Since automotive titles are governed by state law, I'm sure the issue of
"salvage" titles varies by state.  Since these laws can also be changed
by the state legislature I'm also sure the "salvage title" issue can vary in
the same state over time.

In California it seems the way it works generally is that if an insurance
company "totals" a car - which only means it would cost more to fix then
the car is worth and has nothing to do with driveability issues - then
the insurance company notifies the DMV and the DMV issues a "Salvage"
title on the car.

My '81 was hit in the rear, was totaled by the insurance company, and I'm
now driving it with a salvage title.  One small "gotcha" in all this was
that although the car's safety and driveablity was not affected in any
way I had to go to an official Lamp and Brake inspection station (and pay
the inspection fee) before the state would issue the new title.

On Tue, 11 May 1999 JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:

> also, the adjuster is telling me that if i want to buyback the car - i have
> to send my good title back to the state of Pa and get a Salvage title.
> ????
> i have NEVER heard that...  i have 3 cars, right now, that were totalled by
> other insurance companies and i bought them from the individuals who had
> bought them back from their insurance comapnies, when they were totalled.
> And they ALL have good titles - and one of them is a Pa title.  One of the
> "totalled" cars i am now driving (bought it from a Qlistmember) as i needed
> something to replace my '84 turbo in the interim.
>
> the adjuster is telling me he wont give me any $ for my car until i get a
> salvage cert.  Has anyone else bought back their wrecked car, and not had to
> get a salvage cert????   lets just say my car was "totalled" (which it is)
> but still driveable, and roadworthy (which it isnt)....  if i wanted to buy
> my car back - and still use it, then i would be screwed because i had to turn
> my title in to the state and get a salvage cert????
>  the "totalled" '86 5000 turbo that i am driving in the interim (PO's ins co
> "totalled" it because of hit in RR which is definately fixable..) has a good
> title...the PO wasnt required to send his title off to the state to get a
> salvage cert....

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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