Buying a car with a salvage title

[Nebbers]

I'm sure I'll get differing opinions on this as it seems to be an issue where people feel strongly one way or the other, but I want more feedback than what I've read elsewhere already.

Would you ever consider buying a used car with a salvage title if the price difference were significantly less?

My understanding is that it'll be harder to sell down the road, which isn't an issue as I plan on running it into the ground. Looking at a 2002 Accord, but I'm not sure how low I should expect to get the price to. Mileage isn't bad, the owner says it was repaired before he bought it and as of now I don't know what kind of damage it had.

I'm assuming that if I look into the history and the damage was side/door damage, etc, with no major frame damage it would probably be a decent buy?

Not too great with car stuff in general, but I need to get something on the cheap that will last me quite a while and my last Accord ('99) treated me well until it was destroyed in a head-on collision.

(Sorry about wrong forum, totally forgot there's a car forum here )

 

[KoolAidKid]

If I could be certain WHY it has a salvage title, and that reason has nothing to do with damage to the frame or flood damage, and I was planning to never sell the car, then I would consider it.

Personally, the price savings has never been big enough for me to take on that kind of hassle.

 

[Nebbers]

If the KBB value on a non-salvage title with these features and mileage is ~$4300, how low do you think it could go with the title taken into consideration?

I'm not sure the guy is going to go too low, considering his asking price is already $500 more than the suggested price for one with a clean title, but you never know.

 

[V00DOO]

If the car is under $5K you shouldn't have a problem reselling it even if it has a salvage title especially a Honda Accord. I just sold a salvage title 1994 Honda Civic with blown head gasket for $1500. It was sold within an hour of CL listing.

 

[her209]

You should also consider that some insurance companies won't insure a car with a salvage title, and if they do, you can only get liability coverage.

 

[Nebbers]

Only planning on liability.

If I get the VIN, can I find out the exact circumstances of the salvage title? I haven't really had to look into something like this before.

 

[edro]

My uncle owns a salvage yard and sells hundreds of salvage titled cars a year.

Banks will not guarantee loans for them if they know it has a salvaged title, but many banks don't ask to see the title before a loan is given.

Many new model cars are "salvaged" because the airbags and seat belts are blown. Replacing airbags, seatbelts and slight front end damage ofter costs over $10k if done at a retail shop. Doing it yourself is much much cheaper.

My CRV and F150 are both salvage titled. Both were results of minor front end damage.
Both have had airbags and seatbelts replaced and computer reset and re-authorized by the state of Ohio.

If the car has already been repaired and you look it over good and test drive it, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[thedarkwolf]

If the KBB value on a non-salvage title with these features and mileage is ~$4300, how low do you think it could go with the title taken into consideration?

I'm not sure the guy is going to go too low, considering his asking price is already $500 more than the suggested price for one with a clean title, but you never know.

If the KBB value is $4300 and he is already asking $4800 forget it. With a salvage title the car is worth half KBB. Just find one with a clean title. And yes I would buy a rebuilt/salvage car as a beater but I sure as hell wouldn't pay KBB value or more for it.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Ideally you have pics of the before damage. While it could just be popped airbags, I've also seen some really crazy/stupid salvage titled vehicles. They're supposed to be inspected, but there must be some way to get around this based on what I've seen.


I would DEFINITELY have the unibody laser-checked, and pay a GOOD body shop to investigate the car.

 

[hanoverphist]

i bought a salvage title civic for 1200 bucks. had a bad head gasket, replacing that on my own. should still be much less than the kbb for it (2400) and much less than they are selling for privately. i buy cars to use, not to resell so i have no issue buying salvage, as long as the car is straight body and fairly good condition.

 

[mvbighead]

If the KBB value on a non-salvage title with these features and mileage is ~$4300, how low do you think it could go with the title taken into consideration?

I'm not sure the guy is going to go too low, considering his asking price is already $500 more than the suggested price for one with a clean title, but you never know.

Why are you even considering a car with a salvage title that a guy is listing for more than the KBB value?

The only reason to consider it is if it is considerably lower than the BB value. Sounds to me like you should find a different car to consider.

 

[Nebbers]

Why are you even considering a car with a salvage title that a guy is listing for more than the KBB value?

The only reason to consider it is if it is considerably lower than the BB value. Sounds to me like you should find a different car to consider.

Well, he'd have to go quite a lot lower than the listed price for me to actually buy it. I generally don't put too much stock in the listed price because most people seem to ask for far more than they're actually willing to sell it for

 

[SpatiallyAware]

If the KBB value on a non-salvage title with these features and mileage is ~$4300, how low do you think it could go with the title taken into consideration?

I'm not sure the guy is going to go too low, considering his asking price is already $500 more than the suggested price for one with a clean title, but you never know.

As ^ said; walk.


Plus those are the years with very widespread auto trans issues. I'd offer $2200, although he'll turn it down.

 

[HarryLui]

If your salvage car gets hit, you'll get nothing from the other guys' insurance.

If the repair isn't done right, when you get hit, you'll more likely to get injure or die.

And if the guy is asking more than KKB, just walk away.

 

[Nebbers]

All right, I'm walking away.

 

[mvbighead]

If your salvage car gets hit, you'll get nothing from the other guys' insurance.

Is this actually true? I find it hard to believe that, if someone else is at fault in an accident, the insurance company wouldn't be required to repay you for the loss of your vehicle (salvage title or not). Heck, I have seen several $5000+ vehicles listed with salvage titles, and to think the insurance company could say, "Pfff, salvage title? Piss off!" would lead me to finding the bat and their car. $5000 may not be much to some, but it's something to most. And to have to replace a $5000 car with your own money due to an accident caused by someone else would really cause me to steer clear of any salvage title over 1000 bucks.

 

[Zivic]

If your salvage car gets hit, you'll get nothing from the other guys' insurance.

If the repair isn't done right, when you get hit, you'll more likely to get injure or die.

And if the guy is asking more than KKB, just walk away.

absolutely not true...

the correct term is "prior salvage". The car still has value and would be repaired/paid out on based on that value.

 

[halik]

If the KBB value on a non-salvage title with these features and mileage is ~$4300, how low do you think it could go with the title taken into consideration?

I'm not sure the guy is going to go too low, considering his asking price is already $500 more than the suggested price for one with a clean title, but you never know.

Asked and answered

 

[Ms. DICKINSON]

What about this? I am considering this one. Please check the last two pics after the accident. I rarely see ppl post pics before the repairs.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2660665993.html

 

[Meghan54]

What about this?

Not much. He's way above any $$ figure I'd pay for a totaled car, even if the air bags never deployed. Guess he's depending on the "go fast" crap he's added to it to raise the price, but all that crap doesn't outweigh the fact the car was totaled before.

Too many others just like that one out there to pay a premium for a salvage titled riced up Acura.

 

[stinkynathan]

If your salvage car gets hit, you'll get nothing from the other guys' insurance.

Wrong. I bought a salvage titled Ford Escape when I was in college. In June it was parked on the street and got hit hard by some chick who was texting. Her insurance company gave me $5700 which is MORE than what I paid for the vehicle by at least $1200.

Yes, I bought a prior salvage vehicle, drove it for a few years, and made a huge profit when I got rid of it.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

What about this? I am considering this one. Please check the last two pics after the accident. I rarely see ppl post pics before the repairs.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2660665993.html

The accident wasn't *that* bad but I'd prefer it not be on the corner like that.


That being said, I'd pass purely based on all the frigging fake CF stickers. That WILL start pulling off and you'll eventually have to deal with glue removal etc.




Plus in my experience little 4 bangers with wheels and lowering kits are vehicles to absolutely avoid. They're typically driven much harder than usual by people who don't know how to drive or take long-term care of an engine. On top of that they usually want top dollar for their ghetto coilover mods and try to pass these costs on.

I've yet to find an exception to this. Hell, I had a little nissan 4 cyl that was lowered with wheels and I drove the absolute piss out of that thing. Course I sold it when I turned 19 and grew up, but still.

 

[natto fire]

I used to work at a salvage yard and bought MANY salvage title vehicles. They are pretty easy to get on the road here in Ohio.

Keep in mind that there are lots of "older" cars that are declared totalled in minor accidents, because body repair has become so expensive.

 

[Ferzerp]

What about this? I am considering this one. Please check the last two pics after the accident. I rarely see ppl post pics before the repairs.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/2660665993.html

I *always* put stupid stickers extolling the virtues of my 150 hp engine on my cars!

Yes, run away, run far away.

Why are you guys looking at wrecked vehicles that the buyers are asking the fair price for non-wrecked vehicles for? Stickers and fake exhaust lower the value, not raise it.

 

[ballmode]

stay away, find one driven by older people. ones that could pay money to fix the car and not add go fast crap on a slow car