News in 2017

_ &nbspNashville; Flood - Sunken Cars by Jay Bock_

As the Southeast begins to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the damage caused by the wind and floodwaters is becoming clear - and that damage includes a lot of vehicles.

After a major disaster like Harvey or Irma, many of the damaged vehicles make their way into the used car and salvage market - often with no indication of their water-logged past. Flood vehicles can be and often are moved out of states where the flood happened and resold in another state far from where the damage occurred. No one wants to deal with the corroded electronics, contaminated lubricants and faulty computer systems that come with water- damaged vehicles - issues that may not appear until months after a vehicle has been cleaned up and sold.

To protect yourself and your business from unknowingly purchasing a flood car, start with a title check through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) database. NMVTIS reports can include total loss declarations reported by insurers, any flood or water-damage title brands applied by a state, if the vehicle has been in the possession of a salvage auction, and will provide the current and historical states of title - letting you know if a vehicle was most recently titled in Texas or Florida.

To run a low-cost NMVTIS title check before buying a vehicle, taking a trade- in, purchasing a rebuilder or issuing a policy, look for the NMVTIS search under your Search DMV123 tab.

For questions about access to NMVTIS records, email ADD or call toll-free at 855-300-3455 for more information. Se habla español.