CAA Salvage, Rebuilt, and Title-Branded Vehicles

Question 1

What is a 'salvage title' in the context of U.S. vehicle registration?

Accepted Answer

A title issued when an insurer declares a vehicle a total loss and takes ownership

Answer

A title issued to a new vehicle

Answer

A title for classic/antique vehicles

Answer

A title required for commercial trucks

Question 2

What threshold do most U.S. states use to declare a vehicle a total loss for title-branding purposes?

Accepted Answer

When repair cost meets or exceeds a stated percentage (commonly 75–100%) of the vehicle's actual cash value

Answer

When repair cost exceeds 25% of ACV

Answer

When the vehicle has more than 200,000 miles

Answer

When the airbags have deployed

Question 3

A vehicle with a salvage title has been repaired and passes a state inspection. What title brand does it typically receive?

Accepted Answer

Rebuilt or reconstructed title

Answer

Clean title

Answer

Flood title

Answer

Lemon law buyback title

Question 4

How does a salvage or rebuilt title typically affect a vehicle's market value compared to an equivalent clean-title vehicle?

Accepted Answer

It significantly reduces market value, often by 20–50% or more

Answer

It has no effect on value

Answer

It increases value because the vehicle has been fully inspected

Answer

It only affects commercial vehicle value

Question 5

What is 'title washing' and why is it a concern for automotive appraisers?

Accepted Answer

The fraudulent practice of retitling a salvage vehicle in a state with lenient title laws to obtain a clean title

Answer

A routine DMV title update process

Answer

Cleaning up minor clerical errors on a title

Answer

Transferring a title between family members

Question 6

Which database is most commonly used by U.S. appraisers to check a vehicle's title and loss history?

Accepted Answer

CARFAX or AutoCheck (powered by Experian), which compile title, accident, and total-loss records

Answer

The Federal Reserve database

Answer

The IRS vehicle registry

Answer

EPA emissions database