# Salvage Title

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/salvage-title/67513>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [August 29, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/salvage-title/67513 "2011-08-29T20:29:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ericpage3223](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@ericpage3223](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ericpage3223)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/salvage-title/67513/1 "2011-08-29T20:29:34Z")

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Recently, I considered buying a 2008 Honda Fit. I drove it and it seemed fine; however, it has a “rebuilt” (aka “Salvage”) title. The owners stated that the car had been rearended and then repaired and taken to the state for licensing. Since in the state of Washington such a title apparently means that the DOT has inspected the car and deemed it OK to drive, I was inclined to pay a mechanic to further examine it and if he/she said it’s OK, go ahead and buy it (the price was significantly less than other similar Fits). However, two people whose opinions I trust told me to “not touch it”, as did my wife. So - I walked. Now I’m still wondering if I did the right thing, and I’m searching for further opinions - any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - Eric Page

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/salvage-title/67513/2 "2011-08-29T20:37:59Z")

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You did the right thing, I’d never buy one with a salvage title. How much of a discount were they offering? It had better have been 50%, or more. Even then still not worth it to me.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/salvage-title/67513/3 "2011-08-29T21:05:40Z")

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I’d walk. Just because it’s supposedly safe to drive doesn’t mean it might not cause you lots of trouble anyway. You’d also have a terrible time selling it.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/salvage-title/67513/4 "2011-08-29T22:36:07Z")

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A Salvage Title car may be fine but there a couple of ifs. (There always is.)

It would depend on the asking price. Generally speaking, a salvage title vehicle is worth about 50-60% of the average retail.

The other would be the extent of the damage that caused a Salvage title to be issued.  
I would want to see the repair bill and spend a little time going over both that and the car itself before considering a purchase. A thorough checkover would be in order no matter what.