Rebuilt Car Title: Explained Simply
A rebuilt car title means that a car is fixed up after being considered salvaged. The rebuilt title can never be changed to the clean title again, as these cars are considered less safe to drive, but you can still find affordable rebuilt car title insurance rates. Enter your ZIP code below to get your free car title insurance quote.
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Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
UPDATED: Dec 28, 2023
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Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Dec 28, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- A salvaged titled car cannot be legally allowed on the road until it is repaired and inspected
- After paying a small fee for the “Substitute Title”, and providing them with the inspection records, you should be able to have your title changed back to clean
- Many traditional banks won’t give you a loan when buying a car with a rebuilt title
What does a used rebuilt title mean? A rebuilt car title is when a car is fixed up after being under the salvaged title moniker.
A salvaged title is when a car has been in an accident, theft or natural disaster, and the insurance company has deemed the car totaled, unsafe to drive and “writes it off” as a complete loss.
A salvaged titled car cannot be legally allowed on the road until it is repaired and inspected. Once the car is road ready again, then the title changes from salvaged to a rebuilt title.
Read further for more information and answers about rebuilt car titles.
Just enter your zip code to use the free online comparison tool on this page now to see how rebuilt titles can affect your car insurance quotes from company to company!
Can a rebuilt title ever be changed to a clean title again?
No, it cannot. This is to protect the consumer.
What is the downside of a rebuilt title? To make sure an individual who is not familiar with the inner workings of a car (which is most of us), laws have been put into place where once a car has been in a wreck and labeled by the insurance company as unsafe to drive, that no matter how well the car is fixed up it can never lose the rebuilt title.
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Are all rebuilt title cars equal?
No, absolutely not. If you can find out why the car has a rebuilt title, it will make your decision to purchase the vehicle a more educating one.
Cars can have a rebuilt title because they were stolen, had water damage, in a fire, or in a rollover accident on a freeway.
Depending on what was stolen from the car, it may be worth buying the vehicle. Were the wheels and fixtures taken from the car, or did the thief gut the electrical components of the car?
If the car was in an accident, was the outside body severely dented, and thus needed simple body work? Or did the car land in a lake and have extreme water damage that still causes electrical issues even after it is allowed to be on the road?
What do you do if you know your title is clean but turns up rebuilt?
If you are the original owner of the vehicle, how do you convince the car dealer that when running your VIN and a rebuilt title appears, that this information is wrong?
You want that sleek jet-black convertible, but it will never be yours if you cannot prove that your 8-year-old American made sedan has a clean title. Here are the steps you need to take:
- Get your vehicle inspected and let the technician know you are trying to prove that your car should not have a rebuilt title.
- Go to the DMV and fill out the “Application for Change of Title.”
- Also, at the DMV you will need to fill out “Application for Supplemental Lien, Replacement Title, Transfer of Lien Substitute Title.”
After giving the DMV roughly a $10 fee for the “Substitute Title,” and providing them with the inspection records, you should be able to have your title changed back to clean.
Are there any benefits to buying a car with a rebuilt title?
Yes, absolutely. For one, any car with a rebuilt title should cost you 40-50 percent less than the price of the car if it had a clean title.
So, if you can never afford a luxury car like a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, etc. this could be a way to get into a car for an inexpensive price.
Also, if you are mechanically inclined and know your way around an automobile, then you won’t have apprehensions about buying a rebuilt titled car once you inspect it yourself.
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How do you buy a salvage car?
One of the easiest ways to have access to rebuilt or salvage title cars for sale in Florida is through online car auctions (Copart or Tallahassee auto auction). They are much simpler than you may imagine. Right from your computer, you will be able to access lists of salvaged vehicles up for auction all across the country.
If you have ever been to a live vehicle auction, you know that it can be high pressure. You don’t have a lot of time to make a decision, so you may go higher in a bid than you really wanted too. After that you have a lot of paperwork to take your car. When you choose a vehicle through an online car auction, you won’t have to deal with that pressure.
Read more: Insurance Auto Auction: Explained Simply
What is a branded title?
Different states may have varying definitions for the brands used, so it’s important to check in with your local Department of Motor Vehicles for specific insight into what each brand means in your state.
Further, an insurance provider might not issue comprehensive coverage on a damaged car, and some lenders will not finance a car with damage.
What concerns should you have about a rebuilt title?
Don’t buy a car with a rebuilt title if you want to sell it in a few years. It’s pretty hard to make a profit on a second generation rebuilt titled car.
Also, many traditional banks won’t give you a loan when buying a car with a rebuilt title; or if they do, they may ask for a larger down payment due to the risk.
You will need to find a specialty auto loan provider for purchasing cars with rebuilt titles.
Moreover, it will be a bit more difficult to find car insurance companies that cover rebuilt title cars.
Before purchasing a rebuilt title vehicle, you should investigate both the insurance rates and loan options to make sure these costs fit into your overall auto budget.
To find out what kind of benefits you can get with a clean or rebuilt title, type your zip code into the free comparison tool and get several car insurance quotes now!
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Case Studies: Rebuilt Car Titles
Case Study 1: Stolen Vehicle
John purchased a rebuilt title car after it was stolen. The thief had taken the wheels and fixtures, but the car was repaired and inspected. John carefully assessed the vehicle’s condition before making the purchase.
Case Study 2: Water Damage
Sarah bought a rebuilt title car with water damage. It had been submerged in a lake, leading to persistent electrical issues. Sarah inspected the vehicle thoroughly and considered the extent of the water damage before deciding to buy.
Case Study 3: Clean Title Conversion
Mark, the original owner, discovered a rebuilt title during a VIN check. He contacted the DMV, provided inspection records, and successfully changed the title back to clean. Mark was able to prove that his vehicle had a clean history.
Case Study 4: Benefits of Buying a Rebuilt Title Car
John found a rebuilt title car at an affordable price, allowing him to own a luxury vehicle. With his mechanical knowledge, he inspected the car personally, making an informed decision about its condition and value.
Case Study 5: Salvage Car Auctions
Sarah accessed salvage cars through online auctions. She avoided the pressures of live auctions and found a rebuilt title vehicle that suited her needs. Sarah appreciated the convenience and wider selection offered by online platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a rebuilt title ever be changed to a clean title again?
No, once a car has a rebuilt title, it cannot be changed back to a clean title.
Are all rebuilt title cars equal?
No, the reason for the rebuilt title can vary, so it’s important to understand why the car has a rebuilt title before making a decision to purchase.
What do you do if you know your title is clean but turns up rebuilt?
If you are the original owner, you can contact the DMV, provide inspection records, and request a title change.
Are there any benefits to buying a car with a rebuilt title?
Yes, rebuilt title cars are usually cheaper, offering an affordable option for luxury cars. If you have mechanical knowledge, you can inspect the car yourself.
How do you buy a salvage car?
Online car auctions, such as Copart or Tallahassee auto auction, provide access to salvage or rebuilt title cars for sale.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.