Caruso Ford, Lincoln, Mazda Collision Center

Tips and Hints About Salvage Title Vehicles

You're out there doing some car shopping when a particular vehicle suddenly gets your attention. The auto that you are interested in has a price tag that seems to be too good to be true. You're hoping that it's just a one-of-a-kind deal until you see the words that frighten and concern you --"salvage title."

At Caruso Ford, Lincoln, Mazda Collision Center in Long Beach, CA we realize that it's always "buyer beware", so that's why we're taking the time to share this information with you.

A salvage title shows that a vehicle has experienced some type of considerable damage sometime in the past. Cars, trucks and SUVs that carry this designation can end up being lemons that could cost you some serious change down the road, and surely not a wise alternative for first-time buyers or anybody who wants a 100% trouble-free automobile.

In certain states, a stolen vehicle that's recovered can be resold with a salvage title, which is very scary and something you should know obviously beforehand.

Insurance companies will usually declare a vehicle a total loss when the cost of an auto's repair exceeds its overall value. At that point, the salvage title is then issued by the state's motor vehicle agency once the vehicle has been fixed.

If you can, always try to acquire the car's original repair estimate to get a better idea of what damage the vehicle incurred.

Whenever a car has been in a significant collision and the total damage is more than a certain percentage of the overall value of the car from 75% to 90%, most insurance companies will decide that it is no longer economically feasible to fix it and will proclaim it a total loss.  What happens next is based on what state it's in, but generally that state's agency will then issue what's known as a "salvage" or "junk" certificate associated with the car. This certificate states that the car, SUV or truck cannot be driven, sold or registered in its existing condition.

Usually, the majority of insurance companies will sell the vehicle to either a mechanical or collision repair facility or more likely a parts dismantler. If the auto is repaired, most states will make it pass a rather basic safety inspection prior to the motor vehicle agency issuing a new title.  One the state does issue the title, it's known as being "branded," so that subsequent owners are aware that the vehicle has been salvaged or partially rebuilt. So, always check your state's laws on salvage title vehicles for more information., so that you won't make a decision you might regret for many years to come.

Caruso Ford, Lincoln, Mazda Collision Center in Long Beach, CA 90807 

Sources: CashforCars.com and Youtube