A salvage title generally indicates that a vehicle has received substantial damage and has been deemed a total loss by an insurance company. While salvage vehicles are deemed unfit to drive, they can be repaired to become roadworthy again if someone is willing to take on the challenge. However, in most states driving a salvage title car on the road is illegal. As such, you will have to clear the salvage title before taking your car out for a drive. Although the process of changing the title of a car will vary slightly depending on the state, these general steps to clear a salvage title on a vehicle should give you a good idea of what to expect.
The first step to clearing a salvage title on a vehicle is to make any necessary repairs. If you don’t have the extensive experience necessary to make such extreme repairs, it’s a good idea to enlist the services of a certified mechanic. Make sure to properly document the reparation process by taking plenty of before and after pictures. Such pictures will come in handy during the inspection process.
Because your vehicle has a salvage title, it is not legally allowed on the road. As such, you will have to tow your vehicle to the inspection facility.
After making all the necessary repairs on your salvage vehicle, you must get it inspected before you can legally drive it. When bringing your car in to the inspection facility to get inspected, make sure to have all the required paperwork, forms, and documentation, such as the bill of sale, before and after photos, and the salvage title. If you used other vehicles for replacement parts or enlisted the services of a certified mechanic, make sure to have the vehicle identification number of the vehicles and the receipts for any repair services. You should also expect to pay an inspection fee, which will vary depending on your state.
If your vehicle passes the inspection, you can then apply for a rebranded title from your state’s title department. To do so, you must fill out the required forms in your state, pay necessary fees, and submit proof of a passed inspection. When the process is complete, you will be issued a rebuilt or rebuilt salvage title, and the salvage title on the vehicle will be cleared.
If you’re interested in purchasing a salvage vehicle, take a look at our extensive inventory at AE of Miami. We specialize in offering salvage and damaged cars for sale in Miami, FL. However, we also ship vehicles worldwide. For more information regarding our vehicles or shipping options, contact us today.
