The last thing you want to happen when you buy a used car is to find out after the fact that you bought a car that was flooded. This can happen when a car has been through a major catastrophe, such as a hurricane, and has been sent to the salvage yard. Your title should reflect that it has been damaged, but it is not too difficult for unscrupulous people to buy these cars, repair them, and re-title them, often in states away from damage.

You can look for telltale signs of a flooded car and avoid buying a lemon car:

Take a puff – Let your senses tell you if something is wrong with a car. Musty odors can be detected even if the cabin, trunk or engine have an unmistakable smell of perfume or cleaning solution. That smell should just tell you that something is not right. Why else would a salesperson try to use a cleaning solution or perfume on a car they are trying to sell?

Feel the carpet – Cars damaged by floods usually have new carpets. If the carpet feels too new compared to the age of the car, it should raise your suspicions. If the carpet has not been replaced, run your hands over it to look for signs of staining and discoloration. A carpet that has been soaked does not feel good either – the pile can feel rough. Also use the same test methods for the upholstery.

Look in nooks and crannies – Flip the rear seats over, move the front seats back and forth and remove the carpet. Look closely at the bolts and seat rails; If they look rusty, it means the car has suffered water damage. Check the tire well, storage compartments, and door pockets for signs of water. There may be stains and remnants of matter.

Check the electrical system – Damage to your car’s electrical system may be harder to see, but if all the wires under the dash are new, then you can expect this car to have been damaged. Replacing cables won’t hide worse problems like salt water in the engine, transmission, or other components.

Explore the trunk – A new carpet in the trunk, a new jack for the spare tire, or anything else that does not match the rest of the trunk should be a warning sign. Check the gasket around the trunk and hood; it could be brittle or new if the current owner has replaced it. The taillight wiring could be damaged. Look up and into the trunk lid for signs of rust, discoloration, and bad odors.

You can also track your vehicle’s history by obtaining a CarFax report or visiting the National Office of Insurance Crimes and using their VinCheck service to find out if a car has been declared a stolen or salvage vehicle not recovered. Lastly, hire a trusted mechanic to inspect your car as well. It may show things you haven’t seen or didn’t intend to inspect.