Salvaged auto title

[Featherduster]

I tried to buy a car from an individual seller. Moments before my credit union printed the check, they advised the car had a salvaged title and they couldn’t touch it. The seller was in disbelief, as he had no issue financing the car. He later provided me with an email from NCDOT salvage title dept stating the car in fact had a clean title. I forwarded the email to the credit union asking if they could account for the discrepancy.
After reviewing the documents they admitted they had never seen this scenario. The vehicle was definitely at a salvage yard, and must have been repaired adequate to retain the “clean” title. We could now proceed with the deal at my discretion.

Could anyone with experience in this arena offer an explanation how this car was repaired and totaled at the same time?
This is a beautiful Mustang, with extras, at a good deal. Maybe…

[wob]

Did the seller disclose that it had been in a wreck?

It would have to be a smoking deal for me to proceed.

[Featherduster]

I assume the accident was before him. He’s only had the car about a year. He didn’t want to sell but he leaves for the Air Force in California next month.

[CurLee]

The “salvage yard” part, is that your words or theirs? It could have spent some time at a tow yard after a collision(or flooding, fire, etc.), but it wouldn’t end up in a salvage(junk) yard unless it was deemed a total loss and sold to said yard, OR the owner-at-the-time sold it to a junk yard with the clean title. After that it could have been sold and repaired by anybody.

I would consider having a trusted third party(KRT?) inspect, even if at your expense, before throwing down ANY money.

[Coastal Woodie]

Before you buy it, verify the vin number with your insurance company to make sure they can insure it. While it's not usually an issue for just liability on a salvage title I have seen 3 or 4 vehicles that were completely denied even for liability. Just something to consider before buying it.

I personally wouldn't touch a salvage titled vehicle unless it's just a beater car or hunting truck. A rebuilt title would be better.

[USMCsilver]

Track car? Yes. Daily driver, hell no.

Sent from Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk; don't blame me for the phone's mistakes.

[3 1/2" MAGUM]

Something similar happened to buddy in SC. Went to sell his truck and the buyers bank said it was salvaged. Buddy had the title & it was clean. Ended up being a SCDMV mistake but was a pain to get fixed.

[PalmettoTrooper]

Some states mark the titles “salvage” and some don’t but the insurance companies typically flag a VIN. Just like coastal suggested, Check with insurance before DMV. It’s easy to “wash” and clean a title in various states and resell with a clean title only to be denied coverage by the insurance company.

[WoodieSC]

Check with BET here. His family deals with repairing salvage vehicles. I almost bought one from him a few years back but wasn’t familiar with the issue so I passed on it. Check with your insurance company, though. Apparently some balk at insuring them, or will do so at a reduced value.

[Maggie Glover]

SC allows owners to rehabilitate a title by doing repairs. Some states do not recognize a rehabilitated title. The key is to find out what was the damage, Carfax should handle that for you. I bought a couple of Porsches back in the day when I was single from Florida with salvaged titles. Apparently, in FL if a car is reported stolen for more than 72 hours it is considered totaled by the insurance company even if it is recovered unharmed days later.

As for the value and whether you should own it? That is a personal preference. However, it can show up again, especially if you go to sell it out of state. My only 100% stayaway advice is no flood cars ever. Good luck. MG

[KRT]

All good advice above

No way in hell I’d finance a car with any kind of discrepancy and the word salvage or rebuilt title came up in conversation. Discrepancy or not… I’d move on and find the next and let it be the sellers discrepancy.

3rd party i.e. auto repair shops with access to vin software and good eyes is your friend when buying used.

While I’ve personally seen cars fixed off the books so it wouldn’t hit CARFAX or others as salvaged, good eyes can find things that were not reported.

There is a lady in SC that can take GA and NC titles that are salvaged come up as clean titles in SC. Rumor has it she has a connection at SCDMV.

A 125.00/150.00 inspection is your friend.

[trkykilr]

Credit unions are communist. Prove me wrong.

[Featherduster]

I found online records showing it was purchased in Odessa Tx Aug 2024, and sold as junk/salvage in Nov 2024.
No collision reports.
On a hunch I searched Odessa 2024 flood.
It was in September.
Bingo.

[CurLee]

Yep that’s a no-go.

[12341234]

Had a family friend that salvaged vehicles. Bought a truck from them no issue financing or insuring.