Czech used car dealers sell flood damaged cars

Dozens of Czech used car dealers have started offering imported cars that were damaged by the recent floods in Austria and Germany. Flood-wrecked cars are available in Germany for a quarter of the price of a normal used car.

Experts say these cars are worthless and could pose a considerable risk to their new owners, including a serious danger of brake failure or defects in electronic installation.

The Czech Customs Directorate is trying to prevent imports of such cars, and customs officers have been ordered not to let obviously damaged cars cross the border.

On the other hand the Association of Small Car Importers said that any measures against imports of flood-damaged cars were in fact a violation of the right to free enterprise and advised the affected car importers to go to court.