Looking for a way to clear a title. Vehicle had been salvaged, restored in mid 80's and has been registered every year since. Current title states SALVAGED. How do you present a case to DMV to get this changed. Ideas ?

 

It probably depends on where you are, but in most states, once a title has been labelled that, it will always be labelled that. In this way, people won't get sold water damaged cars, wrecked cars, etc.

 

I live in Ca and have asked about a state certified inspection but cannot locate one....

 

True, you cannot change it. Totaled cars get those to,
if you buy them back from insurance, and rebuild them.

 

And trying to register it in another state won't work, they are all linked by computer now. Joe

 

What difference does it make?

 

resale $$$$$ go to DMV and ask

 

It can be done, don't know about the legality of it. If you tag it in a state that does not have titles on a car that old you can "wash" the title.

 

Not quite true. Lots of salvage cars wind up with clear titles, including Corvettes. There are a lot of unethical dealers out there who "wash" the salvage title through many different states and in the end, they have a clear title. It is done but I don't believe it is ethical or legal.
Gary

 

What is the diff between doing that and rebuilding a base vette to ZL1 specs and trying to sell it as an orig ZL1? Once a car it totaled/salvaged it will always be a totaled/salvaged car no matter how well it is rebuilt.

 

I waver on this. There are a lot of cars that are easy fixers that get totalled because they cost more to fix that they are worth or are worth more as parts. I had an 89 IROC 5-sp 4wdb bought at a salvage auction that ran under a fence. It had gouges in the hood, windshield, and roof. That was the best car I ever had-hands down. I actually bought it for the engine but couldn't cut it up after I drove it once. I put 40k+ miles on it. Never had it aligned, never put freon in it and it blew cold air the whole time I had it. It should not have been totalled. The guy I sold it to put a $2500 paint job on it and it looks brand new. The value was killed by the salvage ding, but it was a great car. I also had an 87 Suburban that was totalled for an engine fire. I put a wiring harness on and it ran like a top-same belts and hoses as before the fire. Had the hood repainted, it had a spot about the size of your hand that burned the paint. Value was killed by the salvage stamp, but was it really totalled? My point in all this is that there are different degrees of totalled. I would rather have that IROC any day than some of the ragged-out clean-title cars i've owned.

 

Don't forget to let your insurance company know that it is a salvaged title -- some will not cover them! Don't want to find out you are excluded after an accident.

 

Insurance companies pull this "scam" all the time. And I say scam because I believe it is such. I read a whole article in Consumer Reports on this. You simply can move it through certain states and you will be able to get it removed as some states do not show salvaged on their titles. The article showed a Mercedes which was totaled a couple of months after it was bought. (5) owners and a couple of years later, the car showed a clean title. The article listed the states it was moved to amd through by a reputable insurance company, just so the "salvage" label would be non-exsistant and could be resold for more money. I would be very pissed if I found that a car I bought was totaled at one time and was glossed over. I understand it would make your car worth more without it, but there is a reason it is there in the first place; so people don't by a car that was once considered not worth repairing. As the car gets older, if you have restored it properly it may not be much of a factor anyhow. I have seen many very collectable cars which were once totaled to be restored to original, and even had pictures to show this! Even cars sent to the boneyard are closed as salvaged. Last year a Bloomington Gold a salvaged L-88 tanker which was totally rebuilt went for $618,000. It doesn't appear that it being salvaged really hurt its value, because it was restored properly and completly. I would be careful of this, as to me it is fraud if you knowlingly set out to get it removed by hook or crook. If the next guy finds out and you don't disclose it when he buys it, you will most likely still be held liable if he pursues legal action.

 

If you restored the car properly (without BUBBA'S help ). Get the car appraised and it shouldn't make a difference.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded and to those who took the time to read this thread. I agree that it is basicly an ethical question but it exists to protect those who may potentially buy an unsafe vehicle. In this case it was simply an insurance payout in 1988 when C-3's were worth about $7500 and the cost of the repair was about half of that. Surprisingly, the guy who bought from the insurance co was the guy that provided the repair estimate.

As I look at it now, I wanted the car and knew what I was buying, a very clean, straight, low milage, great running vette and I got what I wanted. I hope to pass on some of the savings to the next buyer when the time comes.

thanks

jeff

 

If u ever want to get rid of something, I'd stay away from a salvage title. In 92 I bought a 72 LT1 coupe with fact a/c for $10K. It had 50K miles on it and was in very good condition, except it had been in a front end accident in the mid 80s when it wasn't worth much. All that had been replaced were the fenders, bumper and 1 grille. The hood was still fine even. But, it ended up with a salvage title. I figured since the car was otherwise in incredible condition, and since it was a low production car, it wouldn't be hard to sell with a salvage title. WRONG! I advertised it several places, and even called several of the big Corvette dealers to see if there was any interest... NO... they weren't interested AT ANY PRICE. I think the problem is that no one can establish a value for them. I ended up selling it to a Corvette wholesaler that had heard about it from one of the dealers... for $7,500. He said he was going to store it for 7 years then get a new title. He said California only keeps records in their database for 7 years. This truly was one of those cars that should have never been totalled. I see old Corvettes daily that have been pieced together so many times u can't even tell what year they are. I wouldn't touch them... and they still have clean titles.