WA consumers are being warned to be vigilant with fears that flood-damaged vehicles from the eastern states will be sold in WA.

Consumer Protection urges buyers of second-hand vehicles to question the seller about the history of the vehicle and to specifically ask if it has been damaged by floodwaters or is a write-off.

There are a number of checks that can reveal the vehicle’s history, whether it is a car, truck, caravan, trailer, bus or motorcycle.

Consumer Protection executive director Trish Blake said the Motor Trade Association estimated 20,000 vehicles were damaged in the recent floods interstate, with a real possibility a proportion of will be dumped in WA.

“Certainly I want people to be very wary, irrespective of if they are buying from a dealer or online,” she told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings.

“If you know the car is from [flood-affected states] NSW or Queensland, you will then be on high alert … they are under no obligation to tell you that this is a flood-damaged vehicle, unless you ask.”

The WA Department of Transport maintains a registry of written-off vehicles that can be checked online.

Press PLAY below for more information on what questions to ask car sellers