Des Moines flooding: How to spot a water-damaged used car

Patt Johnson
The Des Moines Register

Randy Crow has been hauling water-logged cars and trucks to the storage area at his Des Moines towing company since torrential rainfall flooded the metro three weeks ago.

“Most of the damaged ones are beyond repair," Crow said. 

"The rule of thumb is that if you drove into water and the car died, there’s an 80 percent chance the car is totaled.”

Hundreds of vehicles in the Des Moines metro got caught in the fast-rising waters June 30 when as much as 9 inches of rain fell in less than four hours.

Some cars stalled out as drivers tried to pass flooded streets while others were caught in low-lying parking lots.  

A truck drives through flood waters at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Holcomb Avenue outside of North High School on June 30.

Since then, towing companies, insurers and repair shops have been busy assessing flood-damaged cars to determine if they are salvageable.

Crow said his company, Crow Tow, 826 S.E. 21st St., has handled about 300 cars damaged by the floods.

“Well above 90 percent of them” couldn’t be repaired, he said.

► MORE:Think your home insurance will cover flood damage? You may be in for a surprise

When water fills a car, it damages wires, computers systems and other mechanical parts, he said. Some of the vehicles he picked up had water lines inside that showed how high the water had risen. Several inches of mud caked the floorboards and seats of vehicles.

A man wades through flood water to check on a car stalled in the intersection of 56th Street and New York Avenue after a flash flooding on June 30 in Des Moines.

“This was very dirty water,” he said.

Cars that insurance companies declare total losses are either sold at auction or sold as scrap for parts, Crow said.

But some flood-damaged cars could end up on the market again. 

Experts say there are three common ways this happens:

  • Auctions: After an insurance company slaps a flood or salvage title on a vehicle, it gets auctioned off legally and then salvaged and cleaned by a buyer who puts it back up for sale to consumers.
  • For sale by owner: Owners with minimal insurance coverage rigorously scrub the vehicle themselves, possibly replacing carpet or upholstery, and sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. Sellers often move the vehicles to other states to escape scrutiny, putting anyone at risk of buying a damaged ride.
  • Forged or bogus documentation: Sellers tamper with title records or other documentation to trick buyers into believing the cars are in good condition.

Anne Bacon, executive director of Impact, Community Action Partnership in Des Moines, said people without the means or insurance to replace flood-damaged cars are relying on public transportation or friends and family for transportation. 

Two men sit stranded in their cars, surrounded by flood water from Fourmile Creek, on the bridge at the intersection of Hubbell Avenue and East 33rd Street on July 1 in Des Moines.

“In many cases there were people with flood waters up to the tops of their cars,” she said.

Some may qualify for Iowa’s Individual Disaster Assistance grant program. 

► MORE:Affected by flooding and still looking for help? Polk County has a list of who's offering assistance.

Polk County households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $41,560 for a family of three, can receive up to $5,000 for home or car repairs, to replace clothing, or for food and temporary housing expenses not covered by insurance or other grants. 

The application is available at dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs.

Polk County residents must apply by Aug. 18, Bacon said. About 700 people have applied so far, she said.

Flash flooding dumped on car on top of another June 30 on 41st Place in Des Moines.

How to avoid buying a flood-damaged car

Experts provided USA Today with these tips to avoid buying flood-damaged vehicles:

  • Check the vehicle history report. After insurers cover flood damage on a vehicle, the vehicle history report will notate its status as a salvaged car.
  • Ask a mechanic to conduct a pre-purchase inspection.
  • Use your nose. Check closely for musty smells inside the vehicle, which could indicate the past presence of moisture.
  • Pull back the carpet to check for signs of water or mud. Walk away if you see new carpeting or upholstery.
  • Make sure power locks and windows work. If they don't, it could indicate electrical damage.
  • Check headlights and taillights for water, which may indicate past submersion.
  • Look for corrosion anywhere on the vehicle, although it may take time for rust to show up. 
  • Don't take the seller's word for it. Take the car for a test drive.