Disastrous flooding, such as what the Midwest and Southeast has recently suffered, tends to, well, flood the used car market with damaged vehicles that pass the eyeball test. There are ways to avoid falling victim to unscrupulous resellers try to move water-addled rides, though.

AutoWeek offers a guide of what to keep in mind when you’re on the hunt for a cheap used car that actually works.

Before driving off a used car lot, it’s always a good idea to check out a vehicle history report. Cars sold at auctions are not required to adhere to National Auto Auction Association policy, which requires sellers to disclose vehicle conditions, including flood damage. It’s best to only commit to deals that are subject to a successful professional vehicle inspection.

Visual signs of flood damage include water in the spare tire well in the trunk, a musty odor in the carpeting and mud on the seatbelts.

What precautions do you take when buying used vehicles?

Used-Car Shoppers Should Watch Out for Potential Flood Damage [AutoWeek via MSN]

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