🚘 The Sneaky Business of Flood-Damaged Cars

Issue #135

🚗 This Week in Cars: From Soaked Sedans to Spy Shots What do flood-damaged vehicles, a missing wallet, and a billion-dollar GM loss have in common? They’re all part of this week’s wild ride through the auto world. We’re breaking down shady resale tactics, industry shakeups, and nostalgic surprises you didn’t see coming. Buckle up—this one’s packed.

Market New

• GM Just Lost More Than A Billion Dollars—Here's Why

• Ford Bronco Sport Spy Shots? Or False Hope? You Decided

• 2026 Toyota Tundra Gets Updated Upholstery, Trick Seats

• Where Will Ford Motor Company Be in 3 Years?

• Alabama auto supplier plans $4 million manufacturing expansion

Safety and Recalls

• Over 120,000 Jeep SUVs recalled. See impacted models.

Car Culture

• Ford worker’s wallet found after 150,000-mile journey under the hood of an Edge

• Saab stopped making cars 14 years ago. Why these people can’t say goodbye.

• American Cars vs. Non-American Cars: Buyer Differences

• Little Old Lady From Pasadena??? (Latest Corvette concept car is inspired by Southern California)

• The Secret Economics of End-of-Lease Buyouts: The Real Numbers Car Dealers Don’t Mention

• Tax Break on U.S.-Built Cars Aims to Boost Domestic Auto Sales and Save You Money!

Video Of The Week

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In The Know

The Sneaky Business of Flood-Damaged Cars
How soaked vehicles keep popping up on dealer lots (and what you can do about it)

Ever buy a car that smelled a little... off? Like maybe it took a bath and never dried off? You might have stumbled onto one of the industry’s dirtiest secrets: flood-damaged vehicles being resold as clean and problem-free.

Unfortunately, I personally fell victim to this on a vehicle I purchased off of eBay, so you really have to be careful. (lesson learned. I’ve never bought off eBay again.)

According to a recent article we posted on Four Wheel Trends, this is a much bigger issue than most car buyers realize. Every year, tens of thousands of vehicles get caught in floods, and while many get marked as totaled, a shocking number find their way back onto dealer lots across the country. Cleaned up. Rebranded. And often hiding a murky past.

So how does this happen?

It usually starts with what’s called a “title wash.” When a car is declared a total loss by insurance after a flood, it receives a branded title (like "salvage" or "flood"). But here’s the trick: if that car is sold and re-registered in another state, especially one with looser regulations, the branded title can sometimes disappear.

This sketchy workaround makes the car look clean on paper, even though it’s been waterlogged like a sponge.

From there, the vehicles can end up at wholesale auctions, where unsuspecting dealers (or the willfully ignorant) scoop them up at a discount. After a little cleanup and a good polish, the cars hit the lot looking fresh and reliable.

Except they’re not. Think mold behind the dashboard, rusted electronics, and safety systems that might not work when you need them most.

Even Carfax reports can miss these issues if the flood damage wasn't officially recorded.

The article explores several signs to look for, ranging from mismatched carpeting to condensation in the headlights. However, if you're buying used, it's essential to have a trusted mechanic conduct a thorough inspection. You don’t want to end up with a $15,000 paperweight that smells like mildew.

What makes this especially frustrating is that it's not technically illegal — at least not in all states. The used car market has a patchwork of laws and oversight, and the result is a system where flood cars can quietly sneak through the cracks. Or, in this case, flow right through.

Want to know exactly how these soggy sedans end up for sale — and how to avoid them? Read the full breakdown here:
👉 How Flood-Damaged Vehicles Keep Sneaking Onto Dealer Lots

Because no one wants to buy a car that’s been for a swim.