When buying a car, you will find vehicles with various titles, such as clean titles, salvage titles, and rebuilt titles. Out of all of them, salvage title cars are the most economical. This is because salvage cars are officially considered a total loss because they sustain severe damage through accidents or natural disasters.
After buying a vehicle with this title, you will have to make repairs and get a rebuilt title from the DMV. As salvage vehicles are not safe to drive on the roads and require repairs, you need to consider their restoration cost with the purchase price.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
There are other important things you should learn before finalizing the deal of a salvage car. Keep scrolling to learn what they are!
Before purchasing a salvage automobile, do not conclude the deal without evaluating the car. As you have to make the repairs and get it approved by the DMV, these additional costs should be included in the final vehicle price. Therefore, you should know the exact amount of damage to find out how much money you will need to fix all the issues.
To do that, you need to review the vehicle history report. This report is conducted from the vehicle identification number (VIN) to provide accurate information about the odometer reading, and previous owners, among other information. You can access this report on official government sites or use salvage auto auctions like A Better Bid online car auction that provides the vehicle history report to its Pro and Premium members.
For example, you can subscribe to ABB’s Premium and Pro membership plans to request up to 50 vehicle history reports of auction cars (the precise amount depends on your auto auction subscription). Then, you can review them to make an informed buying decision. By checking this report, you can learn more about the:
Previous Owners: You can find out how many people bought and used this car before you. This information will also educate you on whether or not the vehicle was ever used for business purposes, such as rentals in the past.
Accident History: This part of the report contains information on the total amount of damage and its cause. You can learn if the vehicle was harmed in a collision accident or through a natural calamity such as flooding. Using this information, you can decide which parts are more damaged comparatively.
Title Details: Title washing is a common practice for selling salvage cars under false titles. However, a vehicle history report shows the accurate and current vehicle title.
Odometer Reading: It tells how much mileage a car has covered since getting out of the showroom.
Recall Notices: You can find out how well maintained the previous owners kept the car and if the vehicle ever had open recalls that you need to address.
Despite having an extensive amount of vehicle knowledge, a car mechanic is likely to know more. So, you should consult with a mechanic before placing bids on a salvage title vehicle. You can show them the vehicle history report to get an estimate on the repair cost. A professional mechanic can also help you determine if the final car price, including repairs, is worth it.
Because salvage cars must be fixed to safely operate on the road, you should conduct a complete price evaluation. Then, you have to check if your budget allows for the calculated expenses. Apart from the budget, the final price should also be compared with the market value.
For example, if the repair and rebuilt title registration costs equal or exceed the price of a clean title vehicle of the same make and model, then buying a salvage vehicle is not a sound investment. So, it is important to know the total amount you will be spending on the car, which includes the platform fee, shipping fee, registration fee, repair costs, and more, before buying a vehicle.
If you have a good amount of car knowledge, then you can buy the essential parts and restore the car yourself. Otherwise, you can hire a mechanic to build your salvage vehicle. Even though repairing the car on your own will be more economical (no mechanic fee), you should still get it evaluated before getting it tested by the DMV. This will ensure that there are zero issues with the car’s engine and other machinery.
A dependable and reliable platform will provide you with a huge inventory to choose your favorite vehicle. Moreover, it will provide you with a vehicle history report to ensure that you know exactly what you are buying. You can find these features and more at A Better Bid auto auction. This online car auction gives you access to 300,000+ cars, SUVs, motorcycles, trucks, and other automobiles at wholesale prices.
The best part about buying from ABB is that you don’t need a driver’s license. You just need your government-issued ID to register on the forum. Then, you can obtain buying power and bid on the vehicle you love. You can also take advantage of ABB’s delivery service to ship the car to your doorstep (applicable for the USA only).
Because salvage cars have sustained enough damage that the insurance company declared it a “total loss,” you can purchase a vehicle at a considerably lower price. However, you have to restore the car to good condition and acquire a rebuilt title. To make sure the total amount does not exceed the market value of the vehicle, check the vehicle history report and consult with a mechanic. To get a salvage car at a wholesale rate, visit ABB and benefit from their massive inventory.
