Used-car buyers in Korea have a free way to check whether a vehicle has a reported flood history before signing a deal. The Korea Transportation Safety Authority and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are directing consumers to the Car365 portal as heavy summer rain increases the risk that flood-damaged vehicles may return to the resale market.
The service covers vehicles formally registered for sale by licensed motor-vehicle dealers. A buyer can enter the vehicle number on Car365 and check available flood information without paying a fee. Authorities say the aim is to make it harder for vehicles damaged by localized downpours or typhoons to be cleaned, repaired and presented as ordinary accident-free cars.
The tool is useful because water damage can affect electrical systems, safety components and mechanical parts even when the interior and exterior have been restored. A database check cannot prove that every possible problem is absent, however. Records depend on the information available to the official system, so buyers still benefit from checking maintenance history, inspecting the vehicle closely and, where possible, using a trusted mechanic.
The practical step is simple: check the vehicle number on the official Car365 service before purchase and treat the result as one part of a broader inspection rather than as a substitute for one.