Salvage vs. Clean Title: What You Need to Know
The title type is one of the most important factors when buying a car at auction. Here's what each type means and how it affects your purchase.
Clean Title
A clean title means the vehicle has never been declared a total loss by an insurance company. It may still have accident history, but the damage was repaired and the car remained in service.
Pros: Easier to register, insure, and resell. Higher resale value.
Cons: Higher purchase price at auction.
Salvage Title
A salvage title is issued when an insurance company declares a vehicle a total loss — meaning repair costs exceed a percentage (usually 75%) of the vehicle's value.
Pros: Significantly lower purchase price (40-60% less than clean title).
Cons: May require special inspection to register. Some countries restrict or ban salvage title imports. Insurance options may be limited.
Rebuilt Title
A rebuilt title is a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and passed a state inspection. It's road-legal but carries the salvage history.
Which Should You Buy?
For personal use with minor damage: salvage titles offer the best value.
For resale or export to strict-import countries: clean title is safer.
Always check your destination country's import rules before bidding.
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