Salvage and rebuilt titles
An American title tells you a lot about a car's past, if you know how to read it. Here is what the brands mean, and why a branded car is one we cannot take on.
Most of the cars people send us are exactly what they appear to be. Every so often, one arrives in our inbox with a price that looks too good, and the reason is written on the title. This guide explains what those words mean, where we stand on them, and how to check a car before you pay for it.
Our position, plainly
We do not take on cars with a salvage, rebuilt, flood or any other damage brand on the title. It is a firm rule, not a case-by-case decision, and it applies however good the repair looks.
We would much rather you read that here than find out after paying for a car, a truck and a sailing. If you are not sure what a title says, send it to us before you buy and we will tell you straight.
What a title brand is
Every car in the US has a certificate of title issued by the state it is registered in. When something serious happens to a car, the state records it on the title as a brand: a word or phrase printed on the document that follows the car from owner to owner.
Each state sets its own rules, so the same damage can lead to slightly different wording in different places. The common brands are below.
| Brand | What it broadly means |
|---|---|
| Salvage | The car was damaged badly enough that repairing it for legal road use would cost more than it was worth just before the damage. The cause can be a crash, a flood, fire, vandalism or theft recovery. Some states use "totaled" or "total loss". |
| Rebuilt, reconstructed or revived salvage | A car that was branded salvage, has since been repaired and has passed a state inspection to go back on the road. It is legal to drive in the US, but the title records that it was written off. |
| Flood or water damage | The car has been damaged by water, often in a hurricane or flash flood. Some states apply this alongside a salvage brand. |
| Junk, non-repairable or dismantled | The car is not capable of being used on public roads and has no value except as parts or scrap. |
You will also see brands that are not about damage, such as prior taxi, prior police or a manufacturer buyback under a state lemon law. They are worth knowing about, and worth mentioning to us, but they are not the same thing as a salvage history.
Why we only import clean-title cars
A branded title means an insurer or the state decided at some point that the car was not worth fixing. What happened next, and how well, is usually impossible to see from photos.
Bringing a car to the UK is a real investment: shipping, duty, VAT, testing and registration all go on top of the purchase price. A car has to be roadworthy before it can be registered here, and it goes through an IVA test if it is under 10 years old or an MOT if it is older. Hidden structural repairs or flood-damaged electrics are exactly the kind of thing that turns a straightforward job into a long one. Insurers and future buyers will look at the history too.
We have imported more than 20,000+ vehicles, and keeping to clean-title cars is part of how we keep the process predictable for the people we import them for.
How to spot a branded title
Start with the paperwork, because it is quicker and harder to argue with than paintwork.
- Read the title itself. Ask for a clear photo of the front and back. Brands are printed on the face of the document, often in capitals or in a box near the vehicle details. Read every word.
- Run an NMVTIS report. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is the US government's national title database, and reports are sold through approved providers listed on vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov. Once a reporting state applies a brand, it becomes a permanent part of the car's NMVTIS record.
- Read the listing closely. Words like "total loss", "runs and drives", "minor damage", "flood", "for parts", "repairable" or "bill of sale only" all tell you something.
- Search the VIN. Photos from an earlier sale of the same car, showing it damaged, often stay online for years.
Then the car itself, through an independent inspection: mismatched paint or overspray on rubber seals, uneven panel gaps, airbag warning lights, silt or tide marks under the carpets or in the spare wheel well, a musty smell, and corrosion in places that do not make sense for the car's age.
Title washing
Brands are applied by states, and states do not all apply them the same way. Title washing is the practice of moving a branded car to another state and getting a fresh title there that no longer shows the brand. The NMVTIS guidance warns specifically about flood cars from one state being cleaned up and retitled for sale somewhere else.
NMVTIS exists partly to stop this, because it holds brand history from every reporting state in one place. It is not perfect: the DOJ notes that not every state's data is complete, and a state title record can hold more than NMVTIS does. Signs worth questioning:
- A clean paper title, but a brand or total loss on the NMVTIS or commercial history report
- A title issued very recently, in a state the car does not seem to have lived in
- Several titles in different states in a short space of time
- A duplicate title, with no clear reason why the original was replaced
- A seller whose name is not on the title at all
None of these proves anything on its own. Each is a reason to ask questions before money changes hands.
If a deal looks too good
It usually is. A desirable American car priced well below the others for sale is almost never a lucky find. Before you pay:
- Ask the seller directly whether the car has ever had a salvage, rebuilt or flood title in any state.
- Get a photo of the title and run the VIN through NMVTIS.
- Pay for an independent inspection.
- Send us the listing, the title photo and anything the seller has told you.
If something does not add up, walk away. There are plenty of clean American cars out there, and our guide to buying a car in the USA covers the rest of the checks.
What we can help with
Almost everything else. A clean-title car from a dealer, a private seller or an auction, a car you already own and are moving with, a classic, a pickup or a muscle car. If the title is clean, send us the details and we will quote the whole job.
Quick answers
Will you import a car with a salvage or rebuilt title?
No. We only import clean-title vehicles. We do not take on cars with salvage, rebuilt, flood or other damage brands, however good the repair looks.
What is a rebuilt title?
A title issued to a car that was previously branded salvage and has since been repaired and passed the state inspection to go back on the road. Some states call it reconstructed or revived salvage. It still means the car was written off at some point.
How do I check a US title for brands?
Look at the face of the title for a brand printed on it, then run an NMVTIS report on the VIN through an approved provider listed on vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov. A brand applied in any reporting state becomes a permanent part of the NMVTIS record, even if a later paper title does not show it.
What is title washing?
Moving a branded car to another state and getting a new title that no longer shows the brand. NMVTIS exists partly to stop it, which is why a history check matters even when the paper title looks clean.