Advice needed. Bought car, didn't realize it had a salvage title.

[slo town]

No disclosure laws in California for private sale of a vehicle.

The fact that it's a salvage title is right there on the pink slip and registration.

Scott

 

[ecotourist]

My '63 Chevy II was effectively a salvage car. It was dented on both ends. I was rear ended by a late model Buick that dove under the rear of the Chevy II and was pushed in right up to its front wheels.

I had the hood straightened and repainted. Straightened the aluminum grill myself. Replaced a seal beam headlight. Never did anything with the back bumper which had a dent in it.

I think I ended up with $300 cash after the repairs and got my car old back. And then drove it for years. It doesn't take much to write off an old car.

My registration never changed.

 

[CKN]

Do you really need title anyway? NH older than 99 is considered exempt.

Is this the state where you can self insure as well?

 

[oil pan 4]

A $2,600 car that starts and drives?
Just take it.
One of our daily drivers has a salvage title after I splattered a 220lb muledeer @75mph.
I personally repaired the vehicle so I know it's good.

 

[andrew_j]

Is this the state where you can self insure as well?

Yes until you get into accident and don’t pay up.

 

[97prizm]

Just yesterday I bought a 1968 Toyota Corona for $2,600. Engine sounds good. Couldn't test drive, too many cars blocking it in (end of a long driveway), and reg not current. Moves back and forth. Owner says she's driven it. She's owned it close to 10 years.
Seller is a nice woman to deal with. The ad for the car didn't mention a salvage title. She also never mentioned it in person. I paid, she signed over the title, and I left (car is still there, I had a plan to pick it up in a week, currently some construction here). Last night I was looking through the folder of some service records from a previous owner, and saw the title says salvage. I didn't look closely enough when buying it. To be clear, in California, a salvage title means it can be registered and driven (no inspection needed).

I haven't yet mentioned it to her.

So, just want some thoughts, and what you'd do.
- Should she have mentioned it?
- Is it completely on me not checking closely enough? (we were talking, etc.)
- Would you just take the car?
- Ask to undo the deal?

She doesn't seem like the kind of person to have intentionally withheld it, although she is a bit of a car person. I looked at her Facebook sales history, and she did sell a newer Mercedes SUV, and in that ad she mentions in the first sentence that it had a salvage title. So, either she just forgot on the Corona (old car, owned a while), or something else. Also, from what I see from the paperwork and old registration cards going back to the previous owner, it has been salvaged at least 15 years. There's no way to know why.

Thoughts?

Is she in the business of flipping salvage vehicles, if a Mercedes was also sold as salvage. What caused it to be a salvage vehicle?

 

[CKN]

Yes until you get into accident and don’t pay up.

Respectfully-that no one's fault except for those that live in the state. Why this isn't changed by referendum or by voting the Legislators out who voted in the law is beyond me.

Or-is the current situation OK with those that reside in the state?

 

[CKN]

Is she in the business of flipping salvage vehicles, if a Mercedes was also sold as salvage. What caused it to be a salvage vehicle?

Yes- and the poster you are referring to also said she had a driveway full of vehicles that needed to be moved so he didn't drive it right away.
Certainly sounds like a back yard used car lot.

 

[Owen Lucas]

It doesn't take much damage to total an older car and hence a salvage title.

Yep, I've totaled older cars like that just for minor bumper jobs or a fender. Those owners are usually happy, they take the $$$ and run.

Cool car though, post some pics!

 

[andrew_j]

Respectfully-that no one's fault except for those that live in the state. Why this isn't changed by referendum or by voting the Legislators out who voted in the law is beyond me.

Or-is the current situation OK with those that reside in the state?

If you get into accident with uninsured it’s not a huge issue even if not your fault, a coverage(not expensive on policy) called uninsured driver kicks in and covers accident.

The insurance turns around to collect on uninsured and not your problem , in that process they can get state to take away license if they don’t make payment(s) and the uninsured is forced to buy coverage and typically expensive for them

If other driver is uninsured I simply ask for payment immediately of value of vehicle or likely repair x 2. I give back delta of repair.

And state I will otherwise call police and report to insurance where it’s their problem to collect .

 

[CKN]

If you get into accident with uninsured it’s not a huge issue even if not your fault, a coverage(not expensive on policy) called uninsured driver kicks in and covers accident.

The insurance turns around to collect on uninsured and not your problem , in that process they can get state to take away license if they don’t make payment(s) and the uninsured is forced to buy coverage and typically expensive for them

Why isn't it a big deal if that's a claim against your own insurance? All companies offer the uninsured motorist coverage-in the event even in a state where insurance is required-some other driver slip through the cracks.

 

[andrew_j]

Why isn't it a big deal if that's a claim against your own insurance? All companies offer the uninsured motorist coverage-in the event even in a state where insurance is required-some other driver slip through the cracks.

It had not changed our insurance rates and happened twice in 20 years.

 

[ecotourist]

If you get into accident with uninsured it’s not a huge issue even if not your fault, a coverage(not expensive on policy) called uninsured driver kicks in and covers accident.

I had my front corner clipped during a wild and crazy lane change by a probably uninsured driver in Edmonton, Alberta. She tried to drive away as though nothing had happened and then declined to demonstrate any evidence of insurance. Judging by the dents all over her car this probably wasn't the first time either - "Oh did I hit you? I didn't notice."

My insurance company took care of it. I had to pay my own deductible upfront with the idea that it would be repaid eventually (by her) with monthly payments. She missed the second payment and my insurance company insisted on her paying the whole thing immediately or they would go to the police and charge her with not having insurance. She paid right up and I got my deductible back.

 

[slo town]

No disclosure laws in California for private sale of a vehicle.

Maybe not but it's right on the pink slip in bold type.

Scott

 

[GMBoy]

My answer to any "I just bought a used car and now find that XYZ is wrong" question:

BUYER BEWARE - it's on YOU to check the car and paperwork out BEFORE purchase.

 

[RhondaHonda]

It’s a $2,600, almost 60 year old car. Buyer beware at this point.