Association recently warned consumers that large numbers of flood-damaged cars could be entering the used car market.

Flood damaged cars should never be sold as "used cars," though. Insurance companies pay for the damage and those cars are usually sold for salvage. At the state department of motor vehicles, the car's paperwork gets a "SALVAGE" stamp, and data on the loss is entered into the state's database.

But when you buy the car, you may not see any of that. In fact, the car's title may not even be from the state where the damage happened. That's one way unscrupulous used car sellers can hide the fact that a car has suffered major damage.

Different states define terms like "Salvage" or "Totaled" differently.

Let's say, for example, one state, defines "totaled" as damage equivalent to or greater than 60 percent of the car's total value. If someone buys a "totaled" car in that state, takes it away on a flat-bed tow truck and registers it in another state where "totaled" is defined as damage equivalent to the car's full retail value....

Hey, it's not totaled there, now is it?

That means that no record of the damage needs to be made on the car's new state records. Some body work or new upholstery could easily cover up obvious signs of damage. Less obvious damage would still be there, though, and could cause you serious problems later.

Water damage from flooding effects just about everything in car. Electrical components are particularly vulnerable to water damage, said Auto appraiser Larry Batton of the Auto Appraisal group in Charlottesville, Va.

So what should you do to avoid getting stuck driving a car that should have been sold for salvage?

First, get a vehicle history report.

Vehicle history reports, like those from Experian Automotive and CarFax won't tell you everything about a car's history -- for example, they won't tell you about minor accidents or even major accidents in some states -- they should tell you if a car has ever been tagged as "salvage" or "flood damaged" in any state.

These companies search an enormous database of DMV records from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. They provide potential buyers with a sort of life history of a car, showing where it was registered, to whom, its mileage and other important notes.

Don't leave it at that, though. For one thing, there's always the slight possibility that someone may have moved quickly enough to fix up and sell a car before record of its damage entered vehicle history report companies' databases. If the state the car's registered in doesn't show up in the vehicle history report, that should raise a warning flag, though

Use your eyes or, better yet, hire a professional set of eyes to thoroughly inspect the car.

Actually a nose might be more important. A musty or moldy smell inside the car can be a giveaway that the car has suffered flood damage, said Batton.

Other things to look for include signs that the dashboard has been removed and open drainage holes in the bottom of the vehicle, he said.

You should also be suspicious of recently shampooed carpets and check for mud or grit in and around components under the hood, advises NADA.

This story was originally reported in September, 2004. It has been reviewed and updated.

 

[Fisher2004]

Consumer Alert: Check vehicles for flood damage before you buy

October 7, 2005

Consumer Alert: Check vehicles for flood damage before you buy

Water-damaged vehicles from New Orleans and other flood-affected areas may find their way to Alberta

Edmonton... Albertans are reminded to check for flood damage before they purchase their next vehicle. Vehicles from hurricane and other flood-affected areas are finding their way onto the market, so it is essential for potential buyers to take steps to find out a vehicle's history.

"Flood-damaged cars and trucks are already showing up in U.S. states near hurricane-affected areas," said Ty Lund, Minister of Government Services. "Hundreds of used cars move across the US border and from other provinces every day and damaged goods could easily show up on local lots or for sale online and in classified ads."

Some flood-damaged vehicles can be salvaged, but can have long-lasting mechanical problems. Problems linked to flood damage can include the malfunction of brakes, engine control modules, airbags, headlights, windshield wipers, power accessories and stereo equipment. However, flood damage may not always be obvious and car-buyers must rely on good inspection reports and learn how to spot unusual problems.

Water-damaged vehicles are declared as "salvage" or "non-repairable" depending upon the depth of the water intrusion. Any vehicle registered as salvage in another jurisdiction, including the U.S., must undergo an inspection, by a licensed inspection technician, after repairs are completed before it can be re-registered. Used vehicles also require a certificate of mechanical fitness.

Alberta keeps records of all vehicles declared salvage, non-repairable or flood-damaged. If the car dealer or private owner does not have a vehicle's history, potential buyers can order a Vehicle Information Report from one of Alberta's many Registry Agents. The report shows the type of vehicle, existing liens, as well as whether the vehicle has been declared salvage or non-repairable.

To find a Registry Agent near you or for more information on Vehicle Information Reports visit www.gov.ab.ca/gs under "Motor Vehicles".

 

[Fisher2004]

Tips For Spotting Flood-Damaged Vehicles!

Tips For Spotting Flood-Damaged Vehicles!

Over 500,000 new and used vehicles were damaged in the recent floods and hurricanes. Unfortunately, many of these vehicles will make it into the general population. Many private owners and car dealers will end up with some of these cars without ever knowing it.

Due to the varying title regulations from state to state even some vehicles that are declared a "total loss" will spip through the cracks and end up with clean titles.

If you don't want to end up with one yourself it's going to be important for years to come that you closely inspect any used vehicle that you are considering.

Ideally have a professional mechanic and body shop inspect the vehicle before you buy it. Use the following list as a guideline.

1. Get a vehicle history report from CARFAX, which should tell you if the car has been in a flood or totalled.

2. Inspect the interior and engine compartment for any signs that water, mud or debris were present.

3. Check the carpets, seats and door panels for any signs that they were recently shampooed. This by itself doesn't mean the car was flood-damaged, but it could be a clue if other evidence is present.

4. If you can, peel the carpet back and look for wetness, signs of rust or mold.

5. Check under the dashboard for any signs of dried dirt, water lines or other debris. Also check for moldy or musty odors.

6. Take everything out of the trunk including the spare tire and look for signs of water marks, dried mud, rust, mold or other residue.

7. Look for rust on any screws in the interior of the car, including the screws in the door sill plates.

8. Inspect under the hood for dried mud and residue. In particular look in crevices and recesses, around small parts, wiring harnesses and hoses.

9. Inspect any electrical connections and components you can see for telltale signs of rust and moisture.

10. Pull the wheels or have someone do it for you to inspect the brake components and wheel bearings for any signs of having been submerged in water and mud.

11. Inspect under the car for unusual corrosion, mud deposits and signs of water damage.

Remember, problems caused by flood damage may not show up right away. It may take months before an electrical connection fails, or an electrical component shows any signs of failing. Light bulbs could rust in their sockets, or wheel bearing, u-joints or CV-joints may fail prematurely.

Don't get paranoid every time you look at a used vehicle, but use your head and be careful. Most of all, don't forget to get a Carfax History Report.