rebuilt title effect $ ?

[GaryS]

Then the two cars are not identical. Original question still remains- if the only difference is that one has a salvage title and the other doesn't, which one is worth less?

Please answer as if you were the buyer, and show your work. Class dismissed!

If a salvage car were rebuilt with used (original) fiberglass and other parts and restored to its prior salvage title condition and was therefore (theoretically) identical to the non-salvage title car, the undamaged car would ALWAYS command a higher price. Most of the people I know shy away from salvage titled cars.

Gary

 

[BruceBed]

I recently purchased the '80 coupe in my avatar. It has a rebuilt title. It is in great shape and i bought it as a driver. The owner said it was run into a gravel pile and tore up the front end (my inspection jives with that). The Ins. Co. totalled it and he fixed it ( hence rebuilt title). I know you can't price my car, but all things being equal, how much does rebuilt drop the price?

I have a close friend who owns 3 auto franchises. I asked him about R code titles. He said they are the kiss of death for resale. No matter what you tell the person . It is damaged goods. Humpty Dumpty. Most people don't have the comfort level to purchase these type of goods. I would not buy a salvage vehicle. I'm too skeptical of the reality and truth. I'm sure you could get something good out of it , but it doesn't work for me. A pig with perfume is a still a pig.

 

[KANE]

Again... are you looking to sell it for a profit?

If it is fair market value for a salvage vehicle- and it is in excellent shape- then who cares.

Besides, if you modify the car, then no one will care. Lots of really great projects start out as "donor" cars, rebuilds, and salvages.

JUST REMEMBER- EVERY CAR IS JUST A CAR. If you want an investment- think STOCKS, BONDS, and CDs.

 

[craig32]

Hi all,
I notice a lot of other PA guys here weighing in - we have 'Reconstructed' titles, and 'junk certificates' which I believe is what compares with a salvage title. You can get a recon title for making major modifications, like a flip front end, suicide doors, etc. In those cars, the 'R' title is like an award. A junk certificate is what you get from the state when the car is totaled or otherwise sold to a junkyard. So you can have a junk cert. for a car that was never wrecked. Not to mention, if a car gets hit and repaired by the owner, nothing changes on the title. If you buy a wrecked car from an insurance company and put a new front end on it, you end up with the 'R' also. If the ins. company sells the car to a yard, it will end up with a junk cert. as you can only have an 'open title' for 30 days and junk certificates are cheaper than title transfers. If you buy a 'yard car' and get the certificate with it, you can get an 'R' title for it. In PA, you can't get a title without a title.
All this makes me wonder why you don't need an 'R' title to do a body-off restoration, same thing - you don't know who did the work or how well it was done. Just my opinion.
Craig

 

[GaryS]

It has always been my understanding, right or wrong, that an R title in PA is for recovered/reconstructed, meaning theft recovery and rebuilt after major components were stripped out and reconstructed after a major accident. Again, my understanding is that this means the car was totalled in either case. My "out" is that I have never seen this in print, just word of mouth.
Gary

 

[gmjunkie]

Not to mention, if a car gets hit and repaired by the owner, nothing changes on the title.

Until the next time it's Titled, You can bet if it was Damaged more than 25% of Wholesale value and a Insurance Co Pd. for Damages the title will Branded!! Most states now turn in Accident Report's on vehicles to AutoCheck!! My 03 has Report's on file!! Damage was minimal less than $1000 the damage was less than my deductible!!( No Ins.co pd.) And to Top it off 2 report's were written by 2 Different Ga.State Trooper's both saying Rt side Damage!! Gee whata screw up and I can't get it Corrected !! I stopped for a multi car accident and had set on shoulder for 10-15 min and a Drunk slid into me in the Lt rear!!!!!! Great 129 mi. and already a Bumb!! I was on my way home from picking it up!! No ticket's was issued because of road conditions and cause I jerked him out of his car and whipped the Drunken @#$*&&'s Azz cause he was try'n to drive off!! It will be the last time I give my information and wait for a officer to get around to making up a Accident report!! I now Carrie a Round TO-IT in my car!! If he's got to get A Round TO-IT, I will give him mine!! :eyerole junk!!P.S. Oh BTW it's the outher right side!! 1 report sez Impact with Ditch rt. side Damage, 1 report sez Impact with anouther Vehicle rt side Damage!!!! And they have the same case #.