A simple way to check if a used car has had flood insurance claims

• Recent floods have affected thousands of cars
• Some will be repaired and sold later on
• Find out if you're purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle with a simple, inexpensive online search

The recent floods have caused loss of life and hitherto untold property damage for many Malaysians.

Depending on the age and extent of damage - many cars hit by floods will simply be written off, if deemed to be beyond economic repair.

With that said, if a vehicle has the relevant insurance coverage (i.e.: special perils coverage) – and is relatively new – there’s a high chance it will be repaired, used once again, and perhaps be sold later on. 

Also read: So your car was stuck in a flood, now what do you do?

It’s wise to avoid buying flood-damaged cars

To be clear, we're not saying that you cannot properly repair and make a flood-damaged vehicle roadworthy again. 

But, more often than not, unless repairs have been done to a tee (such as an official service centre would), flood-damage vehicles may have lingering issues that can be very expensive to fix. So it's wise to avoid buying one if possible.

Whilst it’s easy to identify and repair mechanical issues such as the bodywork, interior and engine – it’s much harder to diagnose electrical damage to the car’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and various other electronic systems.

Thus, if you don’t plan on buying an endless money pit that never works, it’s best to conduct your own due diligence prior to your purchase.

How can I tell if the used car has been in a flood?

One way of checking if a car has had a prior flood damage claim is to check online at MyCarInfo. MyCarInfo is an online portal (managed by ISM Insurance Services Malaysia) that gives consumers a comprehensive view of a vehicle's history.

A car’s insurance history tells you a lot about where a car has been and if anything major has happened before.  

Also read: No flood insurance? Repairs too expensive? Try selling your old car to Pickles!

How does it work?

For a small fee – consumers can find out if a vehicle has been in a total loss accident, or if it’s a stolen vehicle, as well as its NCD information and insurance history.

All you have to do is sign up for the service, purchase credits and punch in the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) into the MyCarInfo search box to access the complete history of the vehicle.

RM 6.00 buys you one credit, and every search costs 1 credit. Thus, for a small cost - you could potentially save yourself from much bigger problems later on.

There’s a caveat though

If there’s been a claim for flood damage repairs – it means the car must first have ‘special perils’ coverage.

Without special perils coverage, repairs won’t be borne by the insurer and thus will not reflect in the car’s history.

Therefore, it's a 'catch 22' – no coverage means no claims for repairs, and thus the final report might seem like nothing ever happened.

As reported recently, up to 59 percent of vehicles in Malaysia are not covered for flood damage. In which case, repairs must be borne by the owner, which can have varying outcomes in terms of how well the repairs are done.

Also read: 59 percent of Malaysian motorists aren’t aware we live in a tropical country that floods

It’s not full-proof then?

Unfortunately no, when it comes to used cars, there’s always a fine balance between finding a goldmine or stepping into a minefield.

But this simple due diligence can at least put you on the right path to finding your perfect car.

As an alternative, you can play it safe by shopping for a car from a reputable platform like Carsome, which thoroughly evaluates a car’s history and guarantees that all its cars are free from flood or major accident damage.

Additionally, before buying any car, regardless of who you buy it from, i.e.: direct owner, used car dealer or online platform, it is wise to get a thorough inspection and diagnosis done by a qualified mechanic/workshop prior to purchase. 

Also read: Avoiding flood-damaged used cars, here are the things to demand from your seller

Also read: Forced to abandon your car in a flood? Do this one thing first