Salvage, Rebuilt, Flood, Lemon — every title brand tells a different story about a vehicle's past, and each one affects resale value differently. Here's what to know before you buy.
A clean title means the vehicle has never been declared a total loss, has no salvage or flood brands, and has no unresolved liens. It's the standard title issued when a car has no major history issues.
Even clean titles can hide undisclosed accidents that weren't reported to insurance — always pair a title check with a full accident history report.
Issued when an insurance company declares a vehicle a total loss — usually because repair costs exceed 70-80% of its market value. This can result from a serious accident, fire, or severe damage of any kind.
Salvage titled vehicles are typically not legal to drive until rebuilt and re-inspected. Financing and insurance are also much harder to obtain.
A previously salvage-titled vehicle that has been repaired and passed a state safety inspection, allowing it back on the road. The title is permanently branded 'Rebuilt' so future buyers know its history.
Repair quality varies widely. Ask for documentation of the rebuild and get an independent inspection — hidden structural or electrical issues are common.
Applied to vehicles that were submerged in water and declared a total loss as a result. Flood vehicles often resurface far from where the flooding occurred, sometimes with the brand removed or laundered.
Water damage causes long-term corrosion and electrical failures that can take months to appear. Check for musty odors, water stains, and corroded connectors.
Issued when a manufacturer repurchases a vehicle from an owner after it had a defect the manufacturer couldn't fix under warranty, often after multiple repair attempts (a 'lemon law' buyback).
The underlying defect may or may not have been fully resolved before resale. Ask specifically what issue triggered the buyback.
Assigned to vehicles that are damaged beyond reasonable repair and destined for scrap or parts. These vehicles cannot legally be registered or driven on public roads.
Never purchase a junk-titled vehicle expecting to drive it — it can't be re-titled for road use in almost every state.
A VINCheck USA report reveals a vehicle's title brand, accident history, and more — powered by official NMVTIS federal data.