Class A with a Salvage title

Run away now the odds are not in your favor

okhmbldr wrote:
I recently looked at a 2013 Chevy Avalanche that had a rebuilt title (originally was salvage, but fixed and inspected, so now rebuilt). It looked perfect, had been a front end damage requiring a new hood and right fender, lights, and a few other new items. I called my insurance agent and he said he could insure it with liability only, no collision. So, with a salvage or rebuilt title you will have a hard time getting full insurance coverage. Also, the Avalanche only had 6k miles, but the factory warranty was no longer in force, so I would pass on anything without a good title.

Find a better insurer. My wife has full coverage on a salvage-title car!

I live in North Carolina. In this state as long as the title is not branded - Parts Only or unrepairable - you can lisence and insure it. I have bought three salvage titled RV's now in the past eight years. I have no issues with any of them. Here you jjust call the DOT and they have an inspector come to your house for the inspection. However, this inspection is basically to confirm that the VIN tag belongs to the vehicle and it is not stolen. Once the repairs are made, you take it to a state certified inspection station for the road worthy inspection. That does require a station large enough to get the vehicle inside on a lift or over a pit. Insurance is not a problem unless you want to insure it for more than you paid for the vehicle. Then you must take it to a dealer for an inspection of the repairs and an estimate of the value. I repaired, enjoyed, and sold the other two RV's this way and made money on both. And still gave someone else a good coach worth a lot more than they paid. I have worked my way up to a 2005 Monaco Signature Series with a Detroit 60 series engine this way. I love it, but could never have afforded to buy one any other way.

I have had a bunch of "salvage" vehicles over the years.....Never had trouble with titles, registration, or insurance.......Also saved a fortune on transportation.....But I wouldn't touch a flood car with a 10ft pole and currently the market is alive with these after Sandy etc. And many say "salvage" instead of "flood". You need to be careful but we once had a 1 year old Mercedes 500SL in our garage we paid $15,000 for that at that time had a market value of over $100,000......It had been rear ended in the past and repaired.

Insurance companies typically total out a vehicle when the cost to repair it exceeds 70% to 75% of its value. A rebuilt transmission usually costs in the neighborhood of $3000.00 to $4000.00 depending on the type of transmission and who's doing it.

Even at the highest price the cost of a transmission is no where near 70% of the value of the motorhome. This story is like the old Paul Harvey radio show. At some point in time we're bound to hear "the rest of the story".

Actually according to a report from the NHTSA, a transmission failure is the number one cause for RV fires along the road. So in that context, its not totally unreasonable.

Daveinet wrote:
Why is the front grill melted and warped?

Good question. That's probably from the transmission as well... :R

A salvage title is somewhat risky. You want to see pictures and the report of what led to the salvage.

I viewed the accident pictures and bought a 2001 BMW Z-3 from the repair mechanic. It had been in a fender-bender and had 17,000 miles. It turned out fine -- no problem to insure in CA. After seven years, I sold it to my daughter, who plans to drive it to 100,000 (had 44,000 when I sold it). She will drive it for about five years and be able to sell it for her purchase price (Yes, it was a fairly good deal for her. Good maintenance and a new top).

The DMV registration is also lower. So if you know exactly what the problem was and how it was fixed, a salvage vehicle can be fine.

I recently looked at a 2013 Chevy Avalanche that had a rebuilt title (originally was salvage, but fixed and inspected, so now rebuilt). It looked perfect, had been a front end damage requiring a new hood and right fender, lights, and a few other new items. I called my insurance agent and he said he could insure it with liability only, no collision. So, with a salvage or rebuilt title you will have a hard time getting full insurance coverage. Also, the Avalanche only had 6k miles, but the factory warranty was no longer in force, so I would pass on anything without a good title.

Why is the front grill melted and warped?