Salvage Title Check: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying
You found a great deal on a used car. The price is thousands below market value, the photos look clean, and the dealer says it runs perfectly.
Then you run a salvage title check—and discover the car was declared a total loss two years ago.
Salvage title checks aren't always deal-breakers, but buying one without knowing the full history is a recipe for disaster. This guide explains what salvage titles mean, how to check any VIN for salvage history, and when it's actually safe to buy.
Check Any VIN for Salvage Title History
VinPassed shows title status, salvage auction records, damage photos, and repair estimates. Know exactly what you're buying.
View Sample Report →What Is a Salvage Title Check?
A salvage title check is issued when an insurance company declares a vehicle a "total loss." This happens when the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds a certain percentage of its value—typically 70-80% depending on the state.
Common reasons for salvage titles include:
- Collision damage: Major accidents where repair costs exceed the threshold
- Flood damage: Vehicles submerged in water during hurricanes, floods, or storms
- Fire damage: Vehicles damaged by fire or smoke
- Theft recovery: Stolen vehicles found after the insurance claim was paid
- Vandalism: Extensive damage from vandalism exceeding repair threshold
- Hail damage: Severe hail storms causing total loss designation
Once a vehicle receives a salvage title, it cannot legally be driven on public roads until it's repaired and inspected.
Understanding Title Types
When you do a salvage title check, there are three main title categories you'll encounter:
Clean Title
No major damage history. Never declared a total loss. This is what most buyers want and expect.
Salvage Title
Declared a total loss by insurance. Cannot be legally driven. Must be repaired and inspected before returning to the road.
Rebuilt Title (also called "Reconstructed")
Was previously salvage, now repaired and passed state inspection. Legal to drive, but history follows the vehicle forever.
Title Washing Warning
"Title washing" is when a salvage vehicle is moved between states to exploit different title laws, eventually ending up with a clean title despite its damage history. This is illegal but happens frequently. A thorough VIN salvage title check across multiple databases catches most title washing. This is one way dealers hide accident history.
How to do a Salvage Title Check and find Vehicle History
Here's how to run a complete salvage title check on any vehicle:
- Get the VIN Find the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number on the listing, dashboard (visible through windshield), or driver's door jamb.
- Check NMVTIS The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is the federal database that tracks title brands including salvage designations. This is the most authoritative source.
- Run a VinPassed Report VinPassed checks NMVTIS plus salvage auction records from Copart and IAAI. You'll see not just the title status, but photos and details of the original damage.
- Check Multiple States If the vehicle has been registered in multiple states, verify title status in each. Title washing exploits the gaps between state databases.
What VinPassed Shows for Salvage Vehicles
When a vehicle has salvage history, a VinPassed report reveals:
| Data Point | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Title brand history | Shows when salvage title was issued and in which state |
| Salvage auction records | Where and when it sold at salvage auction (Copart, IAAI) |
| Auction photos | Images showing the actual damage before repairs |
| Primary/secondary damage | What type of damage caused the total loss |
| Repair estimate | How much it would cost to properly repair the damage |
| Auction sale price | What the vehicle sold for in damaged condition |
The auction photos are particularly valuable—they show exactly what the vehicle looked like before anyone had a chance to hide or minimize the damage.
Should You Buy a Salvage or Rebuilt Title Vehicle?
Salvage and rebuilt title vehicles aren't automatically bad purchases. Some can be excellent deals if you know what you're getting. Here's how to evaluate:
Potentially Worth Buying
- Cosmetic damage only: Hail damage or minor collision that didn't affect structure or safety systems
- Theft recovery: Vehicle was stolen, stripped, recovered—mechanical systems may be fine (you can check theft status free at NICB VINCheck)
- Well-documented repairs: Professional shop receipts showing exactly what was fixed
- Significant discount: Price is 30-50% below clean title market value
- You're mechanically inclined: You can inspect and maintain it yourself
Avoid These
- Flood damage: Water intrusion causes electrical and corrosion problems for years
- Fire damage: Heat affects wiring, plastics, and structural components in hidden ways
- Structural damage: Frame or unibody damage affects safety and handling permanently
- Airbag deployment: Indicates severe impact; replacement is expensive and error-prone
- No repair documentation: If you can't verify what was fixed, assume the worst
Flood Damage Is the Worst
Flood-damaged vehicles look normal after cleaning and drying, but water infiltrates wiring harnesses, control modules, and structural cavities. Problems emerge months or years later—electrical gremlins, mold, corrosion. Most experts recommend avoiding flood-titled vehicles entirely.
The Real Costs of Salvage Title Vehicles
Even if you're comfortable with the damage history, salvage and rebuilt titles come with ongoing costs:
Insurance Limitations
Many insurance companies won't offer comprehensive or collision coverage on salvage/rebuilt titles. Those that do charge higher premiums. You may only qualify for liability coverage.
Financing Challenges
Most banks and credit unions won't finance salvage or rebuilt title vehicles. You'll likely need to pay cash or use a high-interest specialty lender.
Resale Value
Rebuilt title vehicles typically sell for 20-40% less than comparable clean-title vehicles. The title brand follows the car forever—you can't restore a clean title.
Warranty Exclusions
Many extended warranty companies exclude salvage and rebuilt title vehicles entirely. Even if you find coverage, pre-existing damage-related issues are excluded.
Exception: VIP Warranty
VIP Warranty covers vehicles that other companies reject, including many with rebuilt titles. Their exclusionary coverage protects virtually all mechanical components up to 250,000 miles. If you're considering a rebuilt title vehicle, having warranty coverage available changes the risk calculation.
Salvage Title Check Checklist
If you're considering a salvage or rebuilt title vehicle, verify everything:
Before Purchase Checklist:
- Run VinPassed report for full salvage history and photos
- Check NMVTIS for title brand verification
- Request all repair documentation from seller
- Verify state inspection was completed (for rebuilt titles)
- Get independent pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic
- Check for water damage signs (musty smell, waterlines, corrosion)
- Inspect frame/unibody for signs of structural repair
- Verify all VINs match (door jamb, dashboard, engine bay)
- Get insurance quotes before committing
- Calculate true cost vs. clean title alternative
How Dealers Hide Salvage History
Unscrupulous dealers use several tactics to sell salvage vehicles as clean:
Title Washing
Moving a vehicle through states with lenient title laws until the salvage brand disappears. A vehicle might be salvaged in Florida, "rebuilt" in Alabama, then sold as clean in Ohio.
VIN Cloning
Replacing the VIN plates with those from a clean-title vehicle of the same make/model. The salvage vehicle assumes the identity of the clean one.
“Carfax Clean” Misdirection
Carfax may not show salvage history if the title was washed or if reporting delays occurred. Dealers exploit this gap by advertising "clean Carfax" on vehicles with hidden salvage history. Learn more about what Carfax misses.
Cosmetic Concealment
Proper repair and detailing can make a previously totaled vehicle look showroom-new. Without documentation, you'd never know.
This is why checking multiple databases—including salvage auction records—is essential. If a vehicle went through Copart or IAAI, that record exists regardless of what the current title says.
The Bottom Line
A salvage title check should be the first step when evaluating any used car—especially if the price seems too good to be true.
Running a VinPassed report for $25 shows you:
- Current title status and title brand history
- Salvage auction records (Copart, IAAI)
- Photos showing original damage
- Repair estimates
- Whether title washing may have occurred
Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision. Some salvage vehicles are legitimate deals—use that history as negotiating leverage. Others are disasters waiting to happen. The difference is knowing the complete history before you buy.
Don't Get Surprised by Hidden Salvage History
Get a VinPassed Report for $25
Title history • Salvage records • Damage photos • Complete picture
Check Any VIN Now →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a car has a salvage title?
Run the VIN through NMVTIS (the federal title database) and a service like VinPassed that includes salvage auction records. Checking both catches title washing attempts that might not appear in a single database. Start with a free VIN check for basics.
Can a salvage title be removed?
No. Once a salvage title is issued, it cannot be removed. A salvage vehicle can be repaired and converted to a "rebuilt" title after passing state inspection, but the damage history remains part of the vehicle's permanent record.
Is it safe to buy a car with a rebuilt title?
It depends on the damage type and repair quality. Rebuilt titles from cosmetic damage (hail, theft recovery) are generally safer than those from structural damage, flood, or fire. Always review the original damage photos and get an independent inspection.
Why is a salvage car so cheap?
Salvage vehicles are priced lower because of insurance limitations, financing restrictions, reduced resale value, and buyer perception of risk. The discount should reflect these ongoing costs—if it doesn't, you're not getting a real deal.
Does Carfax show salvage titles?
Carfax usually shows salvage titles, but not always. Title washing, reporting delays, and database gaps can cause salvage history to be missing from Carfax. That's why checking salvage auction records directly (through VinPassed) provides more complete information. See our Carfax vs AutoCheck comparison for more details.