When Hurricane Ian struck, he swept through Florida and up into other states, bringing tons of rain and flooding with him. As a result, Copart has a huge selection of Flood Damaged Cars. Despite what you may have heard, buying a flood-damaged car can be an excellent thing to do if you are an informed buyer. Here are some of the reasons you should consider bidding on & winning a flood damaged car in Copart’s all online auctions.
Copart Can Help You Be an Informed Buyer
Knowledge is crucial when buying flood damaged cars. You’ll want to know the status of its title, what kind of flooding it was involved in, and what kind of damage it has sustained. Fortunately, Copart has you covered on all of these with our Copart Vehicle Condition Report, where we’ll inspect the vehicle from bumper to bumper. We also have Other Reports that can tell you the title status of the vehicle, and its full history. That way you can bid intelligently and find the flood damaged vehicle that will fit your needs.
Flood Damaged Cars Sell for a Steep Discount
Many flood damaged cars come to auction because the insurance company has deemed them not worth the money to repair.
With the shortage of used cars and prices inflated some 25% over last year, a flood-damaged car can be low-cost inventory or a personal commuter.
And speaking of how many flood cars still work, remember that not all damage was inflicted equally.
Flood Damage is Relative
Flood damage can vary a great deal. Not every car was completely drowned in water for days. Some just have flood water reach the tires, the floorboards, or water damaged the upholstery. Others may have similarly limited damage to one or more mechanical or electrical system that can be repaired or replaced.
To help inform our customers, we mark the line showing how far up on the car the water rose. This can help you estimate the damage the vehicle sustained.
The type of water they were flooded with also matters. Salt water corrodes and damages vehicles a lot more than fresh water. For example, the rains from Hurricane Ida produced fresh water flooding, while Ian produced both freshwater and saltwater flooding..
Copart also starts the repair process on many cars by extracting the water from the vehicles and giving them an anti-fungal and anti-mold treatment.
You can easily find the cars treated by Copart by looking for the "Flood Reconditioned" badge. Here's an example:
They Can Be Repaired
Even if you find a car with mechanical or electrical flood damage, many times a good mechanic can fix them. For those with an automotive aptitude, this means you could get a car at a steep discount, fix it, drive it, or sell it.
Flood cars can also make good bases for restoration and repair project cars. For the hobbyist, a flood car auction is a great place to find that next auto to augment. If you already have a project car, flood cars can be great parts cars.
You Can Find Great Deals on Exotics Too
There is an old proverb that the rain falls on everyone, rich or poor. As a result, some top-notch exotics become available at some incredible discounts. In past storms, we've retrieved cars made by Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Aston Martin and even Lamborghini.
So, whether you need a low-cost ride, cheap inventory, a project car or a parts car, flood cars can meet your needs at a great discount. Copart can help you find the vehicle that meets your needs. Good luck.
