If you’re shopping for a used vehicle, you may come across cars with junk titles, often at temptingly low prices, so what is a junk title?
A junk title is a type of vehicle title that indicates the car has been severely damaged, wrecked or deteriorated to the point that it is considered to have little or no value except for its parts or scrap metal.
Important: A car with a junk title is not considered roadworthy or safe to drive on public roads. In most cases, a junk title means the vehicle can never be registered or driven legally again.
Related Articles To Read:
- Junk Car vs Salvage Car
- How to Junk a Car
- How to Junk a Car Without a Title
- Do I Need To Notify DMV If I Junk My Car
- Where To Sell a Car That’s Not Running
Table of Contents
How Does a Car Get a Junk Title?
There are several reasons a vehicle may receive a junk title:
| Reason for Junk Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Damage | – Damaged in an accident and repair costs exceed value – Sustained major flood, fire, or hail damage – Vandalized or stripped of parts after being stolen |
| Inspections and Abandonment | – Failed safety and emissions inspections and not worth repairing – Abandoned and determined to have very little value |
| State Criteria | – Criteria for issuing a junk title varies by state – In some states, issued when vehicle is sold to a junkyard or dismantler for scrap parts – Car considered to have no resale value except for scrap metal and parts |
The criteria for issuing a junk title varies by state. In some states, a junk title is issued when the vehicle is sold to a junkyard or dismantler to be scrapped for parts.
The car is considered to have no resale value except for its scrap metal and parts.
How to Find Out If a Car Has a Junk Title
The easiest way to check if a vehicle has a junk title is to look at the physical title. Junk titles are usually clearly branded, often with a stamp or watermark that says “Junk” or “Parts Only”.
You can also check the vehicle history report using the VIN. Many online services like NICB’s VINCheck allow you to enter the VIN to see if the vehicle has any salvage or junk records reported by insurance companies.
However, not all junk vehicles may show up on reports.
Contacting your state DMV or tag agency with the VIN is another way to determine if the car has a junk title on record.
Each state maintains title records that indicate branding like junk or salvage.
Junk Title vs Salvage Title
While junk and salvage titles are often confused, there are key differences:
- A salvage title means the vehicle was declared a total loss by an insurance company, but it can be repaired and driven again.
- A junk title means the car is not roadworthy at all and can only be used for parts or scrap. It can never be registered or driven legally again.
- Salvage title vehicles can be rebuilt and rebranded with a “rebuilt” title. Junk vehicles have no such option.
- Salvage vehicles may still have some resale value if repaired. Junk vehicles are worth only their scrap metal or parts.
Who Can Buy a Junk Title Vehicle?
In most states, cars with junk titles can only be sold to junkyards, dismantlers, or scrap metal processors. They cannot be sold to individual buyers to be repaired or driven on the road.
The vehicle is typically required to be dismantled, destroyed, or scrapped.
Some states restrict who can purchase junk title vehicles, such as requiring the buyer to be a licensed dismantler or junk dealer. The goal is to ensure junk vehicles are permanently removed from the road.
Can a Junk Title Be Cleared?
In many states, a car with a junk title can never be made into a clear or clean title again. However, a licensed vehicle rebuilder or repair shop can purchase a junk car and perform the necessary repairs.
After the repairs are completed and the vehicle passes the required inspections, the shop can apply to have the junk title converted into a rebuilt title, which allows the car to be registered and driven on public roads once again.
How To Get a Junk Title for a Car
Here are the steps to get a junk title for a car:
- Ensure the vehicle meets your state’s criteria for a junk title:
- The car is not roadworthy
- It is beyond repair
- It only has value as parts or scrap metal
- If you have a salvage title, contact your state DMV or title agency to convert it to a junk title:
- Fill out the required application
- Pay the necessary fee
- If the car doesn’t have a title, obtain one before attempting to convert it to a junk title:
- Provide a bill of sale
- Apply for a replacement title
- Take the vehicle to a state-approved inspection facility or law enforcement for verification of junk status:
- They will confirm the car is not repairable
- They will verify it has no value except for parts or scrap
- Submit the inspection paperwork, title, and required application to your state DMV:
- Sign the application in front of a notary, if required
- Apply for the junk certificate
- Pay the applicable title fees:
- Wait for the official junk title to be processed and sent to you
- With the junk title, you can legally sell the vehicle to a junkyard, dismantler, or scrap metal processor:
- Follow your state’s regulations for selling a junk vehicle
- Obtain a Certificate of Destruction, if required
Note: The exact process and requirements may vary between states. Always check with your state DMV for the proper forms, fees, inspections, and procedures to get a junk title issued for a vehicle.
Visual Article Summary
| Topic | Key Points |
|---|---|
| What is a Junk Title? | – Indicates a severely damaged, wrecked, or deteriorated car- Car has little or no value except for parts or scrap metal- Not considered roadworthy or safe to drive on public roads- In most cases, vehicle can never be registered or driven legally again |
| How Does a Car Get a Junk Title? | – Damaged in an accident and repair costs exceed its value- Sustained major flood, fire, or hail damage- Vandalized or stripped of parts after being stolen- Failed safety and emissions inspections and not worth repairing<br>- Abandoned and determined to have very little value- Criteria for issuing a junk title varies by state |
| How to Find Out if a Car Has a Junk Title | – Check the physical title document for “Junk” or “Parts Only” branding- Check the vehicle history report using the VIN- Contact your state DMV or tag agency with the VIN to check title records |
| Junk Title vs Salvage Title | – Salvage title: vehicle declared a total loss but can be repaired and driven again- Junk title: car not roadworthy, can only be used for parts or scrap, can never be registered or driven legally again- Salvage title vehicles can be rebuilt and rebranded; junk vehicles cannot- Salvage vehicles may have some resale value if repaired; junk vehicles are worth only scrap or parts |
| Who Can Buy a Junk Title Vehicle? | – In most states, only junkyards, dismantlers, or scrap metal processors can buy junk title cars- Cannot be sold to individual buyers to be repaired or driven on the road- Vehicle is typically required to be dismantled, destroyed, or scrapped- Some states require the buyer to be a licensed dismantler or junk dealer |
Citations and Sources For this Article
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/auto-loans/should-you-buy-a-salvage-title-car
- https://www.aamva.org/topics/salvage-and-junk-vehicles
- https://dmv.nv.gov/salvage.htm
- https://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/docs/chapter_j.pdf
- https://www.reddit.com/r/askcarsales/comments/7w1i4s/what_does_damage_type_junk_and_salvage_mean/
- https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/tax/motor-vehicle/FAQs-Motor-Vehicle-Titles/how-do-i-title-a-vehicle-that-has-a-salvage-notatio.html
- https://cartitles.com/junk-titles-vs-salvage-titles-whats-the-difference/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Reno/comments/10sa9sp/can_i_title_a_vehicle_in_nevada_if_it_has_a/?rdt=61710
- https://www.vinfreecheck.com/guide/find-out-car-has-salvage-title-for-free
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJCQw_a43dE
- https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/title-check-look-before-you-buy/salvage-brands
- https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/title-check-look-before-you-buy/junk-title-brands
- https://www.progressive.com/answers/how-to-get-a-salvage-title/
