The Indiana Attorney General’s Office and Carfax are warning Indiana consumers that flooded vehicles may soon be for sale.

“They may come back into the market many weeks, many months later, and it’s not just Indiana,” said Em Nguyen, a spokesperson at the vehicle history company Carfax.“You see the images of those vehicles submerged in those high waters. Those are the type of cars that may get sold cheaply to those potential scammers, who then clean it up and sell it elsewhere.”

Buying a flooded vehicle can cost you money in repairs and also be dangerous, said Nguyen.

“While it may look showroom fresh, it is literally rotting from the inside out,” said Nguyen.

Typically, water-damaged cars are sent to auto recyclers for dismantling. However, they can be fixed up and legally sold on the market.

If a vehicle is flood-damaged, that should show up on a vehicle’s title in Indiana.

However, some sellers may withhold that information or deliberately hide it through a process called “title washing.”

Typically, you see flooded vehicles hit the market after hurricanes.

An estimated half a million flooded vehicles are already back in use on U.S. roads, according to Carfax.

“That really means that those cars that are on roads today could be potentially unsafe, and they’re driving around you, and you don’t want to be someone who buys one of those vehicles,” said Nguyen. “At the last check, when we looked at the data, Carfax data shows that Indiana had thousands of vehicles that were flooded cars on the roads already, and that’s not even to count the most recent flooding as well.”

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita says you should always take a used car to a mechanic before buying.

“Any reputable car salesman is going to allow you to do that, especially on the used car market. If they’re not going to do that, just walk away,” said Rokita.

Do your own VIN check, such as through Carfax, Autocheck or the Indiana Secretary of State.

It should reveal whether a vehicle has been in a flood.

“Flood damage is the worst damage because it gets into your electronics and everything else,” said Rokita.

Tips from the attorney general

• Check the vehicle’s history report to see if there are any reported title brands on the vehicle, such as “salvage,” “rebuilt,” “junk” or “flood damage.” Also note on the report the state or geographic area where the vehicle was last titled or registered to determine if the vehicle was recently located in an area affected by flooding.
• Ask to see the vehicle’s title, or a copy of the title, and check to see if the title includes any title brands, including “salvage,” “rebuilt,” “junk” or “flood damage.”
• Inspect the vehicle closely for any signs of flood damage by checking to ensure all electronic components, including the heat and air conditioning, are operational. Check for any signs of mud or rust anywhere on or in the vehicle, including the engine compartment. Check for discolored or mildewed carpeting. Note whether the vehicle has any odd smells. Be suspicious of a vehicle that smells like mildew. The aroma of heavy disinfectants and cleaners may also be an indicator that someone has tried to mask a mold or odor problem.
• Take the vehicle for a test drive.
• Have an independent mechanic of your choosing inspect the vehicle prior to purchase. Specifically ask the mechanic to check for any signs of flood damage.
• If a consumer suspects a recently purchased vehicle was flood-damaged, and such damage was not disclosed prior to sale, the consumer should file a consumer complaint at in.gov/attorneygeneral.

This article was written by WRTV reporter Kara Kenney.