advice on buying Salvage title SDL- to re-title Rebuild
 

I found a nice looking 87 SDL-- current owner- says he bought from insurance company- and fixed.
Radiator, bumper, hood, etc. Due to age car... Salvaged.

Car looks MINT now.

But reading up on laws- Illinois- I think there might be some challenges to get it "Re-titled" as Rebuilt and NOT salvage.

Any advise out there?

thx

Different States Different Law. My Stepfather gave me a car that the Insurance Company and totaled but he ask to keep. Here in CA the Brakes and Lights had to be inspected. But, it will always have salvaged on the title.

I have a few vehicles that are 'Salvage' titles. They are Jeep Cherokees. I do or have run them on the streets. I sold one of them a few years back. So, the question is, are you going to resell it? Or keep it? On older vehicles, reselling them, salvage titles might not matter as much. Also, might depends on the type or class of vehicle. I don't think it matters as much on older Jeeps. I do not know on MBs.

Read up on your local laws regarding salvage/rebuilt titles. Typically a "salvage" title cannot be registered and driven on the road. Once the car has been rebuilt and gone through an inspection process, it can be issued a "rebuilt" title. Rebuilt titled vehicles can typically only carry liability insurance.

An interesting loophole is registering in a different state. My 350SD was "totaled" in 2006 in a very minor front end collision that damaged the hood, top radiator brace, and AC condenser. Car was registered as "rebuilt" in West Virginia and carries the certificate that it passed. When the car was registered in Texas, it was issued a clean and unrestricted title with a footnote that it was previously "rebuilt" in WV.

The quality of the rebuild job is directly related to the quality of work coming from the shop who performed it. In the case of my 350SD, the only clue that anything has been done to the front end is an emissions sticker on the radiator brace from a 300SE.

I am in Illinois... researching a little... it would need to Pass inspections at state testing facility--- IF it is less than 8 years old.

BUT-- could find NO Info/ reading - on the case where the car is OLDER than 8 years old.

I don't know why... but could guess that- it is easier for Insurance- to "Trash most" cars that are say 12 years old+ cuz Most are worth less than the repair bill... so PERHAPS- that why the Illinois law- states - 8 years or less??? Just a guess.

next question- was it difficult to insure -- with SALVAGE on title? for safety reasons?

My insurance company did not ask. I'm in IN. Also, I hear the laws get a bit looser for the older the car is. That goes for title too.

Call a competent insurance agent and ask whether and what insurance could be bought. Find out from the DMV whether it could be licensed. Drive it.

I'll consider it if you can't do anything with it. TN is lax.

No matter what car you are looking at, have a reliable shop go over the car before you buy it.

Most states have detailed info on their web sites and every state is different.

To get some terminology straight.

A " Salvage Certificate ( title ) " is generally issued when an insurance company pays the cars owner for a cost of repair exceeding say 75 % . Years ago I had a customer whose older low value car was a " total loss ". .from a run away shopping cart so take that into consideration when looking at a car.

A " rebuilt Title " is issued once the above car has been repaired and went through some sort of state mandated documentation / physical inspection.

Does you state have safety inspections? Talking to your shop would be a good start.

Don't tell the insurance co about the salvage / rebuilt. Just give them the VIN number and ask for a binding quote before you purchase the car. Don't bother getting full coverage , just get liability as many times full coverage is a waste of $ on anything more than 10 years old.

I have been through this in Ohio. I had to have the car inspected, showing receipts on all parts that were replaced. They gave it a visual safety inspection and sent me on my way. I might add that they were very rude.I was instructed if they found one part on the car that I did not have a receipt for that they would impound the car.