What is a "salvage title"?

Question

I see this in Ebay auctions on vehicles

Answer 1

A car with a salvage title means that an insurance company has determined that they would rather pay the owner the value of the car in cash than repair it.

It doesn't mean it isn't safe (although it may be unsafe)
It doesn't mean it was sold to a salvage yard. (although it may have been)

Lets say I have a 5 year old car that has a value of $10,000 and it gets wrecked. The cost to fix it for parts and labor is $9000. The insurance company may decide that there is too moch potential for future problems and declare it a total loss and write me a check for the $10000 and take ownership of the car.

The insurance company may sell it back to me for "salvage" or sell it to a junk yard, or sell it on eBay, but whatever they do it will have a salvage title from then on.

Sometimes you can get a good safe car with a salvage title. For instance somecars are stolen for parts like wheels, tires, seats, airbags, etc. Car parts and labor are very expensive so the insurance may choose to "total" the car and it becomes salvage. It these parts are properly replaced with used or aftermarket parts, the car can be as good as it was before it was stolen.

Just be careful and have someone check out the car before you buy.

Answer 2

When you buy a salvage titled vehicle you are giving up safety. These vehicles no longer have to meet safety requirements, that can mean the airbags won't deploy, or that your frame is bent and that if your are in an accident the vehicle can cause major injury to the people in it. Salvage title vehicle are worth very little money because no one puts a dollar figure on keeping their family safe. I strongly recommend buying a normal vehicle that may cost a little more money. Good luck on your car shopping.

Answer 3

it is a vehicle that was at one time wrecked and sold to a salvage yard. sometimes people will buy cars that are ther and rebuild them and sell them. sometimes you can grt a good deal if the repairs were done correctly, but on the other hand you just bought a wrecked car. the title will always say that is was a salvaged car, and that isnt good. dont buy a vehicle with a salvaged title, you dont know what you are getting into!

Answer 4

It is a title for a car that has been totalled in a wreck and is considered "salvage." Some states will change it to a regular title when the car has been repaired and passes a safety inspection.