How to Insure a Salvaged Title

Salvaged vehicles can often obtain insurance after repairs.

A salvage title on a vehicle is a record of an incident involving that vehicle at some point in the past. The incident could have been anything from a vehicle theft to cosmetic damage on an older vehicle to major structural damage. Salvage titles do not indicate the reason the car is considered salvaged. According to Insure.com, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. states it is usually not difficult to obtain insurance on salvaged vehicles as long as there is a documented post-repair inspection.

Things You'll Need

• Vehicle
• Post-repair inspection
• Premium

Instructions

1. Inspect the documentation that comes with your new vehicle. Check the vehicle registration, title, or history report for indications of a salvage title.

2. Obtain a post-repair inspection report, if one exists. If one does not exist, you can ask your mechanic to write one or have your insurance agent inspect the vehicle himself.

3. Contact your agent or broker and provide all the necessary information to get a quote for insurance on your vehicle. She may need to inspect the vehicle, even if a post-repair inspection was already completed.

4. Pay the premium charged by your insurance company for a policy. Depending on the quality of the repair or the company's procedures, some companies may only insure your salvaged vehicle for liability coverage.

Tips & Warnings

• If your insurance company refuses to insure your salvaged vehicle for physical damage, check with another company before you give up. Each company has different standards and you may find someone willing to write full coverage for you.

• Salvage titles often have a negative impact on the value of a vehicle. If you wreck your vehicle again, be prepared for a reduced settlement amount from your insurance company to reflect the prior salvage.

• Vehicles may not be safe after a salvage repair even if they look good on the outside. Make sure a qualified repair technician who you trust gives the vehicle a thorough inspection before driving it .

References

• Insure.com: Avoiding Problems With Salvaged Vehicles