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estimate is based on factory-new parts, another on new aftermarket parts and yet another based on junkyard parts, the numbers will vary widely – with further variance added based on who does the repairs. Damage to automotive unibody frames (commonly used in most cars since 1967 to save weight) requires special expertise and equipment to measure, with factory tolerances typically as tight as 3 mm (1/8").
176:) and registration documents could still be of potential value to persons dealing in stolen cars. The diminished sale value of a title branded vehicle reduces the profitability of switching the registration and VIN from an accident vehicle to that of a stolen vehicle of the same make and model/year, in an attempt to register it as a rebuilt car and sell it.
193:, the vast majority of vehicle titles are issued by individual provinces/states and territories. Most have implemented some branding scheme to warn subsequent owners of a vehicle of severe damage to a vehicle due to collision, theft or disaster. The brands and the criteria used to assign them vary widely from one jurisdiction to another.
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A consumer-protection warning: Cars which have been involved in serious collisions often find their way into auctions and onto dealers' lots. A permanent record of a severe accident warns potential subsequent owners that a car has been damaged (and possibly repaired). Properly repaired and carefully
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Such permanent records of damage do not always exist in cases where damaged vehicles retain a clear title. For example, ConsumerReports.org reported that vehicle history checks would at times produce "clean" results despite the vehicles being offered for sale as damaged on such websites as eBay.com
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While some vehicles (such as cars exported overseas after severe collision or damaged before the introduction of mandatory branding) may carry no warnings as to their history, others may be branded as "total loss" when they could have been quite repairable in the hands of someone willing to install
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With the exception of 'salvage' (which may be replaced by the 'rebuilt' brand after repair and structural inspection, depending on the rules and regulations of the issuing district), the brands are permanent. Once a vehicle identification number has been associated with one of these brands, it will
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If a vehicle is branded as 'junk' or 'irreparable' in error, or importation paperwork indicates it as imported 'for parts', there may be no straightforward means provided in legislation to remedy these errors. These vehicles, if not exported to another jurisdiction with different regulations, will
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The system also depends on the insurer or the owner of the damaged vehicle to provide information needed to determine the cost of damage to apply the brand to title, despite the fact that doing so will further reduce the vehicle's remaining resale value. Costs estimates are widely variable; if one
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There is no consistent list of brands or of conditions under which they apply. What most US states call "junk" and most
Canadian provinces call "irreparable" («irrécupérable») can be labelled "salvage" in some other jurisdiction – either because the criteria are different or because the same brand
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In some cases, the criteria to define a "total loss" vary – some base the cutoff amount on the nominal value of the vehicle in working condition, others look instead at the value of a working vehicle minus the value of a collision vehicle as scrap, salvage or parts. The percentage of the original
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A vehicle that can be repaired but which would cost more than some predefined amount (often 75–100% of the car's value) to repair. Subject to structural safety inspection before it can be driven; documentation of repairs and sources of repair parts may also be required, depending on jurisdiction.
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Has not been branded in this jurisdiction. May be a vehicle which has not been in an accident or has been in an accident minor enough that the cost of repair was less than the cost to write off the vehicle. May also be a vehicle which sustained severe damage in some other jurisdiction (if laws
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State "lemon laws" often require that, if vendor attempts to repair a problem under a new-car warranty repeatedly fail, the manufacturer or dealer buy back or replace the vehicle. Depending on the jurisdiction, this may be required to be disclosed to subsequent owners of a problem car.
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has been confusingly been given a different name. In
Alberta only, "non repairable" is used to mean irreparable – in most other jurisdictions including Alberta, "salvage" means that the vehicle can indeed be repaired but that the cost of doing so is most likely prohibitive.
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is a status and typically not a brand (as licensing agencies can refuse to issue any title document once a vehicle is stolen), previously-stolen vehicles are often found dismantled, vandalised or destroyed through arson. Many are then branded and may be irreparable.
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is mandatory in most provinces and states in North
America when an insurer or vehicle owner writes off a vehicle as a "total loss". Typically this means the cost to repair the vehicle would equal or exceed the car's value, although legal definitions vary.
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The vehicle has been used in public transportation, law enforcement, daily rental or commercial applications which represent an above-average likelihood of wear-and-tear. Not a brand, but typically must be disclosed to subsequent buyers.
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brand remains on the vehicle's title/registration documents permanently. Some jurisdictions require that rebuilt vehicles imported across provincial or state lines be reinspected before being allowed to retain the
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inspected, a vehicle may be acceptable – but an improper repair after a serious accident may leave the vehicle frame, body or key electrical and mechanical systems in damaged or non-roadworthy condition.
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registration and a 'salvage' title for salt water damage would, for instance, represent a red flag as a vehicle possibly once affected by environmental conditions and events elsewhere such as
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Alternatively, some jurisdictions (i.e. NJ) issue a standard title with a "salvage" suffix to indicate a reconstructed vehicle, as opposed to a "rebuilt" or "reconstructed" title (i.e. PA).
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between the two differ significantly) or which was damaged and repaired before the introduction of vehicle branding or was damaged or repaired without notification to an insurance company.
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The vehicle was found after being abandoned by its previous owner. Typically not a brand, but may need to be disclosed in some jurisdictions.
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In North
America, vehicle licenses are normally issued by individual provinces and states. Each operates under different regulations.
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not be removed by authorities in that jurisdiction or in other jurisdictions with similar vehicle branding laws.
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is the use of a permanent designation on a vehicle's title, registration or permit documents to indicate that a
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Even once rebuilt and inspected, a branded vehicle must retain a permanent record of its traumatic past.
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and even eRepairables.com, a site specializing in the advertisement of salvage cars for sale.
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never be registerable or licensed again – even if all needed repairs are made and verified.
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535:"Buyer Beware, as Damaged Cars from Tropical Storm Irene May Soon Arrive on Dealer Lots"
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A deterrent to auto theft: If a vehicle is a complete loss due to an accident, its
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US Federal Trade
Commission Vehicle buyback disclosure project
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These differences are sometimes exploited by schemes such as "
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value at which the "total loss" label is applied also varies.
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The title branding programs typically have two objectives:
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Wisconsin
Department of Transport consumer protection info
516:"Ghosts of Irene: How to avoid buying a flood-damaged car"
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Additional information linked to a VIN on its title
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A vehicle that can be used for parts or scrap only.
463:used parts and do the work at a more modest price.
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
627:Used cars hiding flood damage, CBS 5 San Francisco
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235:A vehicle that has been previously branded as
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577:Arkansas – Damaged vehicle title regulations
144:, fire or flood damage or has been sold for
354:Vehicle has been permanently dismantled or
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
549:"Don't rely on used-car-history reports"
533:Maynard, Micheline (September 1, 2011).
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602:Societé d'assurance automobile, Québec
582:Minnesota title-branding legislation
47:adding citations to reliable sources
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231:Rebuilt Salvage or Prior Salvage
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617:National Insurance Crime Bureau
592:NY Department of Motor Vehicles
34:needs additional citations for
597:Ministry of Transport, Ontario
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197:Typical branding designations
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496:Vehicle identification number
174:Vehicle identification number
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185:Mandatory vehicle branding
261:Severely damaged vehicle
58:"Vehicle title branding"
520:www.consumerreports.org
491:Vehicle history report
432:Issues and limitations
130:Vehicle title branding
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587:Kentucky legislation
43:improve this article
553:ConsumerReports.org
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481:Lemon (automobile)
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557:. Retrieved
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41:Please help
36:verification
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642:Vehicle law
555:. June 2009
307:Designation
278:Irreparable
138:written off
636:Categories
559:2013-06-11
502:References
266:total loss
160:Objectives
69:newspapers
388:abandoned
142:collision
136:has been
621:VINcheck
486:Used car
475:See also
356:recycled
310:Synonyms
205:Synonyms
449:Arizona
346:crushed
337:wrecked
319:buyback
255:Salvage
248:title.
246:rebuilt
241:rebuilt
237:salvage
226:Rebuilt
140:due to
134:vehicle
83:scholar
407:police
379:stolen
377:While
172:(VIN,
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412:fleet
363:metal
360:scrap
350:baled
325:lemon
213:None
202:Brand
153:brand
146:scrap
90:JSTOR
76:books
619:(US
403:taxi
287:Fire
283:Junk
62:news
358:as
342:WRK
189:In
45:by
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