salvage title ?
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 50
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From: PLAINVIEW NY
salvage title ?
I am going to look at a vette on sat, it is a 81, owner says he bought it at an auction with a salvage title, he did all the repairs,had it reinspected and now claims the title is clear. is this possible or is he pulling my leg? btw the car is in N.Y.,looks great in the pixs and is asking $5000. also does it say salvage clearly on the title? TIA,ERIK
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Lakeland, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Originally Posted by browningejm
I am going to look at a vette on sat, it is a 81, owner says he bought it at an auction with a salvage title, he did all the repairs,had it reinspected and now claims the title is clear. is this possible or is he pulling my leg? btw the car is in N.Y.,looks great in the pixs and is asking $5000. also does it say salvage clearly on the title? TIA,ERIK
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 176
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From: Bakersfield CA.
last time I checked ,when a title is free and clear? means that theres no leans or financing on the car (also no 2nd owner)the guy selling it has total ownership of the car,and can sell with no problems. salvaged title ment that the car was at one time considered a total loss, and after someone buys the car and makes it road worthey again it can be registered again but with the stipulation that its a salvaged title. I dont know if the title has it printed on it or not?, check with the DMV in Yr. state. 
good luck
good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
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From: absecon nj
Yes you can register a salvaged vehicle after its fixed and inspected by the state,some states will show a S on the title.My dad has been doing them for 20 years.
Now he has seen that he has bought a car say from penn. and he took it too maryland for a relative after he fixed it titled it in maryland and it shows salvage,but they moved to jersey a few years later and retitle it in jersey,it now has a clear title.
Just check the laws with new york.
Now he has seen that he has bought a car say from penn. and he took it too maryland for a relative after he fixed it titled it in maryland and it shows salvage,but they moved to jersey a few years later and retitle it in jersey,it now has a clear title.
Just check the laws with new york.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 1
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Salvage title does not mean very much to a person like myself if you find the right car. Salvage title cars make excellent daily drivers; again if you find the right car; no guilty feeling about beating the car up everyday on the roads. Atleast the seller is being up front about it. If you restore a salvage car, have it appraised, I know I will from now on.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
on cars this old that are going to be driven, the salvage title doesn't mean much, not even for the appraisal. Most 20+ cars that are on the road today have had most everything rebuilt by now anyway, even if it wasn't ever salvaged IMHO. I've checked with a couple of states, some of them just state if you pay $75 fee and have a thorough state inspection, they'll remove "salvage" from the title. If you're doing a frame off, that constitutes a thorough inspection. Mine had salvage title, but I drive it, so I didn't care one bit. Moved to Illinois and they didn't carry it over to the Illinois title. FWIW. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,470
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
My friend just bought "new" (dealer lot flood) 04 Neon SRT 4 in Kentucky for 13K , had a salvage title for water damage...water never got inside the car. Ran it thru IL and the title came back clean....all depends on the state...was expecting the water damage part to stay on the title but they removed it. Heck of a buy.....
Salvage isn't too bad if you plan on keeping it for yourself. Trying to resell is where you need to find that "special" customer that is willing to overlook the title marking.
Salvage isn't too bad if you plan on keeping it for yourself. Trying to resell is where you need to find that "special" customer that is willing to overlook the title marking.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 235
Likes: 1
From: West Seneca New York
I live in NY and have my dirty little hands involved with a used car dealership. New York state salvage titles are stamped with a big "SALVAGE." All salvage vehicles have to go through state DMV inspection for stolen parts and make sure they are road worthy. It's a tough process for the dealer but good for the consumer. If the guy is straight up and honest, he will tell and show you all of the repair work done. We do. It put a potential customer at ease.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
i have run across cars with salvage titles before. i dont like the idea very much. mainly because there IS a reason it has a salvage title. you may not be able to see the reason. perhaps he "fixed" the body work and it looks good. However, it may chew up tires like candy... be cautious of a bent frame... or maybe its just water or hail damage.
Personally, the only way i would get a salvage title car is for a full race drag car.
now for a laugh, look at the pics of my car. i think 5K for a clean, mechanically safe and sound car is fair.
You should be able to call the dmv.org , give them the vin and get all the info you need.
Personally, the only way i would get a salvage title car is for a full race drag car.
now for a laugh, look at the pics of my car. i think 5K for a clean, mechanically safe and sound car is fair.
You should be able to call the dmv.org , give them the vin and get all the info you need.
Last edited by johnt365; Mar 19, 2005 at 10:59 PM.
