Guide · 6 min read
Rebuilt vs Salvage Title
A salvage title means total-loss. A rebuilt title means someone fixed it. The difference matters more than most buyers realize.
Salvage and rebuilt sound similar. They mean different things legally.
Salvage, one sentence
An insurer declared the vehicle a total loss and the state branded the title. May or may not have been repaired. Not yet certified roadworthy.
Rebuilt, one sentence
A salvage vehicle that got repaired, state-inspected, and certified roadworthy. One-way upgrade. A clean title can't become rebuilt, and a salvage title can't un-salvage without the inspection.
State inspection standards vary
Some states require a certified rebuilder, parts receipts, and thorough inspection. Others just want a form and a visual check. Research the state the rebuild was done in.
Insurance and value
- Salvage: usually liability only. Often can't be driven legally.
- Rebuilt: full insurance usually available. 10 to 30 percent discount against clean-title value.
What a Carfax shows
A cheap Carfax report shows every brand on every title ever issued in every state, in order. Catches washing.