Buying "Salvage"/"rebuilt" title cars

[Pop_Rivit]

I've never purchased a salvage vehicle, and never will for a number of reasons. If the damage is due to an accident, there is not a good way to know if the structural integrity of the vehicle has been compromised-either due to marginal repairs or unseen/unnoticed damage. That's a risk I won't take for my family in order to save a couple dollars. A salvage vehicle may run and drive just fine, but if it's in a second accident the potential compromises heighten the possibility for injury-not something I'm willing to risk (especially for my wife).

Our insurance company won't insure a salvage titled vehicle, that also tells me that they aren't willing to take the risk.

If you're on a limited budget, you'd be better served to purchase something you can afford that hasn't been wrecked. The potential pitfalls simply aren't worth it for any intelligent person.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
The potential pitfalls simply aren't worth it for any intelligent person.


Rude.

 

[cptbarkey]

Originally Posted By: ryanschillinger
If a newer car has a salvage title it's a bigger red flag. If an 80's car has a very minor fender bender, it can get a salvage title because it's book value is so low. Wouldn't take much damage to approach book value on an older car, but a newer car can have a LOT of damage before being salvage.


I go along with this theory. The older the car is the less a salvage title seems to be of concern. One has to know what to look for of course, such as the subframes, shock/strut towers, tire wear, and inside of the trunk. Also insist on an alignment ($80) discount

 

[RhondaHonda]

Originally Posted By: WhyMe
i have seen some very late model rebuilt cars on craiglist. So are these vehicles still warranted by the manufacturer when they are repaired and put back on the road?

No.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Even if your state doesn't regularly inspect everyday cars on the road the state police generally like to inspect salvage cars during the rebuilding process to make sure stolen parts aren't getting used. So major assemblies and body parts that have VIN labels, you'll need to explain where they came from and provide receipts. "I got this bumper off craigslist" might not fly.

That said once the car's back together it's "rebuilt" and on the road.

Right as always, El Jefe.

OP, please score your craigslist for all the re-built deals. searching long enough, you will find the shops that do that....there's your start.
also there is the very small niche of shops buying cars with not a lot of damage on which you pay them for the damaged car + for them to do the repairs for parts and labor

 

[ryanschillinger]

If you are even considering a salvage title purchase, I would really recommend taking it to a reputable shop for inspection. If possible, a good body repair shop. I inspect cars for a living, and some of the repairs I see are kinda scary. [censored], rusting welds all around the core support and aprons and stuff like that. Safety issue, because the car won't hold up as designed in the next accident. On the other hand, if the car did not have structural damage and only cosmetic, you might find an OK deal.

 

[Cubey]

I'm having to fight the urge for instant gratification on getting another vehicle is all. Transportation wise I don't need it instantly. It's the old "money burning a hole in your pocket" analogy.

The low priced one ($3500-4000) with 150k or less go faster than you can rely to, it seems. Half the time I get no reply at all.

For an extra $1,000-1500 I can get one with 20k-40k less and 2-3 years newer so I think I need to hold out for that instead of thing to get a "good deal" on a low price clean or salvage title car.

I have owned a LOT of different cars over the past 9 years, mostly due to buying one, being unhappy with it... etc. But the one I was happiest with most I think was that 91 Corolla, largely due to it's mileage. I didn't have to stress about it constantly like on the 6 city/10hwy mpg camper van I just sold, or even the 19 hwy mpg V8 F150.

I had until it got wrecked and the power steering went out. Plus broken AC in the south. (UGH!) I got rid if only because I needed a pickup at the time for yard waste hauling at the house I had, and the dealer offered $1,000 trade in for the car with all it's wreck damage and broken stuff, so I couldn't refuse. It had somewhere around 160-168k when I traded it in on the original engine and transmission which had slight neglect over the years when my mom had it first (the original owner), but it also had a water pump, timing chain(?) and a lot of other typical stuff done over the years. I think the water pump went out around 2000? But, I don't know if she ever had the coolant replaced in those 9 years, to be honest.

If not for my hauling nature still, but not with yard waste thankfully, I'd consider a Corolla sedan instead of a Matrix/Vibe. But nah. I want a compact wagon with a hatchback and holding seats so I can haul stuff inside. If older 4cyl pickups got 30 hwy mpg I'd get one of them instead; but sadly they are low to mid 20s, not 30.

 

[crw]

I've had a number of salvage vehicles and they've been fine. I do happen to live in an area where floods almost never happen. Also, I'd buy only on the lower end of the spectrum. Risk is low, and if you get a $2000 car that lasts 6 years you've done well. Done it quite a few times.

 

[Trav]

I bought a couple of salvage title cars over the years, don't buy it if your intention is to flip it, they don't sell well.
Look for recovered thefts and paint damage only, no flood victims or heavy collisions unless you need it for parts for another car.

A recovered theft usually has a totaled interior, work a deal with a local yard for the complete interior when one comes in ahead of time before someone gets to it.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
The potential pitfalls simply aren't worth it for any intelligent person.


Rude.

Agreed... Lots of us can inspect a vehicle and see if it has hidden damage...

For the most part I consider the salvage title just a scam by insurance companies so they don't have to pay out a full claim on a second accident...

They can't get away with doing same if it were your home that were damaged by tornado, fire etc...

 

[BreakerBreaker]

Originally Posted By: Trav
I bought a couple of salvage title cars over the years, don't buy it if your intention is to flip it, they don't sell well.
Look for recovered thefts and paint damage only, no flood victims or heavy collisions unless you need it for parts for another car.

A recovered theft usually has a totaled interior, work a deal with a local yard for the complete interior when one comes in ahead of time before someone gets to it.


Once it is issued as Salvage, it keeps that mark on any interstate transfer, yes?

I have seen cars for sale with an S-title, as one seller called it. That one was a Corvette that was a Stolen Recovery.

 

[Andrew1972]

The red flag I see is "I am on limited budget".

If you are saving $2000 off a $5000 vehicle go for it. However spending $5000+ on a salvage title vehicle is very risky all around and you pretty much are risking the purchase price.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: BreakerBreaker
Originally Posted By: Trav
I bought a couple of salvage title cars over the years, don't buy it if your intention is to flip it, they don't sell well.
Look for recovered thefts and paint damage only, no flood victims or heavy collisions unless you need it for parts for another car.

A recovered theft usually has a totaled interior, work a deal with a local yard for the complete interior when one comes in ahead of time before someone gets to it.


Once it is issued as Salvage, it keeps that mark on any interstate transfer, yes?

I have seen cars for sale with an S-title, as one seller called it. That one was a Corvette that was a Stolen Recovery.


Maybe maybe not. There are schemes to wash a title, its getting a little harder to do but still doable.
I wont go into details about how its done because its illegal but it works, its only worth doing on higher end expensive cars.

 

[wtd]

My daily driver 92 Cavalier had a salvage title when I bought it wrecked though I didn't know it at the time since they gave me the original title.

I fixed the car and have been driving it for the past 9 years and 135,000 miles.

Wayne

 

[philipp10]

This is not a black and white issue as some posters would have you believe. In general, the older the car, the lass damage it takes to reach salvage status. So in my opinion, anything newer than about 4-6 years old is too new, possible major structural damage is hidden. Now if your lucky enough to know the damage, that helps. Another option is to buy the vehicle in it's damaged state, that way you can see what damage was done and fix it on your dime.

I bought a flood car in its damaged state in 1994 (was a 1990 Camry v6). I was told I would have ALL these electrical issues that would crop up years later. NEVER HAPPENED. Once I got the issues that were known fixed, the car ran great from 26k to 175 k miles with no issues. Every situation is different.

I would say, I would not do it again....just too much risk to take for too little gains.

 

[super20dan]

my 99 silverado is a salvage title. i mowed the grass around it for 3 years in the towing impound lot in my lawn biz. finally the owner decided to sell it cheap and got a salvage title.$ 2500 for a 99 with 33k on the clock. this was 2008. it was a dui tow and the owner never came back for it

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: philipp10
This is not a black and white issue as some posters would have you believe. In general, the older the car, the lass damage it takes to reach salvage status. So in my opinion, anything newer than about 4-6 years old is too new, possible major structural damage is hidden. Now if your lucky enough to know the damage, that helps. Another option is to buy the vehicle in it's damaged state, that way you can see what damage was done and fix it on your dime.



Yeah I would probably agree with this, I was probably a little to hasty to post "Run!". But, if you have to ask the question you probably don't know enough to look for the telltale signs of a poor repair. I owned one before I knew better, and since then I've looked at a few over the years, and none were fixed to my satisfaction.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: BreakerBreaker

Once it is issued as Salvage, it keeps that mark on any interstate transfer, yes?


I believe, generally speaking, Salvage won't let you get license plates. It's a proof of ownership for insurance companies and junkyards. Since they have dealer-ish licenses they keep reassigning the same salvage title until someone feels like rebuilding it. It has to be inspected by the cops in various states of rebuilded-ness before you get a "rebuilt" title that then allows registration. They came out with an almost nationwide electronic database to help cut confusion and straighten out naming conventions when state A labelled a title Salvage-y then the next one called it Rebuilt.

http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/dealer/2014...20%209-2014.pdf

 

[andyd]

I had no trouble at all. Registering and titling. In MA, they don't bother with changing the title if the car is over 10 yrs old. At least this is what it was a decade ago. I mostly sell cars for scrap when I get rid of them. So a salvage title doesn't phase me. There are a lot of well maintained 15-20 yr old cars out there totaled for mostly body damage. That other than for being ugly, run and drive just fine. YMMV

 

[kc8adu]

there are schemes to "wash" salvage titles.
saw one with one of my customers.had a cluster issue.and the radio,hvac,ect all had quirks.
found a dried up minnow inside the cluster along with corrosion on the board due to being live when flooded.was a flood car alright but the title did not show salvage.it had been bounced between several states before it landed in ohio.
Originally Posted By: BreakerBreaker
Originally Posted By: Trav
I bought a couple of salvage title cars over the years, don't buy it if your intention is to flip it, they don't sell well.
Look for recovered thefts and paint damage only, no flood victims or heavy collisions unless you need it for parts for another car.

A recovered theft usually has a totaled interior, work a deal with a local yard for the complete interior when one comes in ahead of time before someone gets to it.


Once it is issued as Salvage, it keeps that mark on any interstate transfer, yes?

I have seen cars for sale with an S-title, as one seller called it. That one was a Corvette that was a Stolen Recovery.