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Because we’re in the auto insurance business, we know a thing or two about safe driving. One danger every driver should avoid is flooding. In many parts of the U.S., floods represent a serious safety hazard and are a source of significant auto insurance claims. But there are flood-related problems other than auto insurance claims.

Owners of flood-ravaged vehicles often sell their once-soggy cars. Unwitting buyers in other parts of the country can end up with one of these lemons. Find out how to avoid buying a resold rust bucket, how floods affect your auto insurance, and how to deal with other problems that are triggered by raging floodwaters.

Disaster Driving-- Your Car Can't Always Power Through
Every year, frightening images of motorists trapped in rising floodwaters appear on the news. Unfortunately, drivers who find themselves in these precarious situations have often ignored travel advisories and warnings issued by safety agencies.

So, if you hear that a local river or other body of water is rising rapidly, it's common sense to stay off the roads in that area. If you have to drive in conditions where flooding is a possibility, tune into a local television or radio broadcast that can alert you to dangerous or impassable roads.

If you’re suddenly caught driving in potential flash flood conditions, make every effort to avoid passing through standing water or floodwaters moving across the roadway. Even very shallow moving water can conceal missing portions of roads and bridges, or large debris such as tree limbs and stones. Water may be much deeper than it looks.

If you experience a total loss of traction due to water on the road, you could quickly be at the mercy of extremely fast currents. In these conditions, cars tend to float for a brief time, but can quickly be submerged.

Though every emergency situation is unique, the minute your car stalls in floodwater, it's usually best to get out. Don't work on trying to restart the car; leave it behind and move to higher ground immediately. The car can be replaced, but you and your passengers cannot.

As you exit your vehicle in a flood situation, be extremely careful if the water is higher than knee-level. In faster, deeper floodwater, you could easily be overpowered by currents or injured by large moving debris.

Don’t Unwittingly Buy Damaged Goods
Even if floods aren’t a cause for concern in your area, be aware that flood-damaged cars are sometimes shipped across the country for resale. As a result, flood damage can affect used car buyers everywhere.

If you think you'd know such damage when you saw it, think again. While highly visible cosmetic damage has probably been repaired, significant damage to door locks, electric windows, the electrical system, and the heating/cooling system can remain hidden.

Even after thorough cleaning, highly sensitive electronic systems and computer circuitry can corrode and oxidize weeks or months after exposure. In addition, mud and debris that are forced inside the engine and other mechanical systems can lead to excessive wear and early failure.

The only way to make sure you know the real story about any used car you’re buying is to have a qualified mechanic thoroughly inspect it. You should also run a check on the car's title history. These investigations will help you ensure that the car you’re interested in isn’t a flood-damaged lemon in disguise.

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