The country’s largest car dealer is warning people looking to purchase a second-hand vehicle to check carefully that it has not been damaged by the recent floods.
Hundreds of vehicles were left unusable after being submerged during Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods.
On websites like Trade Me, there was no shortage of flood-damaged vehicles for sale, including a Ferrari, a Porsche and several late-model Teslas.
Turners Auto Retail Division chief executive Greg Hedgepeth told First Up the company has partnered with insurers and salvage businesses to de-register flood-damaged vehicles and sell them for parts.
“They’re then flagged in the system as a flood-damaged car so they will not be going back on the road,” Hedgepeth said.
He warned people buying a vehicle privately will not have recourse should they only discover the flood damage after purchasing it.
Hedgepeth said it did not matter whether a vehicle was electric or has a combustion engine, all modern cars have wiring and sensors that were sensitive to water damage.
“I would argue that right now if you spot a very good deal in Auckland or Hawke’s Bay on a used vehicle, there’s a high likelihood that there may be an issue with that car.”
