Buyers beware: Irma flooded 215K Fla. cars

Some of them could make their way onto used-car lots and into classified ads.

In the same season Hurricane Harvey is smashing records for vehicle insurance claims, a report out this week said Hurricane Irma has generated a hefty number of its own in Florida — more than 215,000.

More than 422,000 claims in Texas include massive numbers of vehicles taken to lots to be auctioned off for parts or scrapped, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. That blows past vehicle claims from Hurricane Katrina (about 300,000) and from Superstorm Sandy (250,500), says the Des Plaines, Ill.-based nonprofit organization financed by the insurance industry.

But Irma is not far behind with more than 215,000 vehicle claims in Florida, whether from flooding, wind-blown debris or other causes, the group says.

What does this mean for consumers? One issue to watch is flooded cars making their way to used-car lots or classified ads, NICB says.

While many flooded cars will be sold for parts or scrapped, some unscrupulous merchants will buy a vehicle, clean it up, and take it to another state where they will obtain a “clean” title and sell it with no warning that it has been flooded, the organization cautions.

Consumers can check vehicle identification numbers, but that won’t protect against all forms of shady dealing, such as cases where cars without comprehensive insurance to cover flood damage are cleaned up and sold without a record that they were flooded. Buyers should have cars checked by a mechanic or watch for signs of water damage under carpets or in other places not easily visible.

Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier told Florida’s Cabinet this week that “upward pressure” on homeowners’ rates is likely after the busy storm season.

Analysts expect increases in car insurance premiums as well, though how much is not yet clear.

Another matter is whether the record-breaking combination of storms puts finan- cial pressure on insurers to delay or deny more claims than they normally might. Companies typically deny this, but groups including the Consumer Federation of America advise policyholders to be ready to challenge or appeal denials they believe are not justified.

Consumers with questions or complaints about insurance claims can contact Florida’s Division of Consumer Services at 877-693-5236.

AP Many cars flooded by Irma, like the ones in Jacksonville above, will be sold for parts. But some shady merchants may buy a vehicle, clean it up and get a “clean” title with no warning it has been flooded.

ANDRES LEIVA / THE PALM BEACH POST Cars are parked in a partially flooded lot at Sportsman’s Park in Lantana last month. Used-car buyers should have cars checked by a mechanic or watch for signs of water damage under carpets and other areas.