RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — If you’re in the market for a used car, you may want to listen to a consumer alert from North Carolina Attorney General, Josh Stein’s Office.
His office warns of car dealers possibly selling flood-damaged cars after Hurricane Helene. It said, “A natural storm like Hurricane Helene opens the door for dishonest car dealers to prey on unsuspecting customers by selling them flood-damaged cars.”
The hurricane wreaked havoc on the western part of the state in late September. CARFAX estimates during this year’s hurricane season from June 1 to November 1, about 37,200 cars were damaged from floods.
CBS 17 spoke with the owner of Auto Interiors & Tops in Raleigh. He says they often see cars with water damage, so they know how to spot the signs, especially on the inside of a vehicle since interiors are their specialty.
“The carpet padding is a good indicator. You know, we can get the carpet pad, you know, feel the top see if it’s wet. And sometimes you’ll notice a musty odor in the car and that’s usually the biggest indicator,” said owner, Tommy Gardner. “Condensation on the glass. You can see some sweating that the car is closed up overnight.”
Other things to look out for include rust and new items that don’t match the car’s original design.
A representative with Attorney General Stein’s Office says so far, it has not received any complaints of cars flooded from Hurricane Helene being sold, but it says it typically sees complaints months after a disaster.
It recommends you do your homework on a car’s history before signing the dotted line. This can include checking its title history here and even having a mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection.
If you have concerns or questions about a car dealer or believe you may have been the victim of a scam, you can file a complaint with the NC Attorney General’s Office here or call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.