Oct. 6, 2005 – The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs is alerting consumers to be aware of flood-damaged vehicles being sent to the Virgin Islands for resale. The vehicles could be new or used.
More than a half million vehicles were flooded along the Gulf Coast thanks to Hurricane Katrina. According to the DLCA, insurance companies wrote off many of those vehicles, which were then sent to salvage yards to be scrapped and sold for parts.
A release from the DLCA says salvagers have been cleaning and repainting the salvaged cars, then shipping them to the West Indies for resale in used car lots. Because of the flood damage, all of the electronic parts have been compromised. Problems like not starting and cutting off while driving can crop up, and air bags and brakes could malfunction.
The website www.carfax.com can help consumers with the history of a vehicle before purchase.
Some signs to look for:
– Rust under the dash, or on trunk or hood hinges.
– Water stains, mismatched upholstery, moldy smell.
– Water droplets in light fixtures.
– Mismatched VIN numbers.
For more information, please call Alvin "Alli" J. Paul at (340) 773-2226.
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