Tampa Bay Ranks first nationwide for flood-damaged cars entering used market

Tampa - A new study from CARFAX shows Florida has overtaken other states for the highest number of flood-damaged vehicles on the used car market in 2025.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota area ranks second only to Houston in U.S. cities with most of these cars back on the road.

Nationwide, CARFAX estimates there are over 482,000 vehicles with flood or water damage on the streets, with an additional 45,000 impacted after storms this year alone.

What they're saying:

While these vehicles often look "showroom fresh," experts say they can hide electrical problems, mold, and internal corrosion that could put drivers and passengers at risk, either immediately or years later. "They’re literally rotting from the inside out," said Em Nguyen, PR Director at CARFAX.

What you can do:

Experts