Cars that have been given a salvage title are vehicles that have been in a large enough accident, have damage via a flood or fire, or have been vandalized to the point that they need a significant amount of parts to get back to a normal driving state. At this point, an owner or insurance company has deemed that the cost to fix the vehicle is more than what it is actually worth.
You probably have a lot of questions about vehicles with salvage title, and Twin Falls Chevrolet wants to make sure you understand all that this kind of purchase would entail. Find answers to frequently asked questions here. If you find you need more help or have more questions, contact our knowledgable staff who are eager to help!
A salvage title car in Idaho cannot be insured unless it has been inspected by a mechanic certified by the state, who decides whether the car is safe to drive or not. If it is okay to drive, the DMV will issue a rebuilt title, which means you can then insure the vehicle in Idaho.
While it is automatically assumed that a salvage or rebuilt title car has been in a terrible accident, believe it or not, a vehicle doesn’t have to be in an accident or have its airbags deployed to be considered a total loss and, therefore, become a salvage title car.
There are many ways a vehicle can be considered a total loss. For instance, hail damage can wreak enough havoc on a car’s body panels and windows that an insurance company can deem too expensive to repair. The vehicle could have been flooded in a storm or had some of the computer components that are expensive to repair or purchase to get water damage. Every vehicle has ways for water to escape during a rainstorm, after driving through a puddle, etc. But, over time, these channels can get blocked with leaves and other debris, causing water to try to find different ways out of the car. This can lead them to electronic components that control the vehicle. While it’s rare that this happens, it can happen and ultimately stop a car from operating properly. Also, a car that’s been recovered from a theft or that has been vandalized can also get a salvage title.
There are a couple of ways to know that a car has a salvage or rebuilt title. One is by looking at the vehicle’s CarFax, which will disclose pertinent information about the car you are looking to buy. You can see when and where it’s been maintained and registered, and of course, information about whether the car has been in a bad enough accident or situation that the insurance company declared the car a total loss. Just typing the vehicle’s VIN into Google will bring up any pictures if it has been damaged and sold at a car auction. This can give a decent understanding of any and all visible damage it had before it was rebuilt.
All vehicle titles in Idaho are green, but a car with a salvage or rebuilt title will have either “Rebuilt” or “Salvage” written in red on the physical title.
Vehicles with a salvage title cannot be financed when purchased, but a car that’s been repaired and given a rebuilt title can be. However, it will take some patience and paperwork for the lender to know everything is legitimate and legal.
After a state-approved mechanic/inspector checks out the vehicle and says it’s roadworthy, it will get updated rebuilt title paperwork. Most insurance companies may only offer liability coverage versus full comprehensive and collision while also adding an extra charge to insure the vehicle. Before buying any vehicle, you should always call your car insurance provider along with their competitors to check on pricing and what documentation you will need to prove the car is roadworthy.
While a rebuilt car will have a lower value than a clean title car, that doesn’t mean it is a bad car. Many people are worried that something could still be wrong with it or that it will forever have issues. This is why it could be a great bargain for someone who has done their due diligence and ensured the vehicle has been repaired properly. Remember, when selling a car with a rebuilt title, you will have to work to prove everything is good to the next potential owner, who will be looking to buy it at a much lower price. Make sure to type the VIN into Google to see any potential photos of the car before it was rebuilt. Try to find the company who rebuilt it to see if they can provide detailed photos and/or documentation about its reconstruction.
A car that has been in an accident and repaired and thus given a rebuilt title can still be a very good car that could be as reliable as a car with a clean title. However, it is pertinent that buyers make sure all of the paperwork is correct and check the repairs done to make sure they are comfortable purchasing a salvage title car with a rebuilt title.
At Twin Falls Subaru, we are happy to offer our customers hundreds of new and used vehicles. Our fantastic sales team and finance department will work hard to find the best car that fits your needs. The dedicated service department will always ensure that your vehicle is taken care of in the best way possible.
We look forward to serving you soon.
