Understanding Salvage Title Information
Title brands are set by each state. The label on an auction record is a starting point, not the full story.
Updated
In the United States, vehicle titles are issued by states, not by the federal government. When a vehicle is badly damaged, stolen and recovered, or flooded, the state may "brand" its title. Auction listings report the title or ownership document the buyer will receive, so you will often see these brands on auction records.
Common title types
| Title | General meaning |
|---|---|
| Clean / Clear | No brand recorded on the current title. It does not prove the vehicle was never damaged. |
| Salvage | Declared a total loss, usually by an insurer. In most states it cannot be registered for road use until repaired and inspected. |
| Rebuilt / Reconstructed | Previously salvage, repaired and passed a state inspection. The brand normally stays with the vehicle. |
| Certificate of Destruction / Parts Only / Junk | The vehicle may not be titled for road use again. It is sold for parts or scrap. |
| Flood / Water damage | A brand some states apply when water damage is reported. |
| Bill of Sale only | No title is transferred, only a bill of sale. Registration can be difficult or impossible in some states. |
Names and definitions vary. A brand that exists in one state may not exist in another, and the damage level that triggers a total loss differs from state to state.
Why the state matters
Auction records usually show which state issued the document. That tells you which rules applied when the brand was given and what a buyer has to do to register the vehicle. Some buyers move vehicles between states, and title brands do not always carry over cleanly. This is one reason to check history from more than one source.
How to check title history
- NMVTIS. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System collects title and brand data from states, insurers and salvage yards. Reports are sold by approved providers listed on the official NMVTIS website.
- Current title. Ask to see the physical title and compare its VIN and brand with what the seller says.
- Auction records. They show which document the vehicle was sold with at each sale. AutoBimer lists them by date.
Reading changes over time
If one listing says "Salvage" and a later one says "Rebuilt", the vehicle was likely repaired and inspected in between. If a later listing shows a clean title after an earlier salvage document, ask why. It may be legitimate in some states, or a sign the brand was lost in transfer. AutoBimer highlights title changes between listings but does not judge them.