Salvage & Title Check
Learn how to check for a salvage, rebuilt or branded title before buying a used car. Understand what each title brand means and how to verify a vehicle's status with official sources.
A salvage title is issued when an insurer declares a vehicle a total loss, typically when damage exceeds about 75% of its value. A branded title (salvage, rebuilt, flood, junk, lemon) permanently flags a vehicle's history and sharply affects its value and safety. Always verify a title brand before buying: decode the VIN, ask for the physical title, and check the federal NMVTIS database.
Common Title Brands Explained
- Salvage: declared a total loss by an insurer; not roadworthy until rebuilt and re-inspected
- Rebuilt / Reconstructed: a salvage vehicle repaired and re-certified for the road
- Flood / Water Damage: damaged by flooding, a major risk for electrical and mechanical faults
- Junk: damaged beyond repair; legal for parts or scrap only
- Lemon (Manufacturer Buyback): repurchased by the maker for repeated warranty defects
- Odometer Brand: mileage is inaccurate, rolled back or exceeds mechanical limits
Why Title Brands Matter
A branded title can cut a vehicle's value by 20–50% and may make it difficult to insure or finance. More importantly, a poorly rebuilt salvage or flood car can hide safety-critical damage. Knowing the brand before you buy protects both your wallet and your safety.
How to Check a Title Before You Buy
- Decode the VIN to confirm the vehicle's identity and specifications
- Ask the seller for the physical title and read the brand field
- Run the VIN through NMVTIS, the federal title database, via an approved provider
- Check for open recalls and inspect the car with a trusted mechanic
Salvage vs. Rebuilt, What's the Difference?
A salvage title means the vehicle is not currently legal to drive. Once repaired and passed through a state inspection, it may receive a rebuilt (or reconstructed) title, making it road-legal again, but it never returns to clean-title status, and the brand stays with the VIN for life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a car has a salvage title for free?
Ask the seller for the physical title and read the brand field, and decode the VIN to confirm the vehicle's identity. Full branded-title records are held in the federal NMVTIS system, accessible through approved providers.
Is it safe to buy a salvage or rebuilt car?
It can be, if the repairs were done properly and documented, and an independent mechanic inspects it. But branded vehicles carry higher risk and lower resale value, so proceed carefully.
Does a salvage title lower a car's value?
Yes, significantly. A salvage or rebuilt brand typically reduces value by 20–50% and can complicate insurance and financing.
Data sources: NHTSA vPIC · NMVTIS (title brands).