Don't buy back if totaled you will have a salvage title.
When considering whether it’s worthwhile or even safe to purchase a vehicle with anything less than a “clean” title, it’s first important to clarify what the types of vehicle titles mean.
- Clean title—When a vehicle has a “clean” title, that means it is free of major accidents, tampering (odometer fraud), or a major safety recall that involved the vehicle being sent back to its manufacturer. Note that vehicles can be involved in minor fender benders, have received modifications, and even be the subject of minor recalls and still retain clean titles.
- Salvage title—When a vehicle has been seriously damaged in an accident and declared a total loss (“totaled”) by the insurance company, its title will change to a salvage title. “Totaled” vehicles can range from ones that are damaged almost beyond recognition to those that appear to be in good shape, but that sustained enough damage that it’s not worth repairing them.
- Rebuilt title—When a vehicle was damaged enough to be considered “totaled” or to receive a salvage title, it may not be destined for the junkyard or scrapyard. Salvage vehicles can be repaired and restored to drivable condition. When that happens, they are assigned rebuilt titles after an inspection process.
Modern vehicles are designed to withstand damage in crashes to protect occupants, but that doesn’t mean they’re designed to be driven afterward. Depending on the type and amount of damage, vehicles may sustain only cosmetic damage—or they may incur damage that puts drivers and passengers at significant risk of injuries during subsequent crashes.
Rebuilt and Salvage Vehicles Aren’t Always Unsafe
As a car buyer, you’re undoubtedly concerned about safety and reliability, and that makes buying a vehicle with a clean title a much surer bet than one with a salvage or rebuilt title. However, buying a vehicle with a non-clean title doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll be stuck with an unsafe, non-functional car.
Some vehicles with salvage titles may have sustained only moderate amounts of damage and could be repaired to “like new” condition for less money than it would cost to buy a similar model with a clean title. Similarly, some vehicles with rebuilt titles have already had the work done and may be perfectly safe and drivable, with their only repairs consisting of mostly cosmetic body work.