This is what happens to all the flood-damaged cars in Florida
Published on Jun 03, 2025 at 10:23 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 03, 2025 at 12:45 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Florida has more than its fair share of flood-damaged cars, due to its extreme weather conditions.
But have you ever wondered what happens to them?
Folks in Florida are used to battling bad weather, and most know how to help keep their homes and cars as safe as possible.
However, it’s inevitable that during hurricanes and other wild weather conditions, some cars will still get damaged.
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We’ve seen the extreme lengths some Floridians are willing to go to keep their cars safe, like the man who wrapped his Chevy Corvette in a large sheet of plastic before Hurricane Milton hit.
Nonetheless, we still see thousands of flood-damaged cars in the state.
According to CARFAX, as many as 120,000 vehicles in Florida were left flood-damaged last year alone.
If a car is seriously damaged by flood water, chances are that it will be written off completely.
But that isn’t always the case, and some cars can be saved.
However, if you’re in the market to buy a used car, you’ll probably want to avoid getting one that’s flood-damaged.
“Even a little bit of water damage can be a ticking time bomb,” director of public relations at CARFAX Em Nguyen told USA Today.
“It can lead to electrical issues, and fixing it can be very costly. Or if you get water in the engine or the oil system, it can wreck the engine.”
Which is why in Florida, if a car has ever sustained flood damage and has been reported to its owner’s insurance, it will then be reported to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
The department, in turn, will place a marker on its title to ensure any potential buyers know.
The FLHSMV keeps a database where you can check if any car you’re interested in has been flood-damaged.
Similarly, car dealers in Florida are legally required to tell a customer if a car has been flood-damaged before it is sold.
If a flood-damaged car is rebuilt, it will be checked over by the DHSMV before it’s retitled.
However, not all states have a rule like Florida does, meaning that cars that are flood-damaged and repaired wouldn’t have such a marker, and a potential buyer wouldn’t know.
Well done Florida for keeping drivers safe!
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
