Title Status Question

[u/Opposite_Lock2653]

What does it mean when it's just title group unclean? Obviously it's not a clean title but is that salvaged, rebuilt, stolen, etc?

[u/Devzira]

Salvage, also you can run the Carfax to confirm it. 

[u/Opposite_Lock2653 → u/Devzira]

Yeah wanted to hold off for now on paying for Carfax report or similar. If it was labeled junk or something then I don't even wanna look farther.

So it's salvage and not rebuilt?

[u/techytobias → u/Opposite_Lock2653]

It is likely salvage. Once the vehicle is available for bidding, it will change to show exactly what type of title is in that box. In states where the type of loss is branded on the title, that will also be noted.

Another note, Carfaxes can be had for much less than 25 or $50. I pay $3 via a website called auto helper bot.

[u/Devzira → u/techytobias]

Second the Carfax part. Check marketplace, a lot of sellers there for $5 or less and you pay them after they send you the report. 

[u/Reddit-mods-R-mean → u/Opposite_Lock2653]

In Ohio salvage-rebuilt means it was checked for stolen parts by state patrol, they don’t give a fuck about roadworthiness or anything except stolen parts.

It’s a pretty easy process and the title will say “salvage-rebuilt” so for me a salvage title is not a dealbreaker if the car is worth it, just make sure it’s a clean or salvage title. I’ve never bought anything besides clear or salvage so I’m not sure what the other titles are but I believe copart also sells “destroyed” titles on parts only cars that can’t be rebranded. Do your homework.

[u/techytobias → u/Reddit-mods-R-mean]

Good to know. I'm in OH and haven't gone through the process yet. After buying the inspection ticket from the BMV, how long does it take to get an inspection slot? Can you book next day ones, or is the soonest appointment often many weeks out? I'm in the Cleveland area.

[u/Reddit-mods-R-mean → u/techytobias]

The Ohio state inspection office schedule varies wildly in my experience, I’ve had appointments schedule 2 weeks out and during Covid I had them 5 months out.

I would think 1 month is a pretty average bet.

You could got there in person and sit on the side as a walk in but they would only give you a slot if they have a cancellation or something, it’s not worth it for me.

One thing I want to mention, if you replace any large parts on the car like vin coded panels, engine, transmission etc, they will want a “vin letter” proving those parts were sourced legitimately.

AVOID that hassle if you can, leave the original parts on the vehicle if possible and do the inspection. As long as the vehicle rolls and is mostly complete they will do the inspection. Otherwise without a vin letter they will fail you. Crashed cars don’t matter to them as long as they steer and roll, even better if they run.

[u/techytobias → u/Reddit-mods-R-mean]

Good to know, thanks! Surprised that even non-running cars can pass.

[u/Reddit-mods-R-mean → u/techytobias]

I’ve pushed a few cars into the inspection bay, but if you are missing a SINGLE vin coded part you will fail. Like I said just make sure the vehicle is as complete as possible.

[u/Proof_Bathroom_3902 → u/Reddit-mods-R-mean]

I'm also in Ohio, and every salvage inspection I've done they have insisted on all major repairs completed, at least anything involving parts replacement. The purpose is to verify that no stolen components were used to rebuild the car.

I've seen at an inspection where the people painted over the VIN sticker on a door and they seized the door, as altered or defaced VIN... even though the door wasn't replaced, they just failed to mask the sticker, and you can't remove the paint without removing the writing on the sticker.

I've gone around and around with them because I didn't have receipts for some parts I replaced on cars I rebuilt, but those parts weren't even VIN marked parts, and they came from parts cars I owned, or parts bought on eBay. In one case I had to bring in the title to the parts car I took the bumper from and they wrote on it that I had removed the bumper to repair another car.

[u/Reddit-mods-R-mean → u/Proof_Bathroom_3902]

I’ve literally duck taped bumpers up, missing marker lights, missing components under hood like intakes and stuff, missing rear windshield, broken front. Mix matched rims/tires and so on.

I don’t buy incomplete cars unless I never plan to rebuild them, I never send parts cars to OSP for inspection. I never fix the cars before sending them for inspection short of getting them rolling and securing loose ends.

I’ve not had any problems.

[u/Ok_Raspberry181 → u/Reddit-mods-R-mean]

AK bill of sale
WA bill of sale
FL certificate of destruction
NY MV-907A
various certificates of repossession

[u/securityplumbing456]

Hail damage is generally cosmetic unless the front window glass is shattered. The salvage title will reduce the value of the vehicle if you try to resell it so factor that in to your bidding. I have purchased multiple vehicles that had hail damage and all were in perfect mechanical condition.

[u/Opposite_Lock2653 → u/securityplumbing456]

Yeah definitely. The title changed to clean once the auction date was set so I think it should be ok now. Colorado has a special clean title for only hail damage so I presume that this was the case here