Used car buyers have been warned to check vehicles in upcoming months to ensure they have not suffered flood-damage caused by the extreme weather of recent weeks.

AA Insurance in the UK estimates that insurers could be facing claims for up to £40 million for cars written-off by recent weather.

As some of the vehicles immersed in water over the festive period slip on to the second-hand car market, the broker says they may look undamaged but can be storing potentially dangerous faults.
Michael Lloyd, director of the insurance company said he is concerned that many flood-battered vehicles could reach the open market and be sold on despite insurers’ best efforts to dispose of the written-off soaked cars.

‘Catalytic converter and exhaust system life can be seriously reduced, wheel bearings could seize, brakes can be affected and alternator and starter motors could fail,’ he said.