Do You Need a Salvaged Car?

A salvage car is a vehicle that has a salvage title attached to it, and that title is there because there has been damage to the car that makes it undesirable for a car dealer to carry on their lot. The amount of damage can be between 75 and 90 percent of the vehicle’s value.

When the repair cost exceeds the car’s worth, the insurance company will deem it a total loss and title it as a junk or salvage vehicle.

Salvaged cars for sale can be found at several places, including junkyards and auto auctions like A Better Bid (ABB) salvage cars. You can buy salvage cars at ABetterBid , as well as clean title cars. There are a lot of salvage auctions available to buyers.

Not all salvage autos have been in accidents. Other damage that can cause the auto insurance company to give it a salvage title includes the following:

■ Flood Damage – Some states require the title to be designated as flood damaged, and other states require the title to say salvage on it.

■ Hail Damage – If the vehicle has been in a significant hail storm, the title will say salvage on it unless the state requires a hail damage designation.

■ Theft Recovery – If the vehicle has been stolen and recovered, the title may reflect salvage on it because the insurance company has settled with the owner.

■ Vandalism – In some cases, a salvage title may be issued to a vehicle that has had damage such as spray painting or being overturned.

■ Non-Repairable – Any vehicle that is so damaged that it cannot be repaired, may get a junk title. This vehicle cannot be resold as salvage because the state requires it to go to the junkyard. This is not the same as a salvage title, so unless you want a junk car, avoid anything with this designation on it.

Why Should You Buy A Salvage Title Car?

If you are a mechanic or have someone who can do repairs for you inexpensively, then a salvage title vehicle might be the right vehicle for you. If you are comfortable with owning a vehicle that has a bumpy history, then this might be a good option for you.

You will get a vehicle that needs repairs, so you will have new parts on it; you will get a vehicle for a fraction of the cost of a new car, and you will get a vehicle that you know will be in good shape when you are finished working on it.

Before You Bid or Buy

Before you put your money down on a salvage vehicle, here are some things that you should consider:

■ Get an Inspection: Considering that you are spending money on a vehicle that you know has damage or mechanical issues, have it inspected before you bid on or buy it. Sometimes not all damage is evident, so a professional inspection will help you determine whether or not there are hidden damages that will make this car or truck too costly to repair.

■ Reputation Matters: Like all businesses, auction houses and repair facilities must be reputable for you to feel comfortable with your purchase. Avoid those businesses with bad reviews or unhappy customers. Check the online reviews before committing to buy the vehicle.

■ Get the Original Estimate: You can ask for the original estimate to find out how extensive the repairs will be. It will also tell you if any of the parts have been replaced, and whether or not the car was in an accident.

Things to Consider

Once you decide that a salvage vehicle is for you, there are a few other things that you should keep in mind:

■ Finance Issues: You may have to pay cash for the vehicle because the bank will not lend money on a salvage title vehicle.

■ Auto Insurance: You may have to pay a little more for full coverage insurance if you can get it at all in your state because of the salvage title. Insurance companies find salvage vehicles a bigger risk for them. Liability insurance should not be a problem.

■ Trade-in Complications: There is a good chance that you will not be able to trade this vehicle in because of a salvage title. It is too difficult for an auto store to resell or estimate its worth, so they will avoid taking your vehicle in on trade for their used car lot.

When it comes time to shop for a salvage title vehicle, there are many places to explore like online auctions. Here are a few auction sites that might give you more information:

A Better Bid

A Better Bid is a Copart broker with access to 190 auctions and over 200,000 cars, including salvage title vehicles. They also offer SUVs, trucks, cars, motorcycles, RVs and boats. They are 100% online, and you do not need a dealer license to bid on cars. You can buy your vehicle from the comfort of your home.

ACV Auctions

ACV Auctions features 16,000 dealers and offer them a suite of tools that help them streamline their business. ACV Auctions is a dealer-only auction site.

Fairway Auto Auction

Fairway Auto Auction is located in Edgerton, WI and has three lanes for dealer auctions. You will find cars, trucks, SUVs and more on sale.

Hemmings

Hemmings Motor News is dedicated to collector-car enthusiasts and publishes its magazine monthly. In addition to the magazine, they offer auctions like swap meets and other events for collectible cars. They are located in Vermont, but auctions are run from the car owner’s location.

Conclusion

Only you can decide how much time, work and money you want to put into making a salvage title vehicle the car of your choice. As long as you are aware of what to look for when buying a car like this, you will be able to make a good deal on it.

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