Understanding US Salvage Titles: Clean, Salvage and Rebuilt Explained

The title is the legal document that describes a vehicle's history. On a US auction listing it's the first thing you should read — it tells you more about risk and resale value than almost any photo. Here's what each type means.

Clean title

The vehicle has never been declared a total loss. It may still have minor damage (auctions sell off-lease and fleet cars too), but no insurer has written it off. Clean-title cars command the highest resale value and are the easiest to insure and register.

Salvage title

An insurance company declared the car a total loss — usually because the repair cost exceeded a set percentage of the car's value. That doesn't always mean catastrophic damage. On an expensive car, even moderate damage can trigger a write-off. A salvage car must be repaired and inspected before it can be legally driven in the US, but for export the salvage status mainly affects price and the work you'll need to do.

Rebuilt / reconstructed title

A salvage vehicle that has been repaired and passed a state inspection. It's roadworthy, but the rebuilt brand stays on the title permanently and reduces resale value compared to a clean-title car.

Non-repairable / certificate of destruction

Avoid these. The vehicle is legally classified as parts-only and cannot be titled or registered for road use in most jurisdictions. These lots are for dismantlers, not importers.

Why it matters for Georgia

Title type drives both your purchase price and what you'll be able to do with the car after import. A lightly damaged salvage car can be an excellent value if you have a trusted repair shop. A non-repairable car is almost never worth importing for road use. When you read a listing, match the title type to your plan — and always confirm the title is in hand before the car ships.

Not sure how to read a particular listing? Send us the lot number and we'll review it with you.