Salvaged Vehicles in Indiana

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) may consider your car to be a salvage if it’s severely damaged in an accident. Read on for the BMV’s definition and options regarding salvaged cars in The Hoosier State.

What’s a Salvaged Car in Indiana?

The IN Bureau of Motor Vehicles considers your vehicle a salvaged car if it was built in the last 7 model years AND any of the following apply:

Your insurance company determines it would cost more to repair than the vehicle is worth (i.e. its fair market value).
The cost to repair damages to the vehicle is more than 70% of what it was worth (before the accident) and the car is owned by:
- A company that insures its own vehicles.
  OR

Someone who obtained the car after the accident causing the damages.

The vehicle is flood-damaged, meaning:
- Water reached above the door sill.
- Water entered the passenger area or trunk compartment.
- Any electrical, computerized, or mechanical component was exposed to water.

If you’re not sure whether you have a salvaged vehicle on your hands, call the Indiana BMV for clarification at (888) 692-6841.

Your Salvaged Vehicle Options

Once you’ve established your car is a salvage, you can:

Assign ownership to your insurance company.
- Typically, this is part of a total loss claim settlement where your insurance provider takes responsibility for the vehicle and pays you damages.
- Your insurance company will apply for the salvage title, which may require a few steps on your part (e.g. handling any lien satisfaction requirements); your provider will advise you.
Keep ownership of the vehicle.
- Depending on your insurance policy, this could be part of a partial settlement for a total loss claim.
- You MUST apply for a salvage title.
- After you apply for a salvage title, you have the option to:
  - Sell the vehicle to a business that junks, scraps, and/or dismantles salvage cars.
  - Repair the vehicle and apply for a rebuilt title, after which you can keep the vehicle for yourself or sell it.

Apply for an Indiana Salvaged Title

First, understand that you:

MUST apply for a salvage title if the vehicle was built within the last 7 model years.
CAN REQUEST a salvage title if the vehicle is more than 7 model years old.

To apply for a salvage title, the IN Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires you to submit the following:

A completed salvage motor vehicle title packet, which includes a/an:
- Salvage Motor Vehicle Title Application Checklist.
- Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (Form 205).
- Salvage Title Affidavit (Form 49891).
Your car’s Certificate of Title.
- If another state issued your vehicle’s title, you must ALSO include a completed Physical Inspection of a Vehicle or Watercraft (Form 39530).
Proof of the date of loss from your insurance company.
If you’re:
- Maintaining ownership of the vehicle: A completed Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Exemption (Form 44841).
- Buying the vehicle: Payment for the 7% sales tax OR provide a Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Paid (Form 48842).
Payment for the necessary fees (the packet includes payment options and instructions):
- Salvage title application fee: $4.
  - An ADDITIONAL $25 if you choose the speed title option.
- Administrative penalty: $10.
  - Only due if you don’t apply for a salvage title within 45 days of reaching a settlement with your insurance company or purchasing the salvaged vehicle.

Mail all the required documents and fees to the BMV at:

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Central Office Title Processing
100 North Senate Avenue
Room N411
Indianapolis, IN 46204

If you have any questions while getting your salvage title application together, call the IN BMV at (888) 692-6841 for assistance.

Apply for an IN Rebuilt Title

You can apply for an Indiana rebuilt title AFTER you’ve repaired your salvage car. To do so, submit the following items to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles:

A completed rebuilt vehicle title packet, which includes a/an:
- Salvage Motor Vehicle Restoration Title Application Checklist.
- Application for Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (Form 205).
- Affidavit of Restoration for a Salvage Motor Vehicle (Form 44606).
- Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 43230), IF the car transferred ownership.
- General Affidavit (Form 37964) for parts you didn’t have to buy to repair/rebuild your car.
The vehicle’s salvage title.
Proof of:
- Ownership and/or purchase for each major component part you had to buy to repair/rebuild the vehicle.
- Address.
If you’re:
- Purchasing the car: Payment for the 7% sales tax OR a Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Paid (Form 48842) as proof of payment.
- Maintaining ownership of the car: A Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Exemption (Form 44841).
Payment for the applicable fees (payment options and instructions are in the packet):
- Title application fee: $15.
  - An ADDITIONAL $25 if you choose the expedited title option.
- Administrative penalty: $30.
  - Required if you don’t apply for the salvage title within 45 days of the when the vehicle was obtained.

Mail all the documents and applicable fees above to: