Please help me with this title mess
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2019
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Thought you said your dad did the title paperwork at the DMV?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1600658018
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1600658018
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
Likes: 6,535
From: Melbourne, FL
You have found the pitfalls of interstate car buying.
Some states will issue clean titles for rebuilt cars, some issue salvage titles if it's ever been salvage, and some take the last title status. Bottom line is your car is salvage, and you have to go through the process for that. What you should do is see what documentation is required for them to clear it. Do they know WHY it was salvage? Maybe it was salvage due to a slashed very roof, insurance paid out, and all that needed repaired was the roof? If you don't have documentation for the salvage and they don't either, it's in your best interest to have the needed repairs be as easy as possible.
Some states will issue clean titles for rebuilt cars, some issue salvage titles if it's ever been salvage, and some take the last title status. Bottom line is your car is salvage, and you have to go through the process for that. What you should do is see what documentation is required for them to clear it. Do they know WHY it was salvage? Maybe it was salvage due to a slashed very roof, insurance paid out, and all that needed repaired was the roof? If you don't have documentation for the salvage and they don't either, it's in your best interest to have the needed repairs be as easy as possible.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 71
Likes: 2
You have found the pitfalls of interstate car buying.
Some states will issue clean titles for rebuilt cars, some issue salvage titles if it's ever been salvage, and some take the last title status. Bottom line is your car is salvage, and you have to go through the process for that. What you should do is see what documentation is required for them to clear it. Do they know WHY it was salvage? Maybe it was salvage due to a slashed very roof, insurance paid out, and all that needed repaired was the roof? If you don't have documentation for the salvage and they don't either, it's in your best interest to have the needed repairs be as easy as possible.
Some states will issue clean titles for rebuilt cars, some issue salvage titles if it's ever been salvage, and some take the last title status. Bottom line is your car is salvage, and you have to go through the process for that. What you should do is see what documentation is required for them to clear it. Do they know WHY it was salvage? Maybe it was salvage due to a slashed very roof, insurance paid out, and all that needed repaired was the roof? If you don't have documentation for the salvage and they don't either, it's in your best interest to have the needed repairs be as easy as possible.
The problems is my title was clean and unbranded and the clerk at dmv didn’t understand that. Now if I search a Carfax for my car it will show that it was salvaged in 04 and in 2019, the day I brought it to be registered. They interpreted it as me requesting a salvage title for my car that I just wrecked. So something is off here.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
Well, if it was originally R title at one point, it needs to stay R title.
Basically anything else is called “title washing” and is pretty illegal.
Just pay the $200 and have it inspected. Don’t bring anything but what you have. The DMV will say one thing but I promise the inspection places are FAR more lenient. If they give you trouble and deny you THEN you can begin the process of trying to piecemeal receipts or whatver you’d need done.
I just went through this on a z06 with a brother. Many salvage yards are cash only without a receipt anyhow.
Basically anything else is called “title washing” and is pretty illegal.
Just pay the $200 and have it inspected. Don’t bring anything but what you have. The DMV will say one thing but I promise the inspection places are FAR more lenient. If they give you trouble and deny you THEN you can begin the process of trying to piecemeal receipts or whatver you’d need done.
I just went through this on a z06 with a brother. Many salvage yards are cash only without a receipt anyhow.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: Tomball, tx
It sounds like NJ's policy is that it was a salvage title at one point and will be a salvage title in NJ. Regardless if you were handed a clean unbranded title, the car is still a salvage car the history proves that obviously.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
Likes: 6,535
From: Melbourne, FL
the njdmv told me that if my car is rebuilt than I should not have to go through this process. No state will give you a salvage title on a vehicle that has been rebuilt many years ago. It wouldn’t make sense.
The problems is my title was clean and unbranded and the clerk at dmv didn’t understand that. Now if I search a Carfax for my car it will show that it was salvaged in 04 and in 2019, the day I brought it to be registered. They interpreted it as me requesting a salvage title for my car that I just wrecked. So something is off here.
The problems is my title was clean and unbranded and the clerk at dmv didn’t understand that. Now if I search a Carfax for my car it will show that it was salvaged in 04 and in 2019, the day I brought it to be registered. They interpreted it as me requesting a salvage title for my car that I just wrecked. So something is off here.
Your car was only CLEAN titled due to state law loopholes. It is a salvage title car. I agree with the others, take it for inspection, tell them you just bought it and have no information about the accident it was salvage from, and move onward.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 258
In Ohio at least, salvage and rebuilt titles are two different things.
Salvage is pre inspection and not legal for road use
Rebuilt is after passing inspection and now legal to drive and insure.
Just to clarify for posters using the words
Salvage is pre inspection and not legal for road use
Rebuilt is after passing inspection and now legal to drive and insure.
Just to clarify for posters using the words
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Melbourne, FL
But the issue is, that's not the case in all states.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 71
Likes: 2
Well, if it was originally R title at one point, it needs to stay R title.
Basically anything else is called “title washing” and is pretty illegal.
Just pay the $200 and have it inspected. Don’t bring anything but what you have. The DMV will say one thing but I promise the inspection places are FAR more lenient. If they give you trouble and deny you THEN you can begin the process of trying to piecemeal receipts or whatver you’d need done.
I just went through this on a z06 with a brother. Many salvage yards are cash only without a receipt anyhow.
Basically anything else is called “title washing” and is pretty illegal.
Just pay the $200 and have it inspected. Don’t bring anything but what you have. The DMV will say one thing but I promise the inspection places are FAR more lenient. If they give you trouble and deny you THEN you can begin the process of trying to piecemeal receipts or whatver you’d need done.
I just went through this on a z06 with a brother. Many salvage yards are cash only without a receipt anyhow.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 71
Likes: 2
Not all states are the same. Salvage titles and rebuilt titles can be the same thing in some states. In NC for example, there is only a salvage title. When totalled, it goes to a salvage title. If you fix it, it stays salvage. You register it, and it passes inspection, it's on the road but still salvage title.
Your car was only CLEAN titled due to state law loopholes. It is a salvage title car. I agree with the others, take it for inspection, tell them you just bought it and have no information about the accident it was salvage from, and move onward.
Your car was only CLEAN titled due to state law loopholes. It is a salvage title car. I agree with the others, take it for inspection, tell them you just bought it and have no information about the accident it was salvage from, and move onward.
I feel like I’m jumping through these hoops all because somebody made a mistake. You only need to get a salvage inspection after the FIRST registration after the accident. Otherwise it would be impossible for people to provide the paperwork on rebuilt cars they purchased, which were totaled many years ago. Once it’s rebuilt, it is rebuilt. It will always have an R title though, unless it was unbranded which can happen after 8 years I believe as it can be converted to a standard title. This is what happened in my case; I handed them in a standard title, and they gave me back a salvage. It was like we took 3 steps backwards in that transaction.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
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Wager $200 and see what happens
Last edited by RSbeast; Jan 8, 2020 at 01:08 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
NJMVC will correct title errors if you prove that they made a mistake. You can get the title information from NY proving that the car was legally registered and title was not a salvage title and also provide the information that NY may eliminate the rebuilt title designation on the title if the car is over 8 years old. The DVM people are like ***** and just love to bust *****, they are on a power trip. With that information you may be able to get it fixed. You need to have documentation otherwise they will ignore you requests to fix this.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
Likes: 6,535
From: Melbourne, FL
the thing that is strange is New York has even more strict salvage rules. They blatantly state that no salvage car can be legally driven. Upon looking at the carfax, you can see that the car was registered in May of 2019 and passed inspection in NY.
I feel like I’m jumping through these hoops all because somebody made a mistake. You only need to get a salvage inspection after the FIRST registration after the accident. Otherwise it would be impossible for people to provide the paperwork on rebuilt cars they purchased, which were totaled many years ago. Once it’s rebuilt, it is rebuilt. It will always have an R title though, unless it was unbranded which can happen after 8 years I believe as it can be converted to a standard title. This is what happened in my case; I handed them in a standard title, and they gave me back a salvage. It was like we took 3 steps backwards in that transaction.
I feel like I’m jumping through these hoops all because somebody made a mistake. You only need to get a salvage inspection after the FIRST registration after the accident. Otherwise it would be impossible for people to provide the paperwork on rebuilt cars they purchased, which were totaled many years ago. Once it’s rebuilt, it is rebuilt. It will always have an R title though, unless it was unbranded which can happen after 8 years I believe as it can be converted to a standard title. This is what happened in my case; I handed them in a standard title, and they gave me back a salvage. It was like we took 3 steps backwards in that transaction.
It doesn't sound like your DMV did anything wrong. New York maybe, as you had a clean title. It should have been rebuilt. So NJ sees this was a salvage car, now has a clear title vs rebuilt, that's a problem. You go get it inspected, if it's safely rebuilt, you get a rebuilt title. Seems reasonable to me.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2019
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Maybe NJ doesn't recognize rebuilt titles from other states? You need to go to the inspection guys to sort it out.
It doesn't sound like your DMV did anything wrong. New York maybe, as you had a clean title. It should have been rebuilt. So NJ sees this was a salvage car, now has a clear title vs rebuilt, that's a problem. You go get it inspected, if it's safely rebuilt, you get a rebuilt title. Seems reasonable to me.
It doesn't sound like your DMV did anything wrong. New York maybe, as you had a clean title. It should have been rebuilt. So NJ sees this was a salvage car, now has a clear title vs rebuilt, that's a problem. You go get it inspected, if it's safely rebuilt, you get a rebuilt title. Seems reasonable to me.
The dmv clerks at the NJDMV are miserable incompetents. Unfortunately, the one who registered my car didn’t understand a title could be cleared after a while and reverted it back to a salvage, even though the car hasn’t been in an accident in a very long time. NY dmv did understand that, as the previous owner had no problem with the registration.
The reason why this is such a big deal is because getting it inspected and registered through the salvage process is not so easy. It takes multiple months to get an appointment, and I don’t have access to any of the paperwork that is required. And by the slim chance I pass, it takes another 5 weeks to get the title itself after the inspection. Just one huge headache. And I’m down 200$ to the state.
I reality I should have walked into the dmv, received my standard title or rebuilt title, and walked away with plates.
Appreciate the help from everyone and I will be reaching out to the nj title department and taking things from there.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
Maybe NJ doesn't recognize rebuilt titles from other states? You need to go to the inspection guys to sort it out.
It doesn't sound like your DMV did anything wrong. New York maybe, as you had a clean title. It should have been rebuilt. So NJ sees this was a salvage car, now has a clear title vs rebuilt, that's a problem. You go get it inspected, if it's safely rebuilt, you get a rebuilt title. Seems reasonable to me.
It doesn't sound like your DMV did anything wrong. New York maybe, as you had a clean title. It should have been rebuilt. So NJ sees this was a salvage car, now has a clear title vs rebuilt, that's a problem. You go get it inspected, if it's safely rebuilt, you get a rebuilt title. Seems reasonable to me.
The NJMVC did this wrong. What proceedure was the idiot clerk following? When you apply for a salvage title you need paper work and documentation from the insurance company or whoever took control of the car after it was sold or auctioned off. All that was used to try and register the car was a clean title. So if they thought the car was a salvage vehicle they should not have transferred ownership by issuing a salvage title. He should have been told to come back with the correct paperwork. After I got my salvage vehicle through the required inspection the clerk at the NJMVC almost gave me a clean title by mistake. They sometimes don't know what they are doing and the rules are so complicated mistakes are often made.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
Likes: 6,535
From: Melbourne, FL
yeah but the thing is it’s not a problem for a title to be clean after it was salvaged at one point. Morally, maybe, as I’ve found out the hard way. But legally it can be converted after a period of time, which is what happened.
The dmv clerks at the NJDMV are miserable incompetents. Unfortunately, the one who registered my car didn’t understand a title could be cleared after a while and reverted it back to a salvage, even though the car hasn’t been in an accident in a very long time. NY dmv did understand that, as the previous owner had no problem with the registration.
The reason why this is such a big deal is because getting it inspected and registered through the salvage process is not so easy. It takes multiple months to get an appointment, and I don’t have access to any of the paperwork that is required. And by the slim chance I pass, it takes another 5 weeks to get the title itself after the inspection. Just one huge headache. And I’m down 200$ to the state.
I reality I should have walked into the dmv, received my standard title or rebuilt title, and walked away with plates.
Appreciate the help from everyone and I will be reaching out to the nj title department and taking things from there.
The dmv clerks at the NJDMV are miserable incompetents. Unfortunately, the one who registered my car didn’t understand a title could be cleared after a while and reverted it back to a salvage, even though the car hasn’t been in an accident in a very long time. NY dmv did understand that, as the previous owner had no problem with the registration.
The reason why this is such a big deal is because getting it inspected and registered through the salvage process is not so easy. It takes multiple months to get an appointment, and I don’t have access to any of the paperwork that is required. And by the slim chance I pass, it takes another 5 weeks to get the title itself after the inspection. Just one huge headache. And I’m down 200$ to the state.
I reality I should have walked into the dmv, received my standard title or rebuilt title, and walked away with plates.
Appreciate the help from everyone and I will be reaching out to the nj title department and taking things from there.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 71
Likes: 2
No state I've lived in or heard of will ever give you a clean title for a salvage car. I have heard of states that give you a rebuilt title after fixing, but never a clean title like it never happened. I think THIS is where things went awry. But, I could be wrong. It may have been a communication issue.
The thing is it doesn’t matter whether my title was clear or rebuilt — it wasn’t salvage. I should have been able to register my car.