How To Get A Salvage Title Removed?

What happens to your car after it goes through a major accident? Well, the answer is in the title: you get a salvage title. This indicates the vehicle’s current condition and affects the price. But what if things changed, and you managed to get it working again? Well, you’ll have to get it removed, and this article can explain how. 

What Are Salvage Titles?

People insure their vehicles to claim damages, and there are over 215 million vehicles in the U.S which carry insurance. But what happens when a car gets damaged beyond repair?

It starts to carry a salvage title, which indicates the insurance company is deeming it unfit to be driven or a total loss. 

In the U.S, vehicles become salvaged by either being involved in an accident or getting damaged during natural disasters. In some states, a salvage title is applicable even for cars that get stolen but are never recovered by the police. 

Clean Vs. Rebuilt Vs. Salvage

All these three are titles given to cars and hold information on who the owner is and if the car is brand new or resold. 

A clean title means that the car is brand new. Every brand-new and previously owned vehicle carries a clean title through which it can be insured and driven safely. 

On the other hand, a salvage title is given to vehicles that can’t be driven and are considered total losses by insurance companies. Insurance companies pay off the vehicle cost and take it to the salvage company. Such rides are illegal to drive across many states.

Rebuilt titles are exclusively issued to salvage vehicles once they are repaired, inspected, and registered to get such a title. Vehicles with salvage titles can be repaired and restored; they can even be legally driven when the owner gets such a title. An essential factor to remember is that even with rebuilt title, a car’s value will be lower by 20-40%. 

Steps To Acquire A Rebuilt Title

However, if the vehicle is repaired, you must take it for a thorough inspection. The vehicle must pass specific safety parameters to be issued a rebuilt title by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Acquiring a rebuilt title involves these steps: 

• Purchase the vehicle. Purchasing a vehicle that has been declared a total loss might be more challenging than it sounds. The law in some states prohibits the sale of salvaged vehicles to individuals. Some states only allow licensed rebuilders to purchase or own such rides. If the rules in your state do not favor purchasing these vehicles, you will have to wait until the vehicle is repaired, inspected, and issued the rebuilt title. 
• Repair the vehicle. Rebuilding the car is yet another challenge. Therefore, before you start, ensure you know what you are doing or get an expert to work on it. Take many pictures before and during the repair process and hold onto the paperwork for the vehicle. 
• Pass the inspection. You must fill in the necessary DMV forms for the inspector to arrive and examine your vehicle. The DMV requires you to submit the bill of sale, the salvage title, the photos, and other documentation. The pictures of the process come in handy while applying for the inspection. A tip just for you: don’t drive your uninspected vehicle to the DMV. Get it towed there. You may only drive the vehicle legally once it has passed the inspection. The inspector attaches a decal to the vehicle to indicate that it has passed the inspection. 
• Complete the paperwork. Apply for the rebuilt title. This process requires you to fill out more forms and pay even more fees. You will receive the title with a statement on the first page indicating the vehicle has been rebuilt.

What Happens During A Salvage Inspection?

During such an inspection, a salvage inspector is assigned to assess the salvaged vehicle. During the partial inspection, the inspector will primarily inspect the Vehicle Identification Number and odometer reading as a part of the application. The inspector also examines the vehicle’s exterior to verify the vehicle model, year, make, and color of the car with the supporting documents. 

Certain salvaged vehicles which do not have appropriate documents, such as the Vehicle Identification Number, go through the entire inspection process. This process includes a full inspection of the major components that have been repaired or restored as a part of the rebuilding process. 

Summary 

A salvage title represents the severely damaged condition of the vehicle. It indicates that the vehicle is up for junking and can’t be driven legally. 

However, you can easily remove the title by investing money and time. Just follow the guide provided, and you should be able to get a rebuilt title that allows you to use the ride once again. However, keep in mind that you won’t be able to sell it for its original value.

Related Resources

• Research a Vehicle
• Cars for Sale
• Sell My Car
• Car Ratings
• Automotive News
• Shopping Guides
• New Car Previews
• Expert Car Reviews