By Jessica Keane
Former Digital Journalist | Kaiwhakahaere Kaituhi Matihiko
Electronics are easily damaged in a flood and if water has entered the inside of a vehicle, insurance companies are likely to write off a car rather than invest in fixing it. There is no robust system in place however, to stop uninsured flood-damaged vehicles from being sold.
Buying a vehicle
Some flood-damaged cars may look and work okay now, but once a few months have passed, it could be a different story as corrosion takes place.
Between 1 and 22 February 2023, 524 vehicles were added to Waka Kotahi, New Zealand Transport Agency’s register as write-offs with water damage.
Other countries have seen flood-damaged vehicles being offloaded to unsuspecting buyers.
Even if you don’t live near an area that flooded, you still need to be vigilant. Flood-damaged cars can be transported around the country to locations where consumers will be less aware of the warning signs to look for.
What you need to know
Be cautious of private sales at bargain prices.
Check Waka Kotahi, New Zealand Transport Agency's written-off vehicle register to see if the vehicle you’re eyeing up is listed on there.
Water damage can be hard to detect, it’s recommended you get an expert’s professional opinion on a vehicle’s roadworthiness and safety before making a decision.
Keep the details of whoever you purchase a vehicle from. If you discover after purchase that it suffered water damage, you should first talk to the person that sold you the vehicle.
Private sales are not covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act or the Fair Trading Act. You might be able to claim a refund or compensation under the Contracts and Commercial Law Act. This may involve taking your claim to the Disputes Tribunal.
There’s a full list of what to look out for on Waka Kotahi, New Zealand Transport Agency’s website.
Water-damaged write-offs must be inspected, repaired and then have that repair certified by Waka Kotahi-approved agents (see RepairCertNZ for more details of certifiers) before they can be re-registered and put back on the road. However, a permanent record of the vehicle having been written off for water damage remains.
Selling a vehicle
If you’re from an area affected by a flood and have a car that wasn’t damaged, be aware that buyers might suspect it was. Have a mechanic inspect your car before you put it up for sale so that you can present potential buyers with a clean bill of health.
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