What's Does Salvage Title Mean?

In North America, a salvage title is a form of vehicle title branding, which notes that the vehicle has been damaged and/or deemed a total loss by an insurance company that paid a claim on it. The criteria for determining when a salvage title is issued differ considerably by each state, province or territory.

Is it worth buying a car with a salvage title?

According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), a salvage-title car is typically worth 20% to 40% less than one with a clean title. If you make a claim on a salvage car, you should be prepared for a much lower "total loss" payout than you might expect from a car that's "clean." The second reason is safety.

What is bad about a salvage title?

But salvage car purchases come with significant risks, including these: ... Low Insurance Value: If you buy a salvage title car and it's in an accident, the insurance company likely won't be paying out big money to cover the damage, given the salvage title car's low financial value in the first place.

Robert Thorne

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor

Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.