Salvage title could mean almost ANYTHING, and it doesn't exactly mean that the car was ever in a wreck.

Ex: When I sold cars, we had a Turbo 2ng Gen convertible Eclipse on the lot with a salvaged title, but the car had all original body parts and paint!! This thing was in immaculate condition. There was nothing wrong with it. Even the owner of the lot couldn't believe it. (Being 40+ years in the business he knows how to inspect cars) There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. The only thing he could think of was the car was stolen, then recovered after a while, or there may have been some type of complication with the title if it was repossed.

 

I a salvage car rebuilder and been doing it for almost 20yrs and just becauase it has a salvage title does not mean it was even in a wreck. The insurance company claims that a slavage title means the car was a 75 to 90 % loss due to the type of damage that was done at that time. I have bought cars smash to hell with all airbags deployed and the car is a Clean title, then again I have cars that have a missing radio or have been stolen and have a salvage title. It depends on many factors when a vechicle is given a salvage title. The adjuster plays a major role in making the decsisons at the time. When buying a salvage car you must be very careful when looking at it, many of these off hand dealers piece these cars togther just to get by and make a quick buck. I personally sell salvage cars like hot cakes but then agian its mostly my repeat customers that know me for years.

1 They figure the car might have problems down the road that are not obovious, so they wil total it for no future problems down the road
2 They will get more money for the car at a local auction considering what the value of the car is at the time.

Ps Just beacuse its a salve title does not mean the car was a total loss, but be very careful when inspecting the car, its very easy to tell if the car has been fixed no matter how good the car was fixed. I will post pics later of a car I just bought yesterday smash to hell and has a clean title.

 

Never had a Problem with financing. I told the bank it was a Rebuilt/Salvage title, but the car was being bought enough below Blue Book that they werent very concerned.
Insurance company didnt seem to care. I told my agent that it was Salvage/Rebuilt and he never said anything about it.
As for licensing it....that DMV didnt care either....not a word....

Of course, this is in Indiana. We have no Emmision laws, and we arent required to pass any Inspection....

Blue Book on my car is 13-14k with a good title. There is no possible way i would ever let this car go for 6.5k....that is simply rediculous.....Sure, if i were to sell it I wouldnt be asking for 13k...but it wouldnt be 6.5k either, thats for damn sure....lol

 

Here in Texas a bank will not even think about financing if the title is salvage or has a rebuilt title. They always give me a hard time when they are financing a customer of mine with a clean title and seeing that the last owner was a insurance auction

Ps Every state is different .