Half A Million Vehicles Estimated To Be Scrapped After Harvey's Rampage

Approximately 500,000 cars are expected to be scrapped due to damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Speaking to CNBC, chief economist for Cox Automotive, Jonathan Smoke said approximately double the number of vehicles scrapped after Hurricane Sandy will be sent to the scrapyard following the disastrous effects of Hurricane Harvey.

“This is worse than Hurricane Sandy. Sandy was bad, but the flooding with Hurricane Harvey could impact far more vehicles,” Smoke said.

Read Article

TomM - 8/30/2017 2:51:15 PM

+1 Boost

There is going to be a major effort by people to sell a lot of these cars - and especially ones that stood in water - but it did not reach the undercarriage - at least as claimed.

However - with all the the electrical systems on new cars - along with the placing of computers under seats - where water can get to them early - - THis is one case where I would want to follow the titles on a car.

scenicbyway12 - 8/30/2017 3:44:24 PM

+1 Boost

80% will be at the auction in 90 days.

TheSteve - 8/30/2017 8:56:11 PM

+1 Boost

That would be a great time to replace them all with EVs! (Yeah, I'm kidding)

MDarringer - 8/30/2017 9:17:11 PM

+1 Boost

CarMax as no problem selling garbage and pretending they are virtuous. Hell with Katrina, dealers would buy flood cars, sell them as pristine new and make a killing. Idiocy will happen.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 8/31/2017 10:13:30 PM

+2 Boost

I am not a mechanic and have never worked in a dealership, but if a car is sitting in 4-7ft of water, I have to believe it cannot be salvaged. Scrap metal at best. Between the car parts and the refuse from 35-40k homes being completely demoed, the county dumps will be over-run with garbage.

MDarringer - 9/1/2017 8:42:51 AM

0 Boost

Talk to CarMax about your hypothesis. They will happily sell you a salvage title car. They got caught selling flood damaged cars and acted like it was a minor error. Lawsuits and payouts--in some cases--they are still the disreputable business they've always been.

skytop - 9/1/2017 8:47:51 AM

0 Boost

Tens of thousands of flooded car examples will be marketed by unscrupulous car dealers, for sure.