Car owners across the United States learned during Hurricane Katrina just how important it is to protect their vehicles from the effects of hurricanes. Disasters strike all the time and without your Starlet to get you out of the worst of the storm, you could easily find yourself caught in the worst of it. Currently 12 to 16 tropical storms are predicted each year, with six to eight of them becoming full blown hurricanes with one to three of those becoming a category 3 or worse storm. Protecting your vehicle from storm damage is important especially used Pajero.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, over 600,000 cars were damaged during Hurricane Katrina and so far only 300,000 VIN numbers have been collected. To avoid getting a waterlogged hurricane damaged car at a used car sale, you should always request a Carfax or some other type of history report on the car you want to buy. Many flood damaged cars managed to slip through the system and wind up being resold.
If you live in an area of the United States that is prone to hurricanes and tropical storms, here are some tips to keeping your car safe during the bad weather. You may need to have that car ready to roll if an evacuation order comes down, and it is important to properly protect your property.
* If you know there is a major hurricane about to strike the area in which you live, do not try to ride it out. Seal up your home, get in your car, and drive you and your family members out of harm’s way. Make sure you leave in enough time to get to safety and take with you important papers and documents that you might need.
* If you decide to stay, move your vehicle to higher ground and cover it to protect it from errant debris. If at all possible, park your car in an enclosed garage that is free from clutter or move it to any area that is not susceptible to flooding.
* Make sure that your car insurance policy is up to date and that you have flood insurance coverage on it in case your vehicle gets damaged. Flood insurance is usually an additional charge, but a necessary one if you live in hurricane prone areas.
* Never drive your Mitsubishi Canter if it has been in a flood until it has been checked out by the insurance adjuster and a certified mechanic. The water damage alone could be cause enough to have the insurance total the car as a loss.