Rebuilt title question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
Rebuilt title question
I know what I bought when I bought it and my title has a "rebuilt" on the title, previous owner showed me what happened, the owner before him hit something and blew the front driver's tires and damaged the front corner of the hood, he said because the hood is a whole front end 1 piece it was considered as more damage than just a repair verses a replacement, they fixed the damage not replace.
Anyway he said insurance had to turn it in and get that put on the title because of the "car fax" search now.
He also said that this is very different than a "salvaged title" because that means more damage than the car is worth and I did have a car one time that said "salvage" so he might be right.
How concerned would you be over this being that the insurance company never questioned the "rebuilt" title but the other car I had with "salvage" on it they did???
If I ever sell it I don't want to tell the above story and it be a lie, Id just rather say, "its got a rebuilt title and heres why" and see what happens with the sale.
Anyway he said insurance had to turn it in and get that put on the title because of the "car fax" search now.
He also said that this is very different than a "salvaged title" because that means more damage than the car is worth and I did have a car one time that said "salvage" so he might be right.
How concerned would you be over this being that the insurance company never questioned the "rebuilt" title but the other car I had with "salvage" on it they did???
If I ever sell it I don't want to tell the above story and it be a lie, Id just rather say, "its got a rebuilt title and heres why" and see what happens with the sale.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,387
Likes: 2,740
'Rebuilt' classification is very dependent upon 'the state' where the title is 'branded'. If the damage is well documented and the repairs also I doubt there's reason for concern. Depending upon the 'state' rebuilt requires various inspections and repair validations.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
The insurance questions are easy talk to your agent.
Salvage title doesn't imply car was repaired. As in above different states have different rules. Rebuilt generally applies to repaired salvage vehicles, that were inspected by authorized state official, and determined to be correctly repaired.
Selling, expect to take a hit. Documentation of the claim and repair may help sale ,when damage was minor. As the C4s age it will become less of a big deal. Many cars.that are over 30 years old are being rebuilt in the form of rehabed or restored even though their titles are "clear".
Salvage title doesn't imply car was repaired. As in above different states have different rules. Rebuilt generally applies to repaired salvage vehicles, that were inspected by authorized state official, and determined to be correctly repaired.
Selling, expect to take a hit. Documentation of the claim and repair may help sale ,when damage was minor. As the C4s age it will become less of a big deal. Many cars.that are over 30 years old are being rebuilt in the form of rehabed or restored even though their titles are "clear".
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 189
Likes: 73
From: Christiansburg Va
I bought a rebuilt 04 S10 ZR2 from Tennessee and I live in Va. It had been hit in the right front and their was a sticker on the door jamb from an inspection station in Tn saying car had been rebuilt. Had no trouble with my insurance company or getting it titled. I knew going in what i was buying and planed on keeping it till either it or I cant go any further so resale wasnt an issue for me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 56
From: Milan Indiana
Indiana experience with rebuilt title I bought an 04Z from Ohio that Ohio listed as rebuilt. I went to title it in Indiana and because it was auctioned when hit in 2010, they referred to a 2017 Federal law and made me go through this process. I had to get a salvage title and then the steps for a rebuilt. I needed proof of repairs with receipts- no physical inspection- the State was only concerned with the repair parts not being stolen. Because the repairs were done in 2010,I struggled to go back 2 owners and get info acceptable to BMV. I got notarized statements, parts yard out of business didn't help but got it done. Bought the car for about 1/2 clean title value and later sold it for almost full clean title value- even with the rebuilt title If you have good info, Indiana is fairly easy to deal with
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 339
From: Simi Valley CA
The thing that a salvage or rebuilt title will prevent is from a big lender financing the car or selling it through a big auction house. Right now that is probably not an issue. Let's say in 20 years these cars are worth $50k and you want to sell it at Barrett's, they will not accept it. On a car under 8 years old a salvage/rebuilt title kills the value because a finance company won't loan on it. Also, when cars get over 8 years old with or without a salvage title they loose a lot of value because big finance companies will no longer loan on them.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 326
From: Central Pennsylvannia
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
R title cars a tough sell, in the back of your mind you always wonder if your being told everything about the repair. On the other hand you can get a great deal on a cool car with that "R" on the title.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 32,990
Likes: 6,523
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
There is a simple way to deal with this issue. Buy the car, drive it until they put you in a pine box, and let your heirs worry about value. You can avoid a lot of problems if you just never sell! 