Posted Monday, August 18th, 2014 at 9:02 am.
VIDEO Russ and Joy discussed the precautionary measures you can take when looking at used cars, especially due to all of the recent flash flooding.
Some hints to look out for when purchasing a new vehicle to see if it was ever flooded include:
- Pull out the seat belts. The portion of the belt that’s been retracted inside the seat may be muddy, mildewed or water-spotted if it has been flood-damaged.
- Check for water rings on the engine block or radiator, mud and dirt under the dashboard, and corrosion, rust or flaking metal on the undercarriage.
- Smell for mildew; lift carpets and floor mats, check inside the glove box, and look for dew or droplets in instrument clusters on the dashboard, as well as the inside and outside lights.
- Look for water stains, silt or mud, mineral deposits, even sticks and twigs.
- Feel the wiring – check for stiffness.
You can get a vehicle history for a fee from Carfax (www.carfax.com), Auto Check (www.autocheck.com) and Consumer Guide (www.auto.consumerguide.com).
On the home page of the National Insurance Crime Bureau website (www.ncib.org), VINCheck lets you check a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see if a vehicle has been reported as salvage by its member insurance companies.
For more information on titles and title searches, including applicable fees, contact Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles at (207)624-9000 or visit http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv
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