Beware : Thousands Of Water-damaged Cars from Dubai Could Flood Nigerian Used Car Market

Beware as thousands of flood-damaged cars from Dubai in UAE could reach Nigerian used car market.

Unlike comprehensive motor insurance policy, car owners with 3rd-party liability insurance, will bear the flood-related repairs costs.

Car owners with no comprehensive motor insurance policy will likely dump their vehicles in the used-car markets.

These flood-damaged cars will likely be shipped out to places like Nigeria, where they will be sold to unsuspecting customers.

When buying a second-hand car, it is advisable for buyers to always check a used car's "vehicle history report".

Better still, go with your mechanic for physical checks like stale odour common to water-damaged vehicles.

Floodwaters can slowly destroy the electronics, lubricants, and mechanical systems of water-damaged vehicles.

Last month, thousands of vehicles were damaged by floodwater from the record-breaking rainfall that ravaged several parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially the city of Dubai, and the neighboring Oman.

Unlike the comprehensive motor insurance policy, car owners with third-party liability insurance, which is the minimum legal requirement, are solely responsible for the flood-related repairs costs, which can run into thousands of dollars.

According to local reports, car owners with no comprehensive motor insurance policy, will likely dump their water-damaged vehicles in the used-car market as insurance companies won't cover the cost of flood-related repairs.

As expected, these flood-damaged cars from the UAE will likely be shipped out of the country to places like Nigeria, where they will be sold to unsuspecting customers by unscrupulous cars dealers.

So anyone who considers buying a second-hand car may want to be extra-cautious as a large number of these flooded vehicles looks undamaged from the outside.

When buying a second-hand car, it is advisable for buyers to always check a used car's "vehicle history report" or better still, go with your mechanic for physical checks like smell, to avoid buying a flooded car.

In addition to stale odour inside the cabin of water-damaged vehicles, floodwaters can slowly destroy the electronics, lubricants, and mechanical systems. According to Consumer Reports, corrosion will eventually find its way to the car's vital electronics, including airbag controllers.