Owning salvage title car

[miketyler]

I am about to hit 130k on my faithful g35 and I'm ready for something new. I was considering some deals I am seeing on salvage title vehicles that have been repaired. Aside from the risk that one assumes in buying one of these cars, is there any path to a clean re-title of the car or is it a branded car forever? Does the same apply to rebuilt vehicles in all states? I was thinking that after its been on the road registered and inspected several years there might be a process for this but maybe not.

[Rotortrash]

I'm not sure if the salvage part ever goes away, but I don't think it does. All I can add is be ready to pay cash, most banks won't give a loan on a salvage title. I don't think insurance cares, but you might check just to be sure.

[SEB]

I wouldnt waste my money on any car that has a salvage title. I did that once & almost had to give it away when I sold it. Well let just say I broke even. It was a sharp ass Ram Air Blue T/A & it was FAST! But the salvage title part scared everyone away

[talisman]

You'd have to get it inspected and get a reconditioned title. Not a normal inspection either, they have to go over the repairs and your receipts for the repairs. I'd stay away, it's a gigantic hassle for minimal savings, and good luck getting rid of it when you decide to sell.

[A+]

I have a salvaged title car I bought from some douche off the board. I say douche because he gave me a totally fucked up car, I knew about the title but yeah, I've been trying to sell it and when people see the title, they run. I turned this pos to a damn good looking car but nobody wants it but I digress, I have no problems getting it inspected and had no problem getting it insured. Oh, and the reasoned for the salvage was theft.

[thesource]

Salvage title cars can be a real bargain but they can also be a real pain in the ass as well. I would make sure you know exactly what you are getting into before committing to purchase one. Title wise, the salvage remarks never go away. If the title is pink, it will have to be surrendered along with a rebuilders form for a blue title. If the title is already blue and has salvage title in the remarks, all you need to do is transfer it like any regular title.

[crapstang]

Rebuilt titles can fetch some cash, but salvage cars are as good as scrap. Nobody wants to buy a car that has been wrecked and possibly not repaired correctly. Salvages are a huge pain in the ass, stay away if you ever plan on selling it again

[thesource]

Rebuilt titles can fetch some cash, but salvage cars are as good as scrap. Nobody wants to buy a car that has been wrecked and possibly not repaired correctly. Salvages are a huge pain in the ass, stay away if you ever plan on selling it again

False. There is no difference between rebuilt and salvage titles.

[4eyedwillie]

When you buy a salvage car the title is pink. You take that title, fill out the rebuilt form with all the repairs you made along with the receipts for the parts, get the car inspected at any inspection place and get a VI-30 (Green sheet). Take that paper work to the title office and they will issue you a blue title with the word rebuilt on it. After that it's treated just like any other title. Some banks will even loan on it after it has a blue title. One positive is you only have to pay tax on what you paid for it since until it gets the blue title it's not considered a car just a pile of parts. You will have to find a clerk that knows what their doing tho since most don't know about this. I did this when I bought my wife's PT and it's easy.

[4.6 cobra]

I don't see a problem with a salvage title, you just need to look it over good. Watch out for flood cars from Houston and New york

[Cobraman]

Corvette and bike are both rebuilt titles. I'm done buying rebuilt title stuff unless I plan on keeping it. Selling rebuilt stuff is a pure pain in the ass and even though it may be in great shape, it won't be worth near as much.

[miketyler]

Appreciate the commentary. I thought I had read where once a recon car had been blue titled, it could be inspected by DOT and if passed, the DMV would assign vehicle an unbranded blue title identical to what the car had prior to be placed in salvage status. Could be some variations in this from state to state but I thought that if a recon car had established a given "track record" (regular registration, mileage accumulation, inspections) owner could apply for reissue of unbranded title.


Maybe I was drinking when I read that too.....

['90Vert]

I have no experience with this and can not confirm that it is true....

But I've been told you can 'clean' a title by registering it in other states (that don't track salvage status) and then reregistering it in Texas

[Mike]

I have a salvaged title car I bought from some douche off the board. I say douche because he gave me a totally fucked up car, I knew about the title but yeah, I've been trying to sell it and when people see the title, they run. I turned this pos to a damn good looking car but nobody wants it but I digress, I have no problems getting it inspected and had no problem getting it insured. Oh, and the reasoned for the salvage was theft.

Who did you buy it from?

[thesource]

I have no experience with this and can not confirm that it is true....

But I've been told you can 'clean' a title by registering it in other states (that don't track salvage status) and then reregistering it in Texas

Not true. Texas keeps a record of all vehicles that have been in Texas previously. About the only way you might get away with it is by clicking the box that says "record does not apply" when processing an out of state title. It might get caught and it might not. Either way, most title clerks are not going to risk doing that for someone and knowing it was salvaged previously. I'm sure it would be a felony as its considering tampering with government documents.