It’s one thing to be decked out for the holiday season, ICBC is warning potential vehicle buyers of a more serious problem

Prince George, BC – Buyer beware…

ICBC is warning BC residents to step up their due diligence when buying or importing a vehicle from the United States in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Transport Administrators, tens of thousands of vehicles were submerged in salt water and contaminated by bacteria and various toxins as a result of the hurricane and they’re expected to start popping up in jurisdictions across North America.  Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Mary Polak, says the same thing happened after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and steps have since been taken to prevent those vehicles from being registered in BC.  But, says Polak, "We want to help protect British Columbians from purchasing them in the first place."

ICBC says it’s estimated that more than 3.2-million US vehicles are labeled as damaged due to extreme weather and accidents each year, but nearly 27-percent are retitled as undamaged in another state.  The insurance corporation’s manager of provincial vehicle registration and licensing, Mark Francis, says, "Unfortunately, there are some dishonest individuals who will try to capitalize on tragic events like Hurricane Sandy and sell flood damaged vehicles to unknowing customers without revealing their true condition."

Francis points out that flood damage can seriously compromise a vehicle’s electronic and computer systems, affecting everything from steering, to brakes, to airbags, and other major safety systems.

ICBC recommends only buying a vehicle from a licensed dealer, but offers up the following tips for those considering purchasing a new or used vehicle from a private seller:

• Ask about damage: ask the seller directly whether the car has been damaged by water or anything else and get the answer in writing
• Check for water damage and look out for: damp or musty odours inside the vehicle and in the trunk, signs of rust and mud in the vents, trunk, glove box, and beneath the seats and dashboard, rusty brackets under the seats or carpet, discoloured upholstery or carpet that fits poorly, a water line underneath the hood that has been marked by mud or silt
• Test everything:  test the lights, windshield wipers, turn signals, cigarette lighter and radio, turn the heater and air conditioner on/off several times
• Get it inspected
• Research the vehicle’s history:  companies such as CarProof and Carfax offer history reports on vehicles from the US
• Ask for the vehicle’s US registration

For more essential information about importing a vehicle, you can contact Transport Canada’s registrar of imported vehicles at 1-888-848-8240.