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How to clear a Salvage title
dpwestlake
Member Posts: 207
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It may vary from state to state but you may be able to get it changed to a repair title.
here is a picture of the car (link above). How much do you think the repairs would be? The frame is straight and there is no damage to the engine. Does anyone know the laws about salvage titles in Maine?
Why are you hot on this car?
Should you figure out how to clear a salvage title and then sell the car without divulging that the car was salvaged, you would no doubt be liable to some kind of fraud conviction I would guess. "Why" the car was salvaged might matter in terms of whether you should buy the car or not, but it doesn't matter regarding the legality of covering up the fact by "laundering" a title.
Most states require insurance companies to total any car once the damage estimate reaches a certain percentage of book value. In California, that is 80%.
I'd guess that the car could easily be totalled with the damage shown, because Subarus traditionally don't have high resale value, especially if they aren't in top shape or have high miles. So 80% of this car's value probably isn't a lot of money, maybe $2,500, and you easily have that much damage to the car. You need a hood, two fenders, grille, both headlight assemblies, probably bumper work (it looks bent down) and the new parts are not going to just bolt on without some pulling. And then you have to paint everything. I'd say at a body shop this job would cost you around $3,200, which exceeds the car's book value if it's just a standard coupe, and is still 80% the value of an AWD model.
The only way you are going to come out on a car like this is to get it for dirt cheap and to take all the junk parts off a car of the same color. And still you'll have lots of work ahead of you.
I'd just go buy one for $3,000 and forget about it.
I would look into buying a different car. If you are really interested in a project car, try looking in your local car trader or something like that, in my area the rag I use is called Tradin' Times. You can find a wrecked car in one of these publications and more than likely won't have a salvage title to worry about. Good luck!!
-Jason (burned to the tune of $2000 by a bogus title)
my sister was ripped through a legitimate car dealer by an Escort which had been garage-massaged into what their body shop called "a cheap cheat job" when they got a look at the car; the front end could have fallen apart on any road bump at highway speed from the frame damage. they took the car back at full credit on one that has crossed 110,000 with no problems, got on the cops, and there was a conviction of felony theft by swindle in the case.
so my opinion is a little fixed... you clear the title by burning it, and crushing the car whole.
I still say it's too big of a pain to deal with, easier to buy a privately owned car and fix it up, like I said in my other post.