Here's a not-so-hypothetical situation I'm dealing with on the search for my next project car. I've found two versions of the same vehicle. Same model year and price, and similar mileage. I haven't actually seen either of these cars in person, so all of this info is based on the sellers' ads and conversations we've had.
Car #1 is a ratty example with a clean title. Limited maintenance records, but apparently runs, drives, and shifts fine. Unfortunately, the paint is completely shot, a piece of trim is missing, and the door cards are starting to sag. It also recently had a CEL, but the seller hasn't checked it out yet.
Car #2 is much cleaner with a rebuilt title. Seller says it was a minor frontal collision. Runs, drives, and shifts well, and has maintenance records and recent major service done (timing service) All of the body panels line up visually, and the paint matches well in pictures. The interior is much cleaner as well.
Obviously neither is ideal, but it's what I'm working with due to travel time and budget constraints.
Any insurance cost and/or availabilty differences for the rebuilt title? If you want to sell again, clean title. If it is yours until it is scrap, then rebuilt can be fine. Just my two cents.
In reply to matthewmcl :
That's a good point. I haven't actually checked with my insurance company yet.
To answer your other question, it'll probably be a drive it until it dies deal. At least that's my plan for now lol
#2. All day, every & twice on Sundays.
My Jaaaaag has a rebuilt title due to minor accident. No problems at all. The previous owner REALLY took great care of it. The for sale ad showed the tires parked on little squares of carpet in his garage.
When buying used, you're really buying a bit of the previous owner.
Absolutely never ever never #2 for me. You're better off buying swamp land in Florida than buying an R-title vehicle.
If we're talking about a daily driver that you'll keep until it turns into dirt, maybe #2. You're talking about a project that you'll never be able to fully insure (liability only) and you'll never be able to sell.
The instant that I see a branded title, it gets completely ejected from my memory and never looked at again. I have owned two salvage title vehicles (because I didn't learn my lesson the first time) and I got royally screwed without lube on both of them.
wae
UberDork
9/2/21 8:24 a.m.
The resale of the rebuilt title vehicle will be more difficult and if anything ever happens to it, the conversations with the insurance company are likely to be unpleasant. I own a rebuilt vehicle but only because I bought it specifically for the Challenge for next to nothing before any damage had been repaired.
It really depends on what you want to do with it. Is it something that you want to hold on to and wipe with a diaper in the long term? Or is it something that you intend to use up in short order? Are we talking about a lot of money or is it throwaway cash? Is this a primary vehicle or just something for fun and if it just goes away, you're not in a world of hurt?
If you've always wanted a 19dickety-two Whateverthisis to bomb around in, it's an extra car, and it's not an amount of money that will ruin you to lose, then go for it. It's a gamble, but one you can afford to lose, worst case. Keep it until it's a parts car or be ready to sell it for a loss.
If you need to be able to get your money out of this later, though, I would consider something without a branded title.
Turbine said:
Seller says it was a minor frontal collision.
That's what they ALL say... Are they willing and able to prove it with both photos and documentation of both the damage and repairs performed?
Driven5 said:
Turbine said:
Seller says it was a minor frontal collision.
That's what they ALL say... Are they willing and able to prove it with photos and documentation of the damage and repairs performed?
Even if you do and YOU trust it, you have effectively reduced your resale pool to a tiny fraction of people.
I purchased a really nice GMC Sonoma and I was able to physically see the truck before the repairs were done. It was a sideswipe. No suspension, just that the whole left side was crinkled. The shop did the repairs and sold it to me for about 60% of what it would have been worth without the damage. I thought I was super sly. Sweet ZQ8 for cheap, right?
It ended up being a bit of a lemon. Not any fault of the body work, just electrical gremlins, some rust on the other side, intake leaks, water pump, ignition stuff. I hated it. It took me 15 months to sell it, I ended up driving it three hours to deliver it to the new buyer because I was desperate, and I had to accept about 25% of what it would have been worth without the R-title. It was on CL for 15 months and I think I got 4 emails about it.
I mean, let's be honest here. You are going on a first date with a great person and they admit over tapas that they used to be a prostitute, but they provide documentation of a clean STD test. Try selling that news to your family and friends.
Can a "rebuilt" title in Ohio be fixed back to a clean title? Either by inspection of the car's repairs (if not already done) or by getting title elsewhere.
Does #2 have COMPLETE documentation (not just a note from his mommy) of the accident and repairs?
In reply to L5wolvesf :
Has nothing to do with Ohio, it's federal. If you scrub a title, it's a federal felony if the vehicle is valued at over $250. Once a VIN goes branded, if you "wash" it, it falls under the "cause to be removed" part of the law.
A person shall not remove, cause to be removed or conceal a marking on:
(a) A salvage title or other title which indicates that the vehicle is a salvage vehicle; or
(b) A certificate of title or other title for a rebuilt vehicle which indicates that the vehicle is a rebuilt vehicle.
Violations are felony criminal offenses if the vehicle is valued at $250 or more. Courts may order jail terms, fines and restitution.
