Flood-damaged vehicles can cost thousands to repair

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Flash flooding can cause significant damage to vehicles, and repair costs can quickly reach thousands of dollars if owners don’t act fast.

Ashley Murray, service manager at Bird Kultgen Ford in Waco, said electrical damage is the primary concern when a vehicle is flooded.

“Biggest piece obviously, is all the damage to the electronic components in the car. Underneath all the carpet in the car is full of all of your computers and wiring. So, if water gets in there it ruins a lot of stuff,” Murray said.

Electrical damage is not the only concern. Floodwater can cause mold, mildew and damage to carpets and seats.

“It can cause mold, mildew, it can damage the interior of the car, the carpets and seats, it’s a bad gig,” Murray said.

The mold can spread through the vehicle’s ventilation system.

“A lot of your venting for the A/C is down here. So, it will start to take in, and you’ll get moisture and mildew build up in here and it will get up into the A/C and into the case,” Murray said.

Repair costs for flood-damaged vehicles are substantial.

“It’s never cheap. It’s thousands of dollars generally, even on the low end. It can go to 5 figures really fast it can get out of control,” Murray said.

Murray recommended taking the vehicle to a detailing company that can pull back carpets and dry them out. Some companies have chemicals that can kill mold and mildew and prevent odors.

Vehicle owners can also dry out their cars themselves by pulling back the carpet and setting up fans. Owners should contact their insurance company to report flood damage. Those who dry the vehicle themselves should use fans for at least 24 hours.