Date:         Mon, 10 Mar 2003 14:30:57 -0500
Reply-To:     ian Butler <ian@BLUEMOON.HPLX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         ian Butler <ian@BLUEMOON.HPLX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Converting a salvage title in CA
Comments: To: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BA921B1C.33BF%mwmiller@cwnet.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Mon, 10 Mar 2003, Mike Miller wrote:

> In a word, NO.
>
> Once a vehicle is branded salvage, junk or several other things like that
> it will remain that.  The records are held by VIN so unless you can change
> the VIN, a federal crime, then once branded is forever branded.
>
> This is from the people who make such decisions at DMV.

I missed the beginning of the thread, but I'll throw in my $.02 anyway. :)

In Michigan, and as I recall in Wyoming as well, the state issues a salvage
title whenever the vehicle has been totaled by an insurance company, though
it can be issued a salvage through other means too.  After that happens,
there's supposed to be a multipoint inspection done by a police officer to
verify that all the major safety things work (brakes, steering, horn,
windshield washer, lots of stuff) and you can take it to the Secretary of
State (the DMV) to get a rebuilt title issued.  A rebuilt title allows you
to license it for regular on-road use just like a regular title, but as a
buyer protection thing, the title is orange instead of green, and says "THIS
VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A SALVAGE TITLE" on the front.

I had an Audi that had a salvage title, and the inspection turned out to be
a police officer checking the VIN to see if it was stolen or had a lien, and
then signing the paper.  MI also doesn't have emissions testing, which
probably eases the process.

It's easy here, and with minimal government involvement.  As to whether it's
a good way to run a fairly well-populated state is another matter, though.
I guess it sorta matches our roads (potholes, frost heaves, and heck, even
large sections of missing pavement in places.)

ian Butler / ian@bluemoon.hplx.net
'88 Scirocco 16v (on repair shop #3), '87 Syncro GL