what does 'salvage' title really mean??
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
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From: Northern California
what does 'salvage' title really mean??
I know that a car can be salvaged if it's involved in an accident where the insurance company gets estimates that are 75+% of the current value of the car.
I've also heard that a car can be salvaged due to a theft recovery.
One other is where a person buys a car from a junk yard and fixes it up.
And the last one I've heard about is where someone salvages a car to avoid DMV fees.
are all of these ways a car can become salvaged and are there more??
I've also heard that a car can be salvaged due to a theft recovery.
One other is where a person buys a car from a junk yard and fixes it up.
And the last one I've heard about is where someone salvages a car to avoid DMV fees.
are all of these ways a car can become salvaged and are there more??
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,448
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From: CA Central Coast
Theft recovery is one, for sure. That's how I got my '90 Cherokee for $2500, in good shape except the ignition switch was hammered and the dash was tore up. Owner was smart enough to get the car back even thought the insurance co had paid for it, and then he sold it to me with a salvage title.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,728
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
A salvage title means that an insurance company paid out for a total on the vehicle. Now a total can mean a lot of different things- the newer the vehicle, the less % of value it needs to be to be called a total. A stolen vehicle that was paid out and later recovered will also generate a salvage title.
Last edited by polarbear; May 11, 2006 at 11:40 PM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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It means "buyer beware". It could be what was said above, it could have been under water in New Orleans, it could be pop-rivited together from two wrecks.
It could be the best deal you ever get, or it could be nothing but trouble.
It could be the best deal you ever get, or it could be nothing but trouble.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Up here in Alberta ,it means the vehicle was written off and if someone wants to register it, they will have to jump through mile high hoops to do that... this includes a $250.00 safety inspection performed only by certified shops.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 734
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From: Lancaster, CA
I have a salvaged title for my 83 Rampage. My friend bought the truck from a junkyard. The trans was bad and the person that owned the truck, wanted to get rid of it. My friend fixed the trans, and his son drove it for 6 years. I bought the truck to play with, but still has a salvaged title. It was never wrecked, but because it came out of a junkyard, they issued a salvaged title.
Ed G
Ed G
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
Salvage title can also mean you may not be able to resell the car later for much money. It is kind of like a red flag that something bad may have happened to the car sometime in the past.
There was a good news article series awhile back about these type cars. The usual horror stories about flood damage cars(Watch out for Katrina), pieced together cars, wrecked and fixed to "LOOK like new" etc. The biggest problem besides the obvious was that many cars while fixed to look like new may have serious hidden damage to frame components, drive line etc. Some will have weakend metal where welded or there may be hidden corrosion at repair sites. These problems may not rasie their heads for years and then it will be too late.
Still, if you have a reliable history of the vehicle, a salvage is possibly a good deal if you plan to just drive it into the ground.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
There was a good news article series awhile back about these type cars. The usual horror stories about flood damage cars(Watch out for Katrina), pieced together cars, wrecked and fixed to "LOOK like new" etc. The biggest problem besides the obvious was that many cars while fixed to look like new may have serious hidden damage to frame components, drive line etc. Some will have weakend metal where welded or there may be hidden corrosion at repair sites. These problems may not rasie their heads for years and then it will be too late.
Still, if you have a reliable history of the vehicle, a salvage is possibly a good deal if you plan to just drive it into the ground.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: tennessee
My 98 ranger has a salvage title. It has a plate stamped on the inside of the door that says Tennessee Anti-Theft Inspected or something of that nature. I bought the truck with 62,000 miles on it and paid $4500 dollars for it three years ago. Now it has 162,000 miles on it and has never given me any trouble. It has been the best truck I have ever owned. Like some other people have said it's the luck of the draw. I guess I got lucky!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 657
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From: brimfield township,OH
I changed the cab on my old truck and had to have the highway patrol inspect it.It was given a rebuilt title and nobody wanted to buy it. In ohio you now have to have a special license to buy and inspect salvaged vehicles.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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We bought a '98 zx2 escort w/salvage title.Was a very good car,no problems.If they're fixed back right they are just as good as a non-salvage vehicle.But be aware when you get ready to sell/trade,a salvaged vehicle is worth about half what a non-salvaged vehicle would bring.