-
Salvaged Vehicles in West Virginia
A salvage vehicle is one that has been so damaged due to a wreck, flood, or some other cause that it's uneconomical to repair it. An insurance company won't cover the cost of repairs if they do not declare the vehicle to be salvage. Contact your insurance company for their definition of what qualifies a vehicle as salvage.
Salvage Certificate Application
Before you make plans to get rid of your salvage vehicle (this includes selling it to an individual, allowing it to be put on an auction block, or recycling it to a salvage, or "junk," yard) you must complete a Salvage Certificate Application and submit it to your local DMV office along with all other vehicle documentation (the vehicle's title, registration, etc.). The fee for a salvage certificate is $15.
If your vehicle has been deemed salvage but you wish to repair it, you must obtain a reconstruction title packet from your local DMV office or by calling (304) 558-3900 or (304) 558-3900. Unfortunately, these packets aren't available online. You can have the vehicle repaired and then re-register it, but its title will always be branded "reconstructed" or "salvage."
Cosmetic Total Loss
A cosmetic total loss occurs when the vehicle is deemed to be a total loss, but the damages are entirely cosmetic. Unlike a salvage vehicle, a vehicle that is a cosmetic total loss should require no repairs in order for it to operate both legally and safely in West Virginia.
If your vehicle is a cosmetic total loss, you must complete an Application for Cosmetic Total Loss Certification. The fee is $10.
West Virginia Floods
Some parts of West Virginia have had serious flooding problems over the past several years, which have led to widespread home and vehicle damage. By law, a dealer or an individual selling a vehicle is supposed to tell you if a vehicle was once considered salvage; unfortunately, this doesn't mean they will.
If you're considering purchasing a vehicle, especially when from an individual, you should check out the website for the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to find out if the vehicle has been seriously damaged by flooding.
Other Topics in This Section
- Register Car
- Registration Renewal
- Registration & Insurance
- Replacing a Lost Registration
- RV & Motorhome Registration
- Custom Built Car Registration
- Boat Registration and Licenses
- Title Transfers
- Replacing a Lost Title
- Special Vehicles
- Drivers with Disabilities
- License Plates & Placards
- Smog & Emission Checks
Your Opinion Matters To Us!
Send Feedback
- How to Tell if Hurricane Sandy Flood Water Damaged Your Car
- How to Tell if Hurricane Sandy Totaled Your Car
- Buyer Beware of Cars Damaged in Hurricane Sandy
- Doing Your Homework Before Selling a Car
- Follow These Tips to Junk or Salvage a Vehicle
- Tips for Buying or Selling a Salvage Vehicle
Articles
Find Your
Local DMV OfficeLocal Businesses:
We put a lot of effort into making our content helpful & accurate. Please let us know if you see something that isn't clear or correct; we are here to ease any frustrations you may have while navigating DMV topics. We are not a government agency, please reach out to your local DMV, insurance agent, or respective professional for further assistance on specific situations.
