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Salvaged Vehicles
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Salvage laws were put into effect to give the vehicle-buying public a way to know that a vehicle has been badly damaged or declared to be a "total loss" due to damage at some point in its history.
Top A Bad Reputation
Of course, the image conjured by the word "salvaged" is often one of an unreliable, wrecked, junk car that is completely unsafe and should be avoided at all costs.
This is not always the case―some salvaged cars have been declared a total loss but can be restored to good, functioning, safe transportation. They can even be made to look good again, too!
Top Purchasing a Salvage
But beware of those good looks! Just because a car looks great on the exterior and interior, and just because you can't see any particular damage to the engine compartment when you lift the hood, does not mean that you are buying a safe and reliable vehicle.
On the other hand, not all salvaged vehicles are unreliable, unsafe, or otherwise unsuitable for transportation. The damage may have been very "fixable" but the cost prohibited the insurance company from doing so.
If such a vehicle is sold for salvage value and then repaired, and if the repairs have been done by a reputable and qualified repair person, then the vehicle would be "road-worthy" and should be considered a safe purchase.
Top Salvage Laws
If a car is involved in a collision, the cost to repair is compared to the value of the vehicle immediately before the accident. In Oklahoma, if the repair costs meet 60% of the value of the car before the accident, there is a good chance that the vehicle will be deemed "totaled" and sold for the salvage value.
Once a vehicle has been salvaged, the certificate of title is sent to the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) and a new title indicating the salvaged status will be issued, thus "branding" the title.
Top Full Disclosure
If a vehicle has spent its life in Oklahoma, it is simple enough; just look at the title to see whether or not it has been declared "totaled" and subsequently salvaged. The "full disclosure" titling rules in Oklahoma make purchasing a used vehicle a safer buy than it is in states without title "branding" and disclosure of salvaged status.
The problem is, not every used vehicle sold in Oklahoma has spent its life in Oklahoma. There are no federal guidelines for salvaged vehicle and other states may not be as thorough as Oklahoma in the "branding" of a salvaged vehicle.
Top Flood Damaged Cars
As of this writing, cars have begun to appear on the market that have been salvaged from the floodwaters of the August/September 2005 hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.
Unfortunately, the reason these vehicles were designated as "totaled" in the first place is due to the water damage to the electronics systems. Many of these cars on the market now were completely submerged in the floodwaters.
When the electronic systems are exposed to water, they may be "dried out" temporarily, but will continue to deteriorate, causing the vehicle to become unreliable or, worse, to fail at highway speeds. These failures can cause collisions or even render a vehicle uncontrollable. For suggestions on protection from unscrupulous used vehicle dealers, read our section on buying and selling a motor vehicle.
Another way to protect yourself is to look into a vehicle history report. All you need is the vehicle identification number (VIN). This is an excellent way to get the true history of a used car.
Related Questions from DMV Answers
How much do inspection stations charge?
Some states standardize vehicle inspection fees; others leave it up to the individual inspection stations. Keep in mind that in addition to regular fees, you might also need to pay for repair costs (if your vehicle fails the inspection and needs repairs) as well as a fee for a re-inspection.Inspections are important in order to make sure each vehicle on the roadways is operating safely and efficiently. If your state requires a vehicle inspection, it’s most likely that’s you’ll need to take care of it before, during, or shortly after you register your vehicle or renew your vehicle’s registration. Make sure you handle the inspection within the appropriate amount of time in order to proceed with these vehicle transactions as well as avoid penalties such as citations and additional fees.The grid below lists how much you can expect to pay.NOTE: Even if the grid notes that your state doesn’t require a vehicle inspection, it doesn’t mean there aren&rsquo...
Read more >>Are vehicle inspection stations open on Saturday?
Days and hours of operation for vehicle inspection stations can vary greatly. Your state might perform vehicle inspections at privately owned inspection stations located throughout the state, in which case you’ll need to contact your closest station and ask about days and hours, or it might perform these inspections at the DMV, in which case times will depend on the DMV’s typical days and hours.In order to register your vehicle or renew your vehicle’s registration, as well as avoid citations, fines, and other penalties, it’s important to handle your auto inspection (and, in some cases, the re-inspection) within the time limits your state mandates.Check your state in the grid below.NOTE: The grid might state that your state doesn’t require vehicle inspections, but keep in mind this grid deals with safety inspections only. Your state might require other kinds of inspections, such as emissions inspections or VIN inspections in certain situations (such as w...
Read more >>What should I consider when purchasing a used car with a salvage title?
The first thing you should do is order a vehicle history report. This report will run the vehicle identification number (or, VIN) through a check and let you know all about the history of the used car. If the owner already told you the vehicle has a salvage title, running a VIN check will give you the complete story and possibly either set your mind at ease or make you realize you’re not willing to take the risk.If the owner didn’t tell you about the salvage title and the vehicle history report is how you found out, you might want to consider looking elsewhere for a used car – even if the VIN check doesn’t present any major problems. Withholding the salvage title status is just bad business.State Laws On Salvage TitlesEven if you’re aware the used car is a salvage that the owner has repaired, and even if a VIN check confirms everything the owner’s told you is true and that there’s nothing in the vehicle’s history that makes you too ner...
Read more >>What if my car fails the vehicle inspection?
The grid below highlights how your state requires you to handle a failed vehicle inspection.Generally, you’ll need to make the necessary repairs and return the vehicle for another inspection. However, some states offer perks such as free re-inspections for returning the vehicle within a certain amount of time and/or to the same auto inspection station. In addition to taking advantage of any freebies your state offers, it’s important to make the repairs and return for a re-inspection in a timely manner in order to handle vehicle registration or registration renewal on time, as well as avoid late fees, citations, and other penalties.NOTE: If the grid states you don’t have to get a vehicle inspection in your state, be sure to double-check with your motor vehicle licensing agency. Some states do require certain kinds of inspections, such VIN inspections before registering out-of-state vehicles, salvage vehicles that have been rebuilt, or custom-built vehicles, or emiss...
Read more >>Where can I locate the motorcycle VIN on my bike?
Are you looking to buy a used motorcycle? If so, you’ll need to locate the motorcycle vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN number is located in two places on motorcycles, on the engine case and on the frame. Motorcycles from 1970 and later only have a frame tag. Motorcycles made during or after 1981 have a VIN that is made up of 17 characters. Prior to 1981, the motorcycle VIN usually ran 11-17 characters. Modern day VINs consist of 17 characters that do not include the letters I, O, or Q. When buying any used vehicle, especially when buying a used motorcycle, it should be standard procedure to check the history of the vehicle. Previous owners aren’t always forthcoming about a motorcycle’s past. Has it been in an accident? Has it been recalled? Is it stolen or salvaged? VIN numbers are documented in all accident reports, stolen vehicle reports, recall reports, and any records that are available to the public. Or, you could want to provide the VIN number to ...
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