theoldwizard1 wrote:
It will be nearly impossible to sell any vehicle with a salvage title.
In some states, you can NOT "repair" a flood damaged vehicle.
Not to be argumentative, just informative.
In California, in 1996, I personally bought (for pennies) a used 1986 Acura with a salvage title. The vehicle was salvaged because the PO's insurance company claimed the body damage exceeded 80% of the current Kelly Blue book market value and paid off the PO at the current book value. I repaired the car. To satisfy the DMV and my insurance company, I had to have the car inspected/certified by an authorized brake/headlight inspection/repair station and have it inspected and pass a current emissions test at a Cal. State Smog referee station. (not a regular smog test) It passed, I registered it and obtained a legal title. I drove it for a few months then sold it in California. I don't know if the next owner had any issues registering it, but, I never heard from him again. What I did was a real pain, and, I wouldn't do it again unless it was a much more expensive car. Where there is a will, there is a way.
That said, in California, there are some gross polluter regulations. Once your VIN# gets that classification, (it won't pass smog and the grace period expires) when/if the state has fund money, it may buy the car from you at a set price. If that happens, your car is going to the crusher. If the fund is depleted, your car will scrapped and it won't legally set foot on a California roadway again. These rules can and do change over time.
Chum lee
