What Is a Clean Title and Why Is it Important?

Posted Thursday, Aug 17, 2023

With the rise in popularity of used cars, buying a car has never been easier. You have so much more variety nowadays than you did years ago, and there are multiple checks you could make before you take the car home.

This means that buying a used car today is a worthwhile investment. You don’t just get an affordable car. You also get to drive a safe vehicle that doesn’t break down often. However, scams are always possible.

Several private owners have been trying to pass off faulty used vehicles as clean title cars in recent years. While clean title cars will not need a lot of repairs, faulty vehicles may cost you a lot more than the price of the vehicle itself. Here’s all you need to know;

What Is a Clean Title?

A car gets a clean title when it has been determined beyond any doubt that it has never been totaled. In the case of totaled cars, the insurance company often reaches out to the owner and declares the vehicle a total loss.

A car declared a total loss is either impossible to repair or the repair cost is preposterously high compared to the car’s own value. The car's title, which shows full or partial ownership, is branded as a salvage vehicle by the government.

There are many reasons for a car to be branded a salvage vehicle. These include a car destroyed by a natural disaster, such as a flood that causes damage to the internal structure. If you are considering buying a car and have decided to give used cars a chance, it is important to check for a clean title.

What Should I Look Out for?

Here are some tips for people looking to buy used cars;

• Start by checking the vehicle history report, which usually indicates whether the vehicle has ever been damaged.
• Look for different kinds of titles attached to the car. You will often come across salvage titles that have been discussed above. This isn’t an ideal title for a car, and you should be looking for a clean title. You may even encounter junk titles that clearly indicate that the car is beyond repair.
• In some cases, the car might not have a clean title but will display a rebuilt title. This means that the car that previously had a salvage title has been repaired and declared fit to be driven on the road. This is a great pick, especially if you are looking for an affordable option.

Not all damage renders a car useless. Some types of damage can cause a car to be assigned a salvage title. However, the damage can be reversed with enough work or repair, and the car is declared fit for sale. Don’t shy away from such purchases!

Should I Only Go for a Clean Title?

You might not want to leave any stone unturned when buying a car. So, a clean title may be exactly what you are looking for. However, it isn’t mandatory to just be looking for a clean title.

A car with a rebuilt title is going to work just as well. Cars that have been declared rebuilt have been allotted this title by an educated authority. This means you can place your trust in the car and drive it around without worrying about accidents. Plus, you will get a great price!

However, financing a car with a rebuilt title can be hard. Often, your state of residence will require you to get basic collision coverage. If your rebuilt title car hinders that progress, you may be unable to drive for a while.

What to Keep in Mind for Rebuilt Title Cars

Keep the following tips in mind;

• Find out as much as you can about why the car was marked a salvage title car in the first place. What disaster occurred, and how intense was the damage to the car?
• What was the final reason that it was declared a salvage title?
• What repairs did the car undergo before it was declared a rebuilt title vehicle?
• How long has the vehicle been driven?

We ask you to ponder the questions above because cars are often declared salvage due to expensive repairs that one cannot live without. This includes a blow to the exterior that did not damage the car internally but is too costly to invest in.

Moreover, the duration the car has been driven will determine if it can undergo any more changes and also its durability once you drive it off.

If you have a trusted mechanic or know a friend who is good with cars, inspect your car before you sign off on anything. If you are told the repairs are too expensive for the car to be worth it, you should stay away from the vehicle!

Warning: Title Washing!

What’s title washing, and why haven’t you come across it before? You might not have heard of it simply because private owners are getting too good at hiding salvage titles and turning them into clean ones without anyone noticing.

Remember that legally, there is no real way to turn a salvage title into a clean one. However, by removing the vehicle’s history from the application and applying for a clean title, title washing may be possible, whereby the car is allotted a clean title.

Always be certain about the car’s vehicle history and pay close attention to the seller. If you notice any red flags, run in the opposite direction! You don’t want a vehicle that costs you more than its value in the long run.

 

Final Thoughts

G7 Motor Sales can help you find the car of your dreams at an affordable price. We have several clean title cars waiting to be purchased. With G7 Motor Sales, you can drive off into the sunset with your car today! Contact us now.