ok heres the story:
my car was hit last weekend in the front. its a 94 integra ls with 92000 miles on it. book value is 4500 and the damage came out to 4000. it needs a hood, fender, bumper, headlight, bumper light, and the radiator support needs to be straightened out. the guys insurance called it a total loss. so i bought it back for 700 and already have all of the parts coming in from ebay and acura forums for around 600 shipped. anyway my question is how do salvage titles work? does it automatically become a salvage even though i bought it back and plan to rebuild it? there was no frame damage. can i rebuild this title? any info will help.

 

once a vehicle title is salvage it cant be undone-it will always be salvage- if the insurance company totalled it then it is salvage

 

You'll have to call your state DOT to see what their requirements are. There will always be a "Salvage" label on your title but I think your question is, "how do I get this thing back to legal?" I've never done it but I've heard that in my state, there's a rather involved application process to get this done. Make sure to keep any receipts/documentation of your parts because you will probably have to do something to prove that the car was fixed. The process is probably even more difficult for DIY repairs to a salvage vehicle.

Let us know what you find out.

 

I heard that in Texas you can have an inspector look at your car and they put it on a emission test thing and if it passes. As if all saftey devices work and such then they will clear the title. One of my friends that lives in dallas was going to do it.

 

Its very simple, if your car has recieved a salvage title, you have to get a "rebuilt salvage" title. Make sure you have reciepts for EVERYTHING you put on the car. You will have to have it inspected by a state DOT facility. They will go through and check the numbers on all the parts you put on, dont remove the labels from any of the parts, and dont paint over them. If they find a part that you claim to have replaced, or appears to have been replaced, and you dont have a reciept.....Well they can impound your car indeffinitly and basically say that you stole parts to rebuild yours...(I watched a kid and his dad get a 2002 Accord impunded because they didnt have proof that they purchase a new core support for the car....)

Moral: Reciepts are EVERYTHING

Also I was speaking from my experience in rebuilding a few cars in Ohio, you will want to contact a local DOT station for state specific terms....