Candace Baker, Car Insurance Writer
@candacebaker
No, you cannot insure a car with a salvage title in Virginia. Salvage vehicles are cars that have been declared a total loss, meaning they're too damaged to be worth repairing and cannot be driven legally, so no legitimate car insurance company writes policies for them.
How to Qualify for Insurance
Although insurance companies in Virginia won't insure a car with a current salvage title, you can get coverage if you have the vehicle repaired and inspected by a state-certified mechanic. If it's declared safe to drive, the DMV will issue the car a rebuilt salvage title. Several insurance companies, including Farmers and GEICO, sell policies for vehicles with a rebuilt salvage title.
Coverage Limitations
Keep in mind that some insurers will only sell liability insurance for rebuilt salvage cars, meaning they won't pay for any physical damage to the vehicle. Even if you are able to get collision and comprehensive insurance, your policy may not cover the full value of the car if it's totaled again. Additionally, insurance for a rebuilt salvage car may be more expensive than insurance for a standard vehicle.
To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to salvage titles, as well as our picks for the best car insurance Virginia.
Oldpflug, Member
@Oldpflug
The brands and nomenclature for anything other than a 'clear' title varies from state to state. In Virginia ... where I live, and in most others, 'salvage' is a designation given to a vehicle which is damaged and cannot be operated. They can be repaired and re-sold as 'rebuilt' vehicles. They must undergo an inspection by the state police before the salvage title can be replaced by a rebuilt title. I have owned several 'rebuilt' vehicles and have always had full coverage insurance on them without issue. In Virginia, buying a vehicle with a branded title from another state was (last time I tried) a total pain but achievable. The out of state had to be submitted .... only by mail or FedEx... to the central office in Richmond where, in two to four weeks they will determine the appropriate Virginia brand to apply, and send it to you... if they get it right. Or they may just send it all back to you. It has been a few years, so I hope the process has improved... but not counting on it. Patience is required.
People also ask
How can you get insurance on a car with a salvage title?
You can get insurance on a car with a salvage title after the car is repaired, inspected and issued a rebuilt title. At that point, you will be able to get liability insurance with the rebuilt salvage car, though some insurance companies will be hesitant to provide full coverage for the vehicle. Even after repairs, insurance companies are still hesitant to cover a car for its full market value if it was given a salvage...
read full answer by Winslow Arizona, Car Insurance WriterWhy are salvage titles bad?
A salvage title is bad because it signals that a vehicle has been declared a total loss due to severe damage (such as from an accident, flood, or fire) and may carry hidden risks even after repairs. While salvage-title cars are often much cheaper to buy than vehicles with clean titles, they’re very risky.
Reasons Why Salvage Titles Are Bad
- Hidden Damage: After repairs, structural, mechanical or electrical issues may remain.
- Insurance Challenges: Insurance companies are often hesitant to insure vehicles that had salvage titles in the past. Even if they do, they may only offer the minimum coverage required by your state.
- Financing Difficulties: Lenders may refuse to finance a vehicle with such a high risk of future issues, so you’ll likely have to pay in full.
- Safety Concerns: Damage from severe accidents, floods or fires can make the car less safe, even after repairs.
- Registration Restrictions: You can’t register or drive a car with a salvage title until it’s been repaired and inspected.
- Driving Requirement: Your state’s DMV must issue a rebuilt title confirming the car meets road safety standards before it can legally be driven again.
In some cases, when the damage is so extreme that no one is even allowed to rebuild the car, it may have a “non-repairable” designation or be issued a “junk” title instead of a salvage title. In that case, the vehicle can be sold for parts or destroyed.
You can check out WalletHub’s complete guide on salvage titles to learn more about how they work.
read full answer by John Miller, Credit Cards ModeratorIs it worth buying a car with a salvage title?
No, it is not worth buying a car with a salvage title because cars with salvage titles can be difficult to insure and are generally not eligible to be financed. A car that has a salvage title has previously been declared a total loss, so it may also require costly repairs before you can drive legally.
Before a salvage-title car can be legally driven, it must be repaired fully and inspected by a certified...
read full answer by WalletHub, Financial CompanyDid we answer your question?
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