I'm about to buy back my totaled 08 Ford Expedition. Per Michigan law it will come with a Salvage title. I plan to drive it for 3 months to a year and then sell it. How do I get the title changed to rebuilt or can I just sell it with the salvaged title.
This is the extent of damage. I plan to replace the rear window, tail light and straighten as necessary to align the tail light. Gate and side window open and seal properly.
Check your state, but salvage title can't get a registration. You'll have to fix the damage and probably need to go through some kind of special inspection to deem it roadworthy. PA calls is an "enhanced inspection." Then you can apply for a rebuilt title and get it registered.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
NH is the same way. I drive a salvage titled VW.
In CA it was so much easier (when I was there in the early 2000s). Wife's car got totaled with hail damage. We never stopped driving it. Adjuster came out, we got a call that said it was totaled, I asked what the buyback was and took it. They sent me a check for the value of the car minus the deductible and the buyback. A few weeks later an R-title showed up in the mail. It was totally seamless.
Every state is different.
Ohio REQUIRES proof of parts purchase receipts of new parts and for used parts it REQUIRES proof of what vin the used parts came from. This only applies to major parts.
For Ohio, a tail lamp does not require receipt but a replacement whole tailgate or replacement plastic by bumper cover would require.
In Ohio, you can not drive a Salvage car until it have been seen by the state ( where you prove receipts) and then given a title deemed Rebuilt Salvage.
Ohios cost on this process is about $100 and about a 3 week wait for an appointment. In some states it can be $1000 and in even other states it can not be done by a layman but you must be a state approved entity.
Loophole...
Since you own the truck already, it will be plated until the plates expire. That will make it "seem" legal to be on the road. The HUGE RISK being that your insurance.may deny a claim.
But, when it's time for plate renewal you will be denied new plates if the car is still wearing a plain salvage title at that time.
My insurance company told me that I can keep driving it with reduced coverage. It was up to me to figure out the title.
I'll ask my bodyshop they do this all the time.
In reply to akylekoz :
Likely varies by state. You need some Michigan specific answers.
Is Michigan auto insurance still different than everywhere else in the US?
John Welsh said:In reply to akylekoz :
Likely varies by state. You need some Michigan specific answers.
Is Michigan auto insurance still different than everywhere else in the US?
Definitely differs from state to state. Check with yours.
In reply to John Welsh :
If different you mean more expensive and includes the choice of unlimited disability or less coverage or proof that your health insurance covers auto disability. Yes
Sounds like I have to jump through a few hoops to get a rebuilt title and I don't know the cost of those hoops yet.
Anybody want an eight seat toy tug appliance for $1400?
I know the history of the last 35k miles.
Comes with a set of 2021 F150 platinum wheels, black offset wheels/ blizzaks, new struts pads and rotors for the rear.
needs a rear window and taillight.
Check the requirements for the issuance of the salvage title in MI.
If the vehicle is old enough and the owner is retaining it, then a salvage title might not be issued.
I don't know about Michigan, but I know when my son totaled my truck that Mass (and my insurance) didn't care about the title, and did not require a salvage title or rebuilt inspection when I chose to keep the truck.
As several have said, the rules are very state-specific. When I looked into it for CT, it didn't make any sense as it required a full DMV inspection (even on systems not impacted by the damage) and a licensed shop had to certify that they did the reconditioning necessary to rebuild the car. There was enough red tape that it didn't seem to be worth the hassle.
Michigan seems easy. Pretty much like Ohio.
https://jalopnik.com/why-you-dont-want-to-buy-a-rebuilt-salvage-vehicle-1653320003
The Ohio inspection (and it seems the Michigan inspection too) very much accentuates the point that "this is not a safety inspection." They are not inspecting the quality of your welding skill, etc. They are further not ensuring that the car does not drive "dog leg" sideways down the road. In Ohio, it is legal to drive a car on the road with a dented fender, ergo, you can get a car through the inspection process with still a dented fender. Further, a "dent" is allowed but jagged metal that could injure a passing pedestrian would not be allowed.
In Ohio it is illegal to drive a car with a missing tail lamp housing, ergo, this inspection would require a tail lamp to be present but strangely, the inspection would not be failed if a bulb is not working in this tail lamp housing (but it would require that there is a proper place for a bulb to be inserted.)
All that Ohio seems to care about (and it seems Michigan too) is that you can prove that the parts used were not stolen!
According to this Michigan Document (focused on section 5-7)
It seems that you need is this TR-13a form: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/01armbrustmacher/tr13a.pdf
Along with $100 the form is then reviewed by State Police. The way I read it you certify that the repairs were done in "workman like conditions." What I learned in Ohio was that if the car looked like anything else you might see driving on the road (some dents and bruises) then it was best to take the car to inspection doing no repairs and replacing fewest parts possible. The more parts you replace, the more proof you need.
Detailed here is a salvage Pontiac Vibe I bought....
I bought it like this:
I added a used tail lamp (considered a minor part so no receipt needed) but it went through inspection dented and scraped.
It wasn't until after it was legal and titled as a Rebuilt Salvage that I actually improved it with a replacement hatch, bumper cover and some minor paid bodywork:
You haven't shown full pictures of your Ford's damage but I suspect it is akin to this Pontiac Vibe's damage.
Its not as bad as it looks, the black trim piece is just bent over on its mounting surface.
I got to reading the Michigan process and reviewed the forms then added up the costs. Buy back, window, tail light, fees, time. And the big one SWMBO is basically against it and just prefers me to have a different car.
Current plan it to get my BMW project done while dragging my feet on telling my insurance company that I don't want it. They told me 14 days or more is fine.
I can't help with the point of overcoming SWMBO's opinion.
But, a quick look on car-part.com shows $115 for Glass (rear) in Sping Lake, MI (Grand Haven)
Tail lamp = $50 to $150
But, I understand the time element. If this was a few years ago, when I had more time, I'd have jumped on the offer to buy but I no longer have that luxury of time.
How many miles are on the expedition? Whats the rust situation like?
183k miles, rockers are gone the rest looks great. New hood and grill, steel hood.
I planned a rocker replacement for this spring.
In reply to John Welsh :
The point of this becoming another project that is not a guarantee of making a few bucks and the time commitment changed my mind on keeping it. If my boys wanted it then it would be another story.
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