While Kentucky did not receive the disastrous levels of flooding from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the state could experience a rise in flood-damaged vehicles.
The Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Vehicle Regulation is preparing for an influx of title requests for vehicles declared a total loss in such states as Florida and Texas, then brought here to be rebuilt.
“Title requests for flood-damaged vehicles tripled after Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Kentucky has a sizeable rebuilt car industry and many vehicles deemed as scrap or junk make their way into our state,” said John-Mark Hack, commissioner for the Department of Vehicle Regulation. “Consumers need to be aware that many of these vehicles will be hitting the market and there’s a potential for issues with a rebuilt automobile.”
Flood-damaged vehicles are given a scrap title or junking certificate in the other states. They are brought to Kentucky for a “rebuild” process that typically involves only cleaning the interior and exterior and changing the system fluids. These vehicles are then sold at a significantly reduced cost.
Hack said if you find a deal on a vehicle that seems too good to be true, it probably is. “While it may appear in good physical condition and the engine runs well at the time, there’s a great potential for damage to the mechanical, electrical and safety components.”
Under Kentucky law, the title applicant must submit two photos of the vehicle and two estimates of damage costs, the fees for cleaning and changing fluids. If the cost is less than 75 percent of the car or truck’s retail value, then the Department of Vehicle Regulation issues a new title, printed in red ink, with the words REBUILT VEHICLE on it to alert consumers of the vehicle’s history.
He said consumers should conduct their own research before buying a rebuilt vehicle by obtaining a vehicle history report and having a mechanic inspect it. He said obtaining financing or insurance for rebuilt vehicles may be difficult.
In addition, driving a rebuilt car or truck back to the state where it was first given a scrap title runs the risk of confiscation, if stopped by law enforcement. Also, they cannot be sold to consumers in most other states.
For more information, visit https://drive.ky.gov/motor-vehicle-licensing/Pages/Vehicle-Titling.aspx
