Buying a car with a salvage title is not for the faint of heart. The vehicle may be cheaper and more affordable, but there are many things to consider before you go through with this purchase. In this article, we will talk about what cars with salvage titles are and the reasons why you should and shouldn’t buy them. We’ll also talk about what you can do to reduce any possible problems.

What is a car with a salvage title?

If your car has been in an accident and received damage that’s beyond repair, it will most likely be declared as “salvaged.” This means it can’t be registered or sold as a new car because it has no value as an operational vehicle. It also means the vehicle is considered unsafe to operate on public roadways due to its diminished structural integrity from being damaged in an accident.

For cars deemed “salvaged” to have any value at all, they must undergo extensive repairs done by someone who specializes in repairing salvaged vehicles.

This is where car buyers with a salvage title come in. A car with a salvage title has been repaired and inspected by someone certified to do so, meaning the car has been deemed road-worthy and safe for public use.

The pros of buying a salvage car

• The car will be cheaper than one without a salvage title. This one is a no-brainer. When a vehicle has a salvage title, it is significantly more affordable than a brand-new or second-hand car with no salvage title. If you are looking for a cheap car you can drive daily, then they are a good option.
• There are times when you can get lucky and find a car with a salvage title with very minimal issues. Note that not all vehicles given the “salvage” title are wrecked, so you are bound to see one that might only have cosmetic damage. There are also older vehicles with a low market value that are already considered a total loss when it only costs less than $1000 to fix.
• A vehicle considered “salvaged” is often valued not on how it looks or whether it can run, but instead on how many good parts it still has. Salvage title cars are attractive to many buyers who are looking for specific (note: expensive) parts that they can remove and resell in the marketplace.

The cons of buying a salvage car

• There may be hidden damage that was not disclosed to you before purchase. It’s hard to fully know the extent of the damage done to the car. Often, you are being presented with a car in running condition, but after taking it for a couple of hundred miles, you notice a lot of hidden damage that you had no idea existed.
• You may need to spend more money on repairs if you buy a salvaged car. This car has already had its time in the shop in the first place. So, you may expect a few more trips to your mechanic after you buy it.
• There aren’t a lot of insurance companies that are willing to provide coverage for a car with a salvage title. Once it gets into an accident, it will be hard to identify which damage was caused by the recent accident or if it was already present. If an insurance company does decide to cover your car with a salvage title, you might end up paying a higher premium. Insurance may also only offer to cover 80% of the car’s market value.
• Unless you see yourself using the car forever, it will be hard to sell a vehicle with a salvage title after you are done with it. This is because the salvage title sticks with the car forever, and no matter how much you spend on fixing it, it will always be a car with a salvage title – a mark of its past.

Get A General Repair And Inspection Service For Your Salvaged Vehicle

Decided on getting a car with a salvage title? Don’t worry. T3 Atlanta can help you out. We have a team of expert mechanics who can look at your salvaged vehicle of choice to spot all the damage caused by the past accident. Our comprehensive inspection service ensures that no bolt is left unscrewed so that your car is, albeit marked salvaged, safe to drive.

Give us a call today, and we’ll pen you in for an appointment!