VIDEO from Medialink: Keep Dangerous Flood-Damaged Cars Out of Your Driveway

--More than half a million cars and trucks were left underwater by last year's Hurricane Katrina. Experts say these unsafe vehicles should never be driven again, but tens of thousands are being cleaned up and put on the market all over the country -- many with their flood history hidden.

(See video at: http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=32323)

Cleaning these cars up so they look good is an easy process and they may run for a short time, but water damage is still slowly destroying them. Systems will start to fail: airbags and antilock brakes, as well as engines and transmissions.

Lawmakers are introducing new pieces of legislation that would further protect used car buyers from these water-logged wrecks, but stress that consumers follow these simple tips when buying a used car:

-- Get the vehicle identification number;

-- Research the car's history online;

-- Have the car checked by a mechanic you trust!

For more information, log onto www.carfax.com.

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