How Some Super Storm Used Vehicle Bargains May Generate A Hurricane Of Repair Bills

Thousands of motor vehicles of all types, sizes and prices are hitting the Internet at rock bottom prices, but these listings may not be the bargains you thought they were. In the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy tens of thousands of vehicles from areas hit by that disaster are being salvaged and sold online. The storm damage suffered by them can range from total or partial submersion in water to severely bent frames or stressed operating systems. Know what you are buying before you send that payment.

According to major insurance company statistics, over two hundred and fifty thousand cars were damaged by Super Storm Sandy. Others say that is just an early and far too conservative vehicle damage estimate. Either way, there are many opportunist sellers out there trying to pass off severely storm damaged vehicles as normal used cars for sale in person or online at bargain prices. If you plan to buy a used vehicle in the near future, be aware that you might be buying a Sandy vehicle unless you are able to make a full vehicle history search and have a mechanic perform an in-person inspection.

Many of the Sandy vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, recreational and other vehicles) that should have went directly to the scrap yard, ended up in vehicle auction events where enterprising buyers bought them for chump change and hoped to flip them after a little clean up for a big profit. Most of these buyers are a lot more interested in their profit margins then in giving you a vehicle that is worth the price they are asking for it.

One of the first and biggest mistakes a buyer can make is thinking that because they are buying a motor vehicle that is being sold a long distance from any Sandy affected area they are safe. Just the opposite may be true. Many of the largest used vehicle auction sites are located deep in the Midwest. Vehicles are transported there from all over the USA and sold in ‘as is’ condition. Before or after they are sold, these vehicles are sent to an auto reconditioning center. You would be surprised at what these places can do for a Sandy vehicle.

A thorough interior, exterior and engine cleaning, some minor body repairs and getting the vehicle in good enough condition to start and operate for a while is what these places do everyday for used cars in just about any condition. The key is that they do it cheaply and that means you may get a clean Sandy vehicle that runs, but not one in a proper state of repair for regular use over the long haul. Too many people get the bad news the first time they have to visit a repair shop. If they purchased the vehicle without any sort of warrantee, the loss if theirs and good luck getting any money back from the seller.

Your first step in making sure you are not getting a bad deal is to take a very close look at the vehicle’s title before you buy it. If the title lists the vehicle as something like JUNK, FLOOD, SALVAGE or RECONSTRUCTED, run away from that deal as fast as you can. Since there are sometimes ways to manipulate titles, a wise second step would be to get a history report on the vehicle from a company that offers that service and has a good record of providing reliable information to potential buyers. If you have trouble interpreting the vehicle’s title or report, show it to your insurance agent and ask for their help. You can also try getting a full history on the vehicle you want to purchase by visiting www.vehiclehistory.gov which allows you to enter a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and provides as much information on it as possible.

Whether you plan on buying in person or online, you should always have a certified mechanic with a good record of properly examining vehicles inspect the one you want to buy before you agree to any price, terms or make the purchase. If you cannot get to the vehicle yourself for an in-person inspection, hire a mechanic from the area where it is located to examine it. Make sure you get in writing the fact that the mechanic has no personal or professional relationship with the seller before you hire them.

Everyone wants a good deal on a used vehicle. If it is a vehicle that was exposed to the unrelenting storm conditions that existed during Sandy, the deal may not be anywhere near as good as you think it is. Be a responsible buyer and take the steps needed to be sure you are not getting a lemon. Despite the way a vehicle may look, it might be completely inappropriate to be sold. It’s not so much the damage you see, it is the problems you do not or cannot see which may come back to haunt you and cost you a fortune down the road. And let’s face it, if you choose to sell or trade in that same vehicle at some point, the last thing you want to do is pass your bad fortune on to get another unsuspecting buyer.




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