Other weather disasters that can damage vehicles
Although the bulk of this guide is dedicated to helping individuals after a flood (whether as a result of a hurricane, other storm conditions, overflowing of waterways, or other causes), other natural disasters can cause damage that car buyers should be aware of. For example, vehicles can be severely damaged or destroyed by fires, blizzards and hailstorms.
Winter weather
Since weather conditions vary depending on where you live, it’s important that you check to see where a vehicle is or has been located. For instance, in very cold temperatures, the fluids in a car (motor oil or transmission fluid, for example) can actually freeze. Your car battery may die more easily, the pressure in your tires can decrease, and belts and hoses (which are normally flexible) can become more brittle and snap more easily than they would normally. These seemingly small issues can all lead to bigger problems if not noticed and addressed.
Salt
A factor that often accompanies winter weather, road salt is used to prevent roads from icing over, allowing motorists to drive safely. However, salt also does damage to vehicles. Allstate explains, “Winter can cause a buildup of road salt, ice and slush that corrodes the paint on your vehicle.” If you’re considering purchasing a car from a cold-weather state that likely uses a large amount of road salt during the winter, it’s important to have your vehicle examined for any road salt damage before purchasing.
Salt can also cause problems in warmer coastal climates, where cars drive in salt spray or ocean water can rise over roadways. Accuweather echoes the risks: “The biggest threat salt poses to a vehicle is rust, which is accelerated by repeated exposure to salt. Rust on certain parts of a car can create a slew of problems ranging from hydraulic brake system leaks to subframe damage.
Storms and wind
In addition to winter weather, many types of storms can cause a great amount of vehicular damage. For instance, hail can cause dents in a vehicle’s body and even break windows. Likewise, tornadoes and hurricanes can cause harm to vehicles from falling trees and branches, as well as wind-thrown projectiles.
Wildfires
Even a small, brief fire (if it’s hot enough and burns for long enough) can melt or warp wiring, insulation, internal lining, and other components. Smoke containing hazardous chemicals can clog air filters. And if smoke enters and fills a vehicle’s cab, it can coat the entire inside of the car with toxic soot that requires professional cleaning to mitigate.
Depending on the level of damage, a certified mechanic can replace damaged parts and thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle. However, there remains the possibility of hidden fire or smoke damage. If a vehicle comes from an area where wildfires are possible, then be aware that the car may have sustained fire or smoke damage before being repaired, restored, and resold.