Buying a used car? The meaning of salvaged.

[EastCoaster]

As more car accidents happen than your friends or family admit, is it generally unsafe to buy a used car from a private individual? It seems too easy for a car owner to get structural damage repaired on his vehicle and have it never show up on the Car Fax report. It could be "salvaged" and not officially be registered as "salvaged." Therefore, should someone who can't afford a new car buy a truck, van or Vulvo? Or go to a "certified-pre-owned" car dealer? I understand that modern cars with aluminum alloys don't hold up in crash tests like they should after the first accident. So the engineering that goes into making a car receive the coveted high crash-test rating is useless upon crash number two.

As a side note, isn't it possible (although unlikely) that a car be deemed "salvaged" when it can still hold up well in a crash? A seller is telling me that a car got "salvaged" on the title because of a minor fender bender.

[Ray paulsen]

Buying from a private individual or a dealer the risk factor can be the same.

You can buy a salvage car way below market value but at same time you must understand a salvage is a vehicle thats been written off by the insurance co... patched together declared road worthy with the title SALVAGE

Frame damaged vehicles are red flags along with flood damaged vehicles that give me the shivers just thinking about the miles of electric wiring submerged in water for how long ?

Hailstorm damaged vehicles are your best buys as they have cosmetic damage only, a valid value as long as you don't mind the Bonnie and Clyde image

A clean titled vehicle at one time could have been a salvage
A clean vehicle history report is not conclusive evidence that a vehicle has never sustained significant damage, a car dealers can "wash" salvage-titled vehicles through states that have lax titling and reinspection requirements.

The dealer will repair the salvage-titled car and then export it to a state that allows the dealer to acquire a new, clean title. That vehicle can then be sold as a "clean-titled" vehicle, although it had, at one time, a salvage title.

The seller that told you vehicle got a salvaged title because of a minor fender bender,,,made my morning smile,,,LOL http://www.usedcartips.org/index.html

[Pauto.com]

Doesn't a salvage title come from a car that has been totaled? A totaled vehicle happens when the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds the value of it. Then the title is branded or salvaged. Correct? I'm not a title expert by any means.

Aren't auto check & carfax reports, etc based on the vin number, which doesn't change, therefore wouldn't a significant accident in another state show up on the report regardless?

Visit a reputable dealer and they will treat you right when it comes to the title status. They have their reputation at stake and, believe it or not, there are some that care about such things.

[Julie Watson]

Our car is our asset. One should always take care before buying used cars. It is not true that always buying used car is salvaged.Buying used cars if done with trustful dealers will be very smart step.

[Ray paulsen]

Originally Posted by Pauto.com

Aren't auto check & carfax reports, etc based on the vin number, which doesn't change, therefore wouldn't a significant accident in another state show up on the report regardless?

Visit a reputable dealer and they will treat you right when it comes to the title status. They have their reputation at stake and, believe it or not, there are some that care about such things.

Hey Dawn your a sharp cookie, yes I made a blunder by using the word HISTORY should have been TITLE.

Re: your Bio...Yes you should be proud being associated with the Peltier family of dealerships in Texas, and likewise they should be proud having you aboard. I could find no dirt swept under the carpet and will recommend through my website buyers in Texas contact pauto.com