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Home » News & Updates » Confused by types of car titles? Here’s what they mean

Confused by types of car titles? Here’s what they mean

February 3, 2020 Kim

You have probably heard that a car has a “clean” title or to avoid cars with a “salvage” title, but what does this really mean? 

The type of title a car has can greatly impact the value of a car and describes its intended use.

Let’s look at each option one by one:

Clean title:

All cars start with a clean title and most will have a clean title throughout their life.  However, this does not necessarily mean that the car has never been in an accident or received any damage.

Salvage title:

A car receives a salvage title when an insurance company deems it a total loss and pays the owner to buy the car after a theft or accident.  A car with a salvage title can not be registered or legally driven on a public road.  

Rebuilt title:

If a car receives a salvage title but is then repaired, it can be inspected by the DMV and a rebuilt title can be issued.  

Parts Only title:

In certain states, if a car is too damaged to be deemed to be repairable, then it will receive a Parts Only title.  This often happens if the car is involved in a flood, fire, or a collision so severe that the car can’t be reasonably fixed.  

The question that we sometimes get from customers is whether or not a car has a “clean” title or not.  All of our vehicles have a clean title – we do not sell cars with salvage titles or rebuilt titles.

If you have any questions about this, please ask us when you come for a test drive and we are happy to show you a copy of the title.

Want to learn more? Give us a call at (503) 893 – 9565 and ask to speak with Ian or email us at info (at) espritmotors (dot) com.


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Filed Under: Subaru Ownership & Maintenance Tips

Esprit Motors is a used car dealership in Portland, Oregon.

As a small, boutique used car dealership, our goal is to always be honest, transparent, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. 

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Recent posts:

  • Do I Still Need Snow Tires if I Have All Wheel Drive?
  • Steps for Buying a Car Through an Auto Broker
  • Confused by types of car titles? Here’s what they mean
  • Six year anniversary!
  • How to Make Sense of Online Pricing Guides & the Portland Subaru Market

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About Esprit Motors

Kim and Ian Lomax Hello! We're Kim and Ian Lomax -- owners of Esprit Motors. Learn More

Recent Posts

  • Do I Still Need Snow Tires if I Have All Wheel Drive?
  • Steps for Buying a Car Through an Auto Broker
  • Confused by types of car titles? Here’s what they mean
  • Six year anniversary!
  • How to Make Sense of Online Pricing Guides & the Portland Subaru Market

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