Salvaged Vehicles in Georgia

When you end up with a salvaged car, either you or your insurance company must apply for a salvage title with the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR). After that, if you plan to keep or sell your vehicle—for purposes of driving it on GA roads—you must apply for a rebuilt title.

What Is a Salvaged Car in GA?

In Georgia, your car is considered a salvaged car if your:

• Vehicle is damaged (sometimes referred to as “dismantled”) to the point that making it operable again will require replacing at least 2 component parts. Component parts include the:
  • Front clip assembly (including the hood, fender, and bumper).
  • Rear clip assembly (including the quarter panels, floor panel, and roof assembly).
  • Engine and transmission.
  • Frame.
  • Vehicle’s complete side (including the quarter panel, doors, and fenders).
• Insurance company paid a total loss claim and the vehicle remains unrepaired.
• Vehicle currently has an out-of-state title branded “salvage,” “total loss,” “flood,” “water,” or “fire.”

Note that you CANNOT legally operate a salvaged car on Georgia roads until:

• You apply for a salvage title.
• The vehicle has been rebuilt to an operable condition.
  • It must also pass an inspection—see “Vehicle Inspection” below for details.
• You apply for a rebuilt title.

Scrapped or Demolished Vehicles

Typically, you can apply for a Georgia salvage title and even a rebuilt title if a vehicle is salvaged or dismantled.

However, scrapped or demolished vehicles (for example, those so destroyed it makes more sense to send them to the junkyard) generally get a title marked “Parts” and you can’t repair or legally operate those vehicles.

The process involves submitting:

• Your properly assigned title.
• Specific vehicle information including the:
  • Make, model, and year.
  • Vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • Title number.
• The vehicle’s license plate.

For more information, refer to the state’s section on scrapped and demolished vehicles.

How to Get a GA Salvaged Title

If you are keeping your salvage car after a total loss settlement, application for a Georgia salvage title must be submitted within 30 days of the settlement. Your car insurance company is responsible for most of the application process; however, you must provide your insurance company with:

• A completed:
  • Application for an Original or Replacement Salvage Title Only (Form MV-1S).
  • Report of and/or Surrender of Georgia License Plate (Form T-158).
• Your license plates.
• The original title (if available).

If your insurance company keeps the car, provide them with the original title properly assigned to the company.

How to apply for a GA Rebuilt Title

To get your salvage vehicle back on Georgia roads, you will have to go through the rebuilding process.

The state generally only allows licensed rebuilders to apply for a rebuilt title. Contact the DOR for information on any exceptions.

Salvage Vehicle Inspection in Georgia

The application process for a rebuilt title revolves around a car inspection. Your car must pass a rebuilt car inspection by an approved private inspector or a state inspector*. The licensed rebuilder is likely to take care of most of this process for you by submitting the following to an inspector:

• A completed and signed:
  • Request for an Inspection of a Rebuilt Motor Vehicle (Form T-22R).
    • Only if you’re going to a private inspection station; if you’re using a state inspector, you’ve already mailed this form.
  • Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • Labor and Parts Certification (Form T-129).
  • Original salvage title, assigned to the owner (i.e., you).
• Pictures of the salvaged vehicle before repairs.
• Receipts for all parts used to repair the vehicle. Receipts must show:
  • The parts’ names and stock numbers.
  • The name of the owner or rebuilder who purchased the parts.
  • The vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle(s) to which each part originally belonged.
    • The vehicle must have a title on file. If the parts came from another state, provide a letter of certification.
• A copy of the rebuilder’s license, if applicable.
• Payment to the private inspector; fees vary by location. A state inspection is free.

Once your vehicle passes inspection, submit to the DOR:

• All of the above paperwork.
• The inspector’s report.
• Payment for the:
  • $100 state inspection fee (this is separate from the fee paid to the inspector itself).
  • $18 title fee.

Mail the above to:

DOR/Motor Vehicle Division
Attn: Salvage Unit
P.O. Box 740384
Atlanta, GA 30374

*NOTE: The Request for an Inspection of a Rebuilt Motor Vehicle (Form T-22R) offers the option to request an inspection directly from Georgia. This is a much longer process (by several weeks) but also saves you from paying the separate fee to a private inspector. Refer to the application and contact the DOR for more information.

Out-of-State Rebranded or Rebuilt Titles

If your out-of-state title is already marked as “Rebuilt” or “Restored” (i.e., the vehicle is no longer damaged), you STILL need to complete the application process for a rebuilt GA title but you DON’T have to provide:

• Any pictures of the vehicle when it was in a damaged state.
• The receipts for replacement parts.
• The Labor and Parts Certification (Form T-129).