Can Flood-Damaged Vehicles Be Applied for Scrapping?

[GavinAnn]

Flood-damaged vehicles can be applied for scrapping. To scrap a vehicle, the owner needs to directly visit the municipal motor vehicle administration department for processing. The vehicle owner must bring their identity proof, vehicle registration certificate, vehicle license, and license plate to the vehicle dismantling plant's business department to fill out the "Application Form for Vehicle Suspension, Resumption/De-registration" or wait for notification at the license management counter for fee payment. Vehicles with flood levels that have not reached the chassis are not considered flood-damaged. Normal driving through water often involves depths of several tens of centimeters, and water contact with the chassis is not a major issue—it only causes rust in the corners of the chassis and on the brake discs. For such cases, simply washing the car promptly, especially giving the chassis a thorough rinse, is sufficient. Since rainwater is slightly acidic, it can corrode the rubber components of the chassis suspension structure. After washing, just open the car doors and use high heat to dry out the moisture. Vehicles with flood levels exceeding the chassis (reaching the center point of the wheel hub cover) are considered flood-damaged. The chassis has multiple sets of wiring harnesses and connectors on both sides of the sills. Flooding can damage core components, and the soundproofing mats inside the car cannot be reused after being soaked, as they will breed bacteria and produce severe odors even after drying. However, vehicles with this level of water damage are not classified as total losses by insurance companies because the cost of repairs and part replacements is not high—repair costs are significantly lower than scrapping costs. Vehicles with flood levels reaching the dashboard are considered total-loss flood-damaged vehicles. The soundproofing mats and seats inside the car need to be replaced, and all interior components must be disassembled and cleaned. The fuse box inside the car will inevitably short-circuit due to water ingress, as its vertical height is roughly level with the seat cushions, and electronic devices will also be damaged. The most severe damage occurs inside the engine compartment—the ECU circuit board will short-circuit and be damaged, and the fuse box inside the car will also be flooded. Additionally, the openings for various fluids (such as oil) will be contaminated with water and require complete replacement. Therefore, in such cases, it is generally advisable to apply for scrapping directly.