Auto Insurance Forum

My Nissan Pathfinder went into a lake with my boat and trailer and was totally submerged. Isn't this now a flood-damaged vehicle with a salvage value? If I ultimately sell it to someone else, would I need to tell him or her of the damage? How can I protect myself from problems when I accept my "repaired" submerged vehicle from the repairer?

Ginger, Nevada

Dear Ginger,

The statutes in Nevada are vague on what constitutes a salvage vehicle. Chapter 487.110 of the Nevada Revised Statutes calls for a salvage title to be issued to vehicles that an insurance company or the owner of that vehicle determines to be total losses. In the case of a total loss, you could retain the vehicle and then sell it, but you would have to show the salvage title to the dealer, salvage yard, or other institution to which you're selling the vehicle. This statute does not include individuals among those to whom you could sell your salvage vehicle.

If your vehicle required one or more of its "major components" to be replaced or repaired after it sank into the lake, your title would have to carry the label "rebuilt," according to Chapter 482.245 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. Major components are defined in §482.098 as a cowl assembly, rear clip assembly, roof, floor pan assembly, or conventional frame coupled with one additional major component.

It is possible to return a flooded vehicle to its pre-flood condition, but you have to make sure the repairs are thorough. I suggest you read How to spot flood-damaged cars for information on what it takes to dry out a soaked vehicle.

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