SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – With used car prices so high these days, you want to get your money's worth. A vehicle data company is warning buyers about a new scam on the horizon.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
According to CARFAX, the recent storms in California flooded about 51,000 vehicles. Bargain hunters beware, formerly flooded cars are filling used car lots, waiting to be sold.
"What these scammers will do, they'll take a car that's been declared totaled or flooded by an insurance company, they'll move it to a state where that title information gets cleaned off the title because the next state doesn't include that information and then they'll sell it with a clean title in a third state," CARFAX executive editor Patrick Olsen told KCBS Radio.
Olsen said used car shoppers can look up cars on CARFAX's free online database of flooded cars. If a deal on a used vehicle seems too good to be true, take the car to a trusted mechanic who will know what to look for.
When inspecting the car yourself, look for mildew and water stains under the carpet on the interior, pull the seatbelts out to check for grime, look for rust on doors and screws and check under the hood for oxidation.
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
