How do I get a salvage title cleared in Illinois?

In Illinois, you are not allowed to rebuild and reconstruct a salvage vehicle on your own. Instead, you need to go through one of the licensed rebuilders who can perform the repairs and make it roadworthy. Once the vehicle is rebuilt, you’ve completed the first step in getting a rebuilt title.

Can you drive a car with a salvage title in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, any vehicle that “is salvage or junk may not be driven or operated on roads and highways within” Illinois unless it’s being driven for an inspection. The state can also issue a short-term permit that will allow a vehicle to be driven.

Is a salvage certificate the same as a title?

Both salvage title and salvage certificate are in essence the same thing in terms of identifying a vehicle’s branding. The difference is, when a vehicle is issued a Salvage Certificate it may not be operated on public roadways, while, when a vehicle is issued a Salvage Title, it can.

What means certificate of salvage?

Once a vehicle is declared a total loss, the insurer will issue a “salvage certificate.” At this point, the vehicle can’t be registered, driven or sold in its current condition. Most insurance companies sell the vehicle at auction to rebuilders or salvage yards.

Is it worth rebuilding a salvage car?

It can definitely be worth repairing a salvage car if the sale price is low enough to make the cost of repairing it financially viable, but only an experienced professional can make a true assessment of whether a salvage car is worth repairing.

Can you drive a car with a salvage title?

A vehicle with a salvage title is one that’s been declared a total loss, and you can’t drive it on public roads. However, once you refurbish the salvage car and it qualifies for a rebuilt title, it can be insured, registered, driven, and sold.

Are salvaged vehicles worth it?

Newer vehicles that are salvaged are often not worth the money, as they are higher in value to begin with, and to be declared salvaged, the costs of repairs need to be greater than the value of the car. That means a car worth $20,000 dollars will need more than $20,000 worth of repairs to be road worthy.

Why is a salvage title bad?

Salvage title cars may be cheap, but buyers risk purchasing an unsafe vehicle that will be difficult to insure and resell. If the term “salvage title” stops you in your tracks, you’re not off base. Salvage title cars attract some buyers because they’re priced significantly below market.

How much cheaper should a rebuilt car be?

One advantage of vehicles with a salvage or rebuilt title is that they generally cost much less than those with clean titles. In fact, salvage or rebuilt vehicles generally cost 20%-40% less than the same type of vehicle with a clean title, according to Kelley Blue Book.