SPRINGFIELD (Heartland Newsfeed) — Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White issued a warning Wednesday to consumers looking to purchase used vehicles to beware of flood-damaged vehicles resulting from flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. While not mentioned in the press release, the warning is also applicable to the three active hurricanes set to hit the United States and Mexico this weekend and early next week — Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Katia.
“We are taking every step possible to ensure that flood damaged vehicles from Hurricane Harvey [and upcoming hurricanes] do not receive clean titles in Illinois,” White said. “In addition to the extra scrutiny these vehicles receive from my office, we are providing a link on our website to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) database of known hurricane damaged vehicles that consumers may check themselves.”
The NICB indicated that 325,000 vehicles were damaged by Hurricane Katrina when it made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in August 2005. Media reports are estimating that as many as a half-million vehicles were affected as a result of flooding from Hurricane Harvey. It is undetermined how many more vehicles will be impacted when Hurricanes Irma and Jose make landfall in the United States and Hurricane Katia makes landfall in Mexico.
White urges consumers to actively research as much as possible about a vehicle before making a purchase and should consult companies that provide additional information about a vehicle’s history. It is always a good idea to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic prior to purchase.
“While my office will do everything it can to protect Illinoisans, it is always important that consumers also take active steps to protect themselves from purchasing damaged vehicles,” White said.
White added that Carfax is providing a link to check for flood vehicles.
Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.