Get a Title for Your Junk Vehicle
Do you have a “junk” vehicle with no title?
Thousands of vehicles are sold through Copart, IAAI, and other insurance salvage auctions with limited titles or no documentation. Vehicles have brands such as:
- Certificate of Destruction
- Non-Repairable
- Junk
- Parts Only
In order to prove ownership for sale, export, or other uses the documents you have received may be insufficient. We can prepare forms for the next step of ownership for uses depending on your intentions of sale, transport, or registration. The vehicle you own can be considered a donor vehicle for major component parts of the new vehicle to be titled with a new VIN#.
Are You Ready to Get Started?
Follow these easy steps to get a new title for your junk vehicle.
Fill out our easy form with your information to begin the process of obtaining a new title for your junk vehicle.
Information needed:
- VIN
- Your address for title
- Phone
- Photo of vehicle
- Photo of VIN#
We send you paperwork ready for signature to process your vehicle.
All you need to do is sign the documents, and submit them to your local DMV!
If inspections or other steps are required, you will be notified by the DMV.
3 Ways To Undo a Certificate of Destruction
1. Revert to Salvage
File with the insurer to re-issue the document as a salvage for repair and
inspection, (Copart or IAA)
2. Court Ordered Title
Request that the county magistrate invalidate the junk title based on conditions
and regulatory requirements
3. New VIN
Have a new Vehicle Identification Number issued under the state DMV
“Assembled Vehicle” process.
The success rate for obtaining a legal vehicle title varies based on your chosen method and the original title classification (parts only, junk, certificate of destruction, non-repairable, etc.). Our experience indicates approximately a 50% success rate for each individual approach.
We recommend exploring multiple methods sequentially until you achieve your desired outcome. For comprehensive guidance, please review the detailed instructions below, access our instructional videos, or schedule a personalized consultation with one of our certified title agents. (Please have your VIN available for verification purposes.)
Remember: Chances are 0% if you don’t try one or more of these methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a title for a vehicle with a junk title, certificate of destruction, or non-repairable title?
When a vehicle is placed into “junk” status by the insurance company, the VIN# is entered into a Federal Government official database called the Nation Motor Vehicle Title Information System. (NMVTIS), which cancels the VIN# as a car that can never be titled again. The VIN# is also sent to all 50 states DMV and titling offices to block them from ever issuing a title again for the vehicle.Â
The only way that the vehicle can be re-titled is by obtaining a new VIN# from the DMV as an assembled vehicle.
Does the vehicle need to be inspected?
For a vehicle to be declared an assembled vehicle with a new VIN#, it needs to be inspected and approved by the state titling or motor vehicle division
How do I get the inspection?
The assembled vehicle documentation needs to be prepared and presented to the state titling division. If all of the forms are in order and records approved, they will schedule an inspection.
What items are part of the inspection?
The government inspection will look for three things:
- Is the vehicle safe and legal for the road
- Are all of the parts installed legit and not stolen
- Is the vehicle a substantially different vehicle
How do I get a new VIN# for my vehicle?
Once the vehicle has passed inspection as an assembled vehicle, the DMV will assign a new VIN# and affix it to the vehicle using a special rivet tool. Then a new title can be issued.
Can I register the vehicle to drive on the road?
Once the vehicle has passed inspection and issued a new title, you can apply for registration and license plates.
How long does it take to get a title?
The paperwork can be filled out in 1 day. The inspection appointment time depends on the scheduling for the DMV, usually about a week.
What are the requirements for an “assembled vehicle”?
Each state has similar language regarding the presentation of the vehicle. Certainly, it has to be safe for the road, but in addition the various statutes describe that it be a substantially different vehicle. This is subject to interpretation by the inspector who will look for new parts and appearance.
Why is my title junk if there is no damage on it?
Insurance companies routinely place destruction or non-repairable brands on titles for liability purposes, even when there is little or no damage. It is common to see late model expensive vehicles stamped “certificate of destruction” with just minor scratches.
Can I get paperwork from Copart or IAAI?
Whatever receipts, certificates, or documents provided by the auction with the sale is typically all that is available. The auction will normally not provide additional documents beyond what came with the car.
Can I export the vehicle?
US Customs requires a valid ownership document such as a title for a vehicle to leave the United States. Various import countries have their own requirements.
Is there any other way to get a title for a junk vehicle?
Once the vehicle is in junk status, with a parts only, certificate of destruction, or non-repairable VIN record, no state DMV is allowed to issue any registration title document. Any methods to circumvent the branded title for that VIN# is considered “title washing” and is enforced by the US Department of Justice under the Anti-Car Theft Improvements Act of 1996, codified at 49 U.S.C. 30501-30505. Only a new VIN# issued to an assembled vehicle using the prior vehicle as a parts donor is a pathway for road use.
We do not assist with stolen vehicles, title washing, or illegal activities.
You must abide by all DMV requirements and laws. Illegal activity will be reported. Our role is only to provide government documents at your specific direction. All DMV fees and taxes must be paid by you directly to the government or other agencies. If you do not follow all of the significant requirements of the DMV you may not get a title or registration. Completion of these steps or inspection is entirely your responsibility and may require a resulting vehicle distinct from the original model.
Vehicles sold at Copart, IAA, and other insurance auctions often are flagged with a brand that makes it a parts only vehicle. In different states they use different names for these types of vehicles:
Certificate of Destruction, Non-Repairable, Parts Only, Junk, Dismantled
Junk Titles
How does it happen?
When an insurance company “totals” a vehicle, they can issue a Salvage TItle allowing for the vehicle to be repaired, inspected, and put back on the road. More often however insurance companies are issuing a “junk” certificate which cancels the VIN making the vehicle ineligible for a title in all 50 states.
A Junk TItle is reported to the National Motor Vehicle Title
Information System (NMVTIS) which is a Federal records system used by all 50 states to make sure that junk vehicles are not titled. Once a VIN is on that list, it is a red flag and no state DMV can title or register it.
Why is it junk if it is in good condition??
Many vehicles which have been issued Junk Titles are not showing much damage or even no damage at all. The insurance companies issue junk titles when they do not want any further liability for a vehicle being back on the road.
For example, if a flood car has corrosion on the airbag sensors, and 5 years later those airbags don’t deploy in an accident, the insurance company could be sued for negligence letting the car go back on the road. So the insurance company just stamps it junk and they are off the hook.
How can you title it?
There is no way to get a title UNLESS you get the junk status removed from the title record. The only way to have this removed is to file a petition for the magistrate in your county to override the title and remove the junk status.
Factors:
Courts may consider these factors in deciding whether to grant the removal of the junk title brand
Condition – Year – History – Applicant – Jurisdiction – Experience – Opinion – Case load
Regardless, there is no way of knowing in advance what the outcome will be.
Overall odds
0% chance of ever getting a title.
If you do not file for a court ordered title
50/50 chance.
If you file a court ordered title package with the courty
Court Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to file?
In most jurisdictions you need to create, prepare, and file 4 documents:
1. Petition of ownership.
2. Affidavit of facts.
3. Declaration of interest.
4. TItle application
Where can I get these forms?
These are not pre-made forms like you find at the DMV. Courts do not have standard forms for every type of case they handle. You have to create these documents, along with all of the wording from scratch on an empty sheet of paper. More details and instructions can be found at CarTitles.com
How long does it take?
It depends on how busy your court calendar is at the moment. SOmetimes it can take a few days, sometimes it can take many weeks. There is no way of knowing in advance the turnaround time. You just need to get it filed ASAP and get it in processing.
Can I call the court for more info?
No, the court does not have a standard process to describe to you. They are not allowed to give instructions to consumers about court cases.
Where should I file the documents?
Each county has a specific type of court for this process. It may be the Civil Court, the Circuit Court, The
Superior Court, the Magistrate Court, etc. Also, it is better to NOT BRING THE DOCUMENTS IN PERSON to
the court. It is better to file by mail.
Do I have to go to court for a court case?
In most cases it is all done administratively by mail. The courts do not want excessive attendance in the
courthouses. These cases are not big cases as you see on TV like “Law & Order.” There is no jury,
witnesses, and big productions. It is a filling process handled by the clerk. Sometimes at the end of the
case they ask you to come into the lobby to sign a receipt.
More info
More information, instruction videos, and available services are at CarTitles.com There is also live one-on-one consultation advice available for clients.
Instructions – Details – TItle service – Filing assistance – Document preparation – Consultation