What is a branded car title?

[mprice]

I can't speak for other states but in Illinois if the vehicle or trailer is totaled by the insurance company but the owner decides to keep it the title is not branded because the title hasn't been processed. Carfax will reflect the insurance paid off on it but thats all that shows up. This happened to me with a pickup truck, I was rear ended by a semi at a traffic stop but kept the truck fixed it and drove it another year and then sold it with full disclosure even though title didn't reflect that it was involved in an accident.

[Lee Stewart]

New Mexico:

Section F: Salvage Certificate of Title or Reconditioned Title


Revised September 10, 2021

Any time a vehicle is transferred and the original document is a Certificate of Title branded as “SALVAGE,” all subsequent titles issued must be branded and stamped “SALVAGE .”

“Reconditioned” title

Some other states issue a “Reconditioned” title that is equivalent to our “SALVAGE ” title, and is a negotiable title. Upon transfer of title and registration of a vehicle that has a “Reconditioned” title, enter ” SALVAGE ” in the “brand” block.

Salvage Certificate

NM MVD refuses the issuance of a NM title to a vehicle with a Salvage Certificate under NMSA 1978, Section 66-3-7B “the vehicle is unfit or unsafe to be operated or moved upon the highways”

Both Salvage Title and Salvage Certificate can be used to identify a vehicle’s branding and other vehicle information. The difference between a Salvage Certificate and Salvage Title is that a vehicle issued a Salvage Certificate may not be operated on public roadways, while a vehicle issued a Salvage Title can. Converting a Salvage Certificate to a Salvage Title requires a safety inspection from a certified safety inspection station and a VIN (vehicle identification number) verification from an authorized VIN verification agency. NM has no certified safety inspection station programs.

NM MVD may issue a Non-Repairable Vehicle Certificate. By doing so, the owner will not be able to register the vehicle for use on roads and highways and would only be able to sell the vehicle to a licensed dismantler.

https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/chapte...ble-vehicles/#