State: Beware Flood-Damaged Cars

State officials have warned residents to beware buying used cars from hurricane-battered areas.

State law says saltwater damaged vehicles can’t be titled in Tennessee, they can only be used for parts.

Maggart Tire mechanic Paul Keller said that’s because of corrosion.

“You get a lot of water, a lot of ocean water up in your computers and stuff, ocean water in your engine, you might be able to get it to run for awhile but the corrosion and things that can happen can really hurt down the road,” Keller said.

He recommended researching the vehicle before you buy it.

“Just be careful, check your VIN numbers and see where the car came from, if it’s too good to be true for the price, it’s probably too good to be true,” Keller said.

He said checking the vehicle through online services to track the VIN number is an important step.