Will I Buy a Flood-Damaged Car When Purchasing a New Vehicle?
2 Answers
Purchasing a new car from an authorized 4S dealership will not result in buying a flood-damaged vehicle. Below is relevant information about flood-damaged cars: 1. Introduction: A flood-damaged car refers to a vehicle that has been submerged in water and is subsequently sold through certain channels to used car markets across China. 2. Insurance Claims: Heavy rain can cause various damages to vehicles, including water submersion leading to interior damage (such as seats and electrical circuits), collision damage from floating in water, and towing/rescue expenses. Insurance coverage for flood-related damages typically includes towing fees, rescue costs, and repairs to electronic components caused by heavy rain.
From industry experience, there is indeed a very small chance of encountering flood-damaged vehicles when buying a brand-new car. The most typical case I've seen is when a 4S store's garage gets flooded during heavy rain, but such vehicles must be returned to the factory or scrapped according to regulations. New cars can also be exposed to extreme weather during transportation, like last year's typhoon that caused transport vehicles to be submerged in water. Here are a few tips to identify such vehicles: smell the carpet for any musty odor, check the base of the seat belts for water stains, and inspect the chassis screws to see if they look new. Remember to check the vehicle's PDI inspection report, which contains the complete factory records. If you find that the plastic film on the seats has been removed or there are signs of interior installation when taking delivery, you must refuse the car on the spot. Also, keep the purchase contract, as it will give you solid ground for rights protection if any issues arise.
