New Caveat for Car purchases from huricane or flood areas

[GBrown #8092]

I recently had an experience purchasing a car from Florida. I thought I'd share to save you the hassle I'm going through.
I ran into a problem when I went to register it. The DMV (in Illinois) is rather picky about what they will issue titles on, and demanded a notarized National disaster disclosure from the seller to get a title and plate.  They said because it was from an area that experiences hurricanes and flooding. There was no way around it, you either submit the form or you have a large lawn ornament.  Yes, you could probably forge it, but I'm an attorney, and one that actually has ethics. Plus if they check the signature and here they do, or verify with the seller they signed it, you're going to have much bigger problems than not being able to register the car

I'm fortunate in that I can still communicate withe the owner (he's a club member), and he's willing to execute the form.   You'll be in big trouble if you buy from Craigslist, or at swap meet or some seller you can't easily reach.

Word to the wise. Check with your DMV before you buy to see if they require that form if you are buying a car from an area that has had a natural disaster in the recent past.

Happy motoring!

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

The worst part is that we actually pay the salaries of the people who come up with nonsense like this. 

[Caddyholic]

Glen

We have  some of the worst floods on record in ILL. Every car in ILL. would fall under this right. When did this start?

[30326]

So what happens if you own a car in a "disaster area" and decides to move to Illinois? Would you then be required to fill out that form by yourself?

[7gen]

There's a list of zip codes affected at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/naturaldisastervehicles.html

Illinois apparently exempted its own counties a few years back.

This is pretty extreme but so is someone purchasing a car that has been submerged. There are a lot of unscrupulous sellers out there.

[GBrown #8092]

Good question, Jim, I'll ask.
I'm guessing if you move into state you fill it out yourself.

Having dealt with "salvage" title cars, and currently also dealing with a rebuilt title car, Illinois has a well deserved rep for making it very hard to title those cars as well.  Might actually be a good thing in teh bigger scheme of things, but has been a major pain

Glenn

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

The worst part is that we actually pay the salaries of the people who come up with nonsense like this. 

Thank God we don't get all the government we pay for.

[cadillacmike68]

Typical over-regulated state crapola.  Glad I don't live there (or in MA or NY anymore).

Oh yeah, if you can't tell a car was flooded out within 5 minutes of inspecting it, then you deserve what's coming to you.

[chrisntam]

snip........ if you can't tell a car was flooded out within 5 minutes of inspecting it, then you deserve what's coming to you.

Yabbut, people see what they want to see (in an old car).

I agree with your statement though.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

As with most other things in life, "flood car" is a gray area.

There are many different reasons that would trigger a flood title, history etc., not every event so recorded signifies the vehicle having been fully submerged but that is the conclusion many assume upon hearing "flood history".

To wit - I once owned an absolutely impeccable 1999 Lincoln Continental Signature with 30,000 that was like new in all ways but it had a flood title. After being completely unable to determine the reason why, I called the previous owner who informed me that he had been driving the car in a heavy rainstorm but whe he hit a very large puddle, a large amount of water was sucked into the engine through the air intake, destroying the engine.

The insurance company replaced the engine, but the title was branded "Flood" because water was the cause of the loss, despite no other damage having occurred. 

[cadillac ken]

I'm guessing it's not necessarily the Government.  More like the Insurance Lobbyist that don't want to be on the hook for repairs -- covering their profit margins and their backsides. 

Here in Florida auto insurance agencies will not even repair a car that has had water intrusion into the cabin with as little as any standing water in the floorboards.  Too much liability for them with future repairs.  They just as soon "total" the car.  Believe me, I've seen perfectly good (almost new) cars with little or no damage to speak of simply relegated to the junkyard for this very reason.

Do you really think that seat belts, air bags, and other safety features are because the industries have our best interest at heart?  More like a viable way to reduce payouts in the event of an accident.

People call me cynical.  I call it getting older and wiser to the real issues--- $$$

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Yes, the Auto Insurance companies don't want any "flood claim vehicle" returned to the road, simply because once flooded, they are never the same.

Water gets into places that can never be completely dried out, and once returned to the road, and re-insured by another insurer, there is the probability that the car could suffer another "event" requiring another payout, or repair, which reveal the previous hidden damage that manifests itself.

Here we have cases where vehicles are classified as Written Off (Not to be returned to the road, and for parts only) and Repairable Write-offs (must be inspected once repaired).

Bruce.