A few notes/ thoughts:always looking at cars and i have noticed that there are car that state " insurance total loss, but has a clean title". is this possible? this is in WA state.
Salvage titles are generally not registrable vehicles in most states. A salvage title requires revision to "rebuilt" title to issue a registration for most states. Each state has its own rules on how to revise a salvage title to rebuilt title, and it generally is a painful process. The only state I am aware of that it is not a painful process is Oregon . One should be very careful for two reasons buying a car that had at any time a Oregon rebuilt title.Maybe they mean it was a previous salvage title but now the vehicle is repaired and able to be licensed without any inspections or problems. Meaning the title will say salvage but the car is able to be driven anywhere and is safe and ready for a new owner. I see them advertised as "previous salvage title." In some states the vehicles have a "junk" cannot be rebuilt for use.
They likely don't have what is commonly known as a "clean title". They more likely than not have a rebuilt title and the Seller/ flipper is not properly disclosing the title status.Joeking Corvette beat me to it...... I think in many states "totalled vehicles" can be purchased with what's known as a, "Salvage Title". People are able to buy these vehicles cheaply, (some are actually sold by the pound), that were deemed by insurance companies as totalled. They then repair them to somewhat of a streetworthy condition, and sell them off at a profit.
They have a "clean title", but have to be defined as a "salvage". So the purchaser knows the vehicle has been badly damaged..... Or at least should.
To sell such a damaged, then repaired vehicle without the "salvage" term attached to it is illegal. But if so informed the purchaser is in fact getting a "clean title".
What is interesting is that Washington state is one of only two states that will issue a "rebuilt title on a vehicle determined by another state as not ever rebuildable.
South Dakota is one of the states where you can buy a salvage title vehicle, take it to the court house and buy the license plates and registration without any inspection whatsoever. A theft or hail damage car can be a "salvage" title and you can drive it anywhere. The vehicles can come from other states and still are only marked salvage in South Dakota. The vehicle will retain the salvage title even if it is fixed to 100% perfect form. The salvage title will stay with the vehicle for life in South Dakota. The titles are not changed to rebuilt after they are repaired.Salvage titles are generally not registrable vehicles in most states. A salvage title requires revision to "rebuilt" title to issue a registration for most states. Each state has its own rules on how to revise a salvage title to rebuilt title, and it generally is a painful process. The only state I am aware of that it is not a painful process is Oregon . One should be very careful for two reasons buying a car that had at any time a Oregon rebuilt title.
JC,South Dakota is one of the states where you can buy a salvage title vehicle, take it to the court house and buy the license plates and registration without any inspection whatsoever. A theft or hail damage car can be a "salvage" title and you can drive it anywhere. The vehicles can come from other states and still are only marked salvage in South Dakota. The vehicle will retain the salvage title even if it is fixed to 100% perfect form. The salvage title will stay with the vehicle for life in South Dakota. The titles are not changed to rebuilt after they are repaired.
Ha! There is another little "secret market" called a 10 year prison sentence for fraud and conspiracy too." You get caught a few times which always happens and it's game over.JC,
There is a "secret market" where a law firm will register cars from people in all 50 states in South Dakota to bypass the salvage title. SD charges a pretty penny for this, especially for newer motor vehicles, I believe it is the low four figures.
I checked into what they are doing. I am not a lawyer, but I think they are not "technically" violating any SD statues. I do think they are exploiting the spirit and intent of why SD offers the registering of a salvage title.Ha! There is another little "secret market" called a 10 year prison sentence for fraud and conspiracy too." You get caught a few times which always happens and it's game over.
That statue in Washington state is centered on the requirement that a motor vehicle being reported to the state as "destroyed", is in fact destroyed. The statue does not correlate with the OP's question "" insurance total loss, but has a clean title". is this possible". WA simply wants to make sure that if a insurance company or the like states a vehicle is destroyed (gone through the shredder), it did in fact go through the shredder.
I believe it's worth it if you find the correct vehicle. I have purchased a few theft recoveries and hail damage vehicles and always came out way ahead. Usually you pay below wholesale and after they are repaired you are still way below wholesale and have a vehicle that can be sold for a profit. I also have purchased salvage titled vehicles and have been very happy with them. The place I buy them from is only about 10 miles away from my house and I can drive or inspect them within an hour. Most people cannot buy them because banks do not usually lend money for salvage vehicles. I would never pay money to have a vehicle changed from a salvage title to a clean title.I checked into what they are doing. I am not a lawyer, but I think they are not "technically" violating any SD statues. But I don't think they are exploiting the spirit and intent of why SD offers the registering of a salvage title.
This is a pricey endevour, and in most cases, it is more cost effective to have the vehicle run through the salavge to rebuilt process than the SD option. I have reviewed the SD option and have found the "juice was not worth the squeeze- especially for newer vehicles, in many cases".
That statue in Washington state is centered on the requirement that a motor vehicle being reported to the state as "destroyed", is in fact destroyed. The statue does not correlate with the OP's question "" insurance total loss, but has a clean title". is this possible". WA simply wants to make sure that if a insurance company or the like states a vehicle is destroyed (gone through the shredder), it did in fact go through the shredder.
Anything with salvage or rebuilt on it is NOT a "Clean" title.Joeking Corvette beat me to it...... I think in many states "totalled vehicles" can be purchased with what's known as a, "Salvage Title". People are able to buy these vehicles cheaply, (some are actually sold by the pound), that were deemed by insurance companies as totalled. They then repair them to somewhat of a streetworthy condition, and sell them off at a profit.
They have a "clean title", but have to be defined as a "salvage". So the purchaser knows the vehicle has been badly damaged..... Or at least should.
To sell such a damaged, then repaired vehicle without the "salvage" term attached to it is illegal. But if so informed the purchaser is in fact getting a "clean title".
Says who, the car flipper selling his rebuilt titled car to a uneducated buyer on Facebook?Anything with salvage or rebuilt on it is NOT a "Clean" title.