Salvage vehicle guides
Each state’s title brands, how a salvage vehicle becomes rebuilt, buying without a dealer license, and selling or keeping a totaled car. Each guide lists its sources.
Texas
Title brands, inspections and buying in Texas.
Texas rebuilt salvage title: from a Salvage Vehicle Title to Rebuilt Salvage
The steps from a Texas Salvage Vehicle Title to a Rebuilt Salvage title: Form VTR-61, Form 130-U, the fees, and what the process doesn't check.
State guide5 minute read
Texas salvage title rules: Salvage Vehicle Title, Nonrepairable Vehicle Title and Rebuilt Salvage
What each Texas title brand means, what to get from the seller, which vehicles can never return to the road, and who can buy them.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Texas without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Texas, when buying, rebuilding or selling needs a license, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license4 minute read
California
Title brands, inspections and buying in California.
California revived salvage: how a Salvage Certificate vehicle gets a Salvaged title
The steps from a California Salvage Certificate to a Salvaged title: the DMV or CHP verification, the Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection, REG 343 and the fee.
State guide5 minute read
California salvage title rules: Salvage Certificate, Salvaged, Junk and Nonrepairable Vehicle
What each California title word means, what the seller should give you, which vehicles can never be registered again, and how flood and fire are handled.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in California without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in California, when selling or dismantling needs a DMV license, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
Florida
Title brands, inspections and buying in Florida.
Florida rebuilt inspection: how a Salvage Rebuildable vehicle gets a Rebuilt title
The steps from a Florida Salvage Rebuildable title to Rebuilt: the receipts and photos, HSMV 82040 and HSMV 84490, the inspection and the decal.
State guide5 minute read
Florida salvage title rules: Salvage Rebuildable, Certificate of Destruction, Rebuilt and Flood Damaged
What each Florida title brand means, what the seller must tell you, which vehicles can never be titled again, and how flood brands work.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Florida without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Florida, the three-vehicle dealer presumption, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license4 minute read
New York
Title brands, inspections and buying in New York.
New York salvage examination: from a Salvage Certificate to Rebuilt Salvage: NY
The steps from a New York Salvage Certificate to a title: the safety inspection, form MV-83SAL, the DMV's salvage examination, the fees and the brand.
State guide5 minute read
New York salvage title rules: Salvage Certificate (MV-907A), Wreck and Rebuilt Salvage: NY
What each New York salvage word means, what the seller must give you, which papers the DMV will never title, and how flood damage is handled.
State guide5 minute read
Buy a salvage car in New York without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in New York, when reselling, rebuilding or dismantling needs DMV registration, and what to check first.
Buying without a dealer license4 minute read
Illinois
Title brands, inspections and buying in Illinois.
Illinois rebuilt title: how a Salvage Certificate vehicle gets a title marked Rebuilt
The steps from an Illinois Salvage Certificate to a Rebuilt title: the licensed rebuilder, the parts list, the safety test, the affirmation and the inspection.
State guide6 minute read
Illinois salvage title rules: Salvage Certificate, Junking Certificate, Rebuilt and Flood
What each Illinois title word means, who may take a Salvage Certificate, which vehicles can never be titled again, and how flood vehicles are marked.
State guide5 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Illinois without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Illinois, why Salvage Certificate listings need a licensed buyer, and what to check first.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
Pennsylvania
Title brands, inspections and buying in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania rebuilt title inspection: from Certificate of Salvage to Reconstructed
The steps from a Pennsylvania Certificate of Salvage to a Reconstructed title: the repairs, the receipts, the enhanced inspection and Form MV-426B.
State guide5 minute read
Pennsylvania salvage title rules: Certificate of Salvage, Reconstructed, Flood Vehicle and Nonrepairable
What Pennsylvania's salvage, reconstructed, flood and nonrepairable brands mean, what to get from the seller, and which vehicles can't return to the road.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Pennsylvania without a dealer license
What 'no dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Pennsylvania, when buying or selling to resell needs a license, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
Ohio
Title brands, inspections and buying in Ohio.
Ohio rebuilt title inspection: from salvage title to Rebuilt Salvage
The steps from an Ohio salvage title to Rebuilt Salvage: the inspection receipt, the parts paperwork, the State Highway Patrol inspection and the new title.
State guide5 minute read
Ohio salvage title rules: Salvage, Rebuilt Salvage, For Destruction and Flood
What Ohio's salvage certificate of title and its Rebuilt Salvage, For Destruction and flood notations mean, and what to get from the seller before you buy.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Ohio without a dealer license
What 'no dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Ohio, the limits on unlicensed salvage buying and selling, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
Georgia
Title brands, inspections and buying in Georgia.
Georgia rebuilt title inspection: from Salvage to Rebuilt
The steps from a Georgia salvage title to a Rebuilt title: the rebuilder's license, before photos, the inspection before paint, Forms T-22R, T-129 and MV-1.
State guide5 minute read
Georgia salvage title rules: Salvage, Rebuilt, and flood or fire brands
What Georgia's Salvage and Rebuilt titles mean, how out-of-state flood and fire brands are treated, and what to get from the seller before you buy.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Georgia without a dealer license
What 'no dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Georgia, when rebuilding or reselling needs a license, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
North Carolina
Title brands, inspections and buying in North Carolina.
North Carolina rebuilt title inspection: from Salvage Motor Vehicle to Salvage Rebuilt
The steps from a North Carolina salvage title to Salvage Rebuilt Vehicle: the anti-theft inspections before and after repair, Forms LT-275, LT-276 and LT-277.
State guide5 minute read
North Carolina salvage title rules: Salvage Motor Vehicle, Salvage Rebuilt, Reconstructed and Flood
What North Carolina's title brands mean, from Salvage Motor Vehicle to Flood Vehicle and Total Loss Claim, and what to get from the seller before you buy.
State guide5 minute read
Buy a salvage car in North Carolina without a dealer license
What 'no dealer license needed to make an offer' means in North Carolina, when buying or selling makes you a dealer, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license4 minute read
Michigan
Title brands, inspections and buying in Michigan.
Michigan rebuilt title inspection: from Salvage to Rebuilt Salvage
The steps from a Michigan Salvage title to Rebuilt Salvage: the mechanic's Form TR-13A, the salvage vehicle inspection, Form TR-13B and the new title.
State guide4 minute read
Michigan salvage title rules: Salvage, Rebuilt Salvage, Scrap and Flood
What Michigan's Salvage, Scrap, Rebuilt Salvage and flood brands mean, who may buy a salvage or scrap vehicle, and what to get from the seller.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Michigan without a dealer license
What 'no dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Michigan, which salvage and scrap listings need a licensed buyer, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
Arizona
Title brands, inspections and buying in Arizona.
Arizona rebuilt title inspection: from Salvage to Restored Salvage
How a Salvage vehicle becomes Restored Salvage in Arizona: the parts receipts ADOT wants, the Level III inspection, the title that follows and its limits.
State guide5 minute read
Arizona salvage title rules: Salvage, Restored Salvage, Nonrepairable and Dismantle
What Arizona's salvage, restored salvage, nonrepairable, dismantle and flood brands mean, what the seller must tell you, and who can buy.
State guide7 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Arizona without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Arizona, when buying and selling needs an ADOT license, and what to check before paying.
Buying without a dealer license4 minute read
Washington
Title brands, inspections and buying in Washington.
Washington rebuilt title inspection: the State Patrol inspection for destroyed vehicles
How a destroyed or total-loss vehicle gets a Washington title again: the parts receipts, the State Patrol inspection, the WA Rebuilt brand and its limits.
State guide6 minute read
Washington salvage title rules: Destroyed, WA Rebuilt, Flood Damage and Junk
How Washington handles total-loss vehicles: titles marked Destroyed, the WA Rebuilt brand, other states' flood and junk brands, and what a buyer needs.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Washington without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Washington, when DOL expects a dealer or wrecker license, and the checks before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
New Jersey
Title brands, inspections and buying in New Jersey.
New Jersey rebuilt title inspection: the MVC salvage inspection, step by step
How a New Jersey salvage vehicle gets through the MVC inspection: before photos, parts bills of sale, form OS/SS-3, the fee and the title afterwards.
State guide5 minute read
New Jersey salvage title rules: Salvage, Flood Vehicle and Junk Title Certificate
What New Jersey's salvage title, Flood Vehicle notation and Junk Title Certificate mean, how a salvage vehicle changes hands, and who can buy.
State guide7 minute read
Buy a salvage car in New Jersey without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in New Jersey, when the MVC expects a dealer license, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
Virginia
Title brands, inspections and buying in Virginia.
Virginia rebuilt title inspection: safety inspection, DMV examination and the REBUILT brand
How a Virginia salvage vehicle becomes Rebuilt: the safety inspection, form LES 022A, the DMV examination and fees, and what the examination doesn't check.
State guide5 minute read
Virginia salvage title rules: Salvage, Rebuilt, Nonrepairable and Water Damaged
What Virginia's salvage, rebuilt, nonrepairable and water damaged brands mean, who may buy a Nonrepairable vehicle, and why some titles can't be listed.
State guide7 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Virginia without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Virginia, who may buy a Nonrepairable vehicle, when you need a license, and what to check.
Buying without a dealer license6 minute read
Colorado
Title brands, inspections and buying in Colorado.
Colorado rebuilt title inspection: from Salvage to Rebuilt from Salvage
How a Colorado salvage vehicle gets a Rebuilt from Salvage title: the DR 2415 steps, the B-pillar stamp, the VIN inspection and DR 2424, and their limits.
State guide5 minute read
Colorado salvage title rules: Salvage, Rebuilt from Salvage, Nonrepairable and Flood Damaged
What Colorado's salvage, rebuilt from salvage, nonrepairable and flood damaged brands mean, why hail doesn't count, and what to get from the seller.
State guide6 minute read
Buy a salvage car in Colorado without a dealer license
What 'No dealer license needed to make an offer' means in Colorado, when selling used vehicles needs a license, and what to check before you pay.
Buying without a dealer license5 minute read
For sellers
Your options when your insurance company declares your vehicle a total loss or you keep it after the settlement, and how listing works.
Keep your car after a total loss: owner-retained salvage explained
How keeping a totaled car works in the US: the insurance company's salvage deduction, the salvage title that can follow, and the road back to a rebuilt title.
7 minute read
Sell a totaled car: why it can be worth more than scrap
Your options after an insurance total loss, what buyers weigh, what to disclose, and how listing and offers work on DNF.
7 minute read
Articles
Hail, inspections, auctions, electric vehicles, flood and theft recovery.
Flood title cars: what a flood brand means and how DNF lists them
What a flood brand means from state to state, why water damage hides, how DNF lists US flood-branded cars, and what to check before you make an offer.
6 minute read
Rebuilt vs salvage title: what the difference means for buyers
Salvage and rebuilt are two stages of the same story. What each title lets you do, how they affect insurance and resale, and what to ask the seller.
5 minute read
How state salvage inspections work, and what they don't check
What the rebuilt inspections in the launch states look at, from parts receipts and VINs to safety systems, what none of them tells you, and how to prepare.
5 minute read
Theft-recovery vehicles: what to check before you buy one
What a theft-recovery vehicle is, what happens to its title from state to state, what a recovery can look like, and the VIN and paperwork checks to do first.
5 minute read