I'm looking for a way to figure out how much a car with a salvage title is worth. Like Kelly Blue Book does for cars. Ya I know it may depend on why it was salvaged and if it was fixed as good or better then before it was salvaged.

The car I'm wondering this for is a 2005 TL had some rear end damage that bent the frame and has been fixed with OEM parts and frame put back in place and fixed to the point you can't even tell it was damaged. Has 23,000 miles on it non navi had one owner and in very good shape. My brother-in-law purchased the car from a insurance company salvaged and did all repairs that basicly was all OEM parts/rear bumper and tail lights and smaller rear end parts with frame fixed that was very minor frame damage so I know it has been repaired the best way possible and safe. I car faxed it and saw it had one owner that just didn't drive it that much and only had it in for service when it was at it's needed service mileage...even had the oil changed at a Acura dealer when needed.

I did find this good info.http://www.automotiveforums.com/t602...he_dollar.html

That on also says if this is true "a newer car with $4000 in damage stays a clean title after repairs" Guess that can't be all that true depending on value of the car. Above website also says the value may be (around) 20% less on a salvaged then same car that is not. Very vage on how to figure this value out.


Edit: Sorry some how this got posted in wrong section if moderator would please move it.

 

wrong section. And if i were you, I would stay away from any salvaged title cars.

 

What are you talking about, a little wash and wax will clean the title right up.

But seriously, salvage title devalues the car substantially. It will most likely be between 50-60% of KBB trade value. You may know what the damage was and what the repairs were but the next guy down the line won't. You may also have issues with insurance on a salvage title.

 

i heard that the zaino treatment and a top layer of supernatural increases a car's value by 5k!

 

Well hope this gets moved to the proper section soon to help get good replies. I will add if I purchase this car I will not be concerned about resale value and drive it till it isn't worth much like if it wasn't salvaged. I also called my insurance company and asked if it gets in a another accident if the salvage mark effects me getting paid for repairs and was told no as long as I prove the condition when I insure it.....which if very good and can't tell it had any damage with very minor rear end frame damage and all parts besides the frame have been replaced with new/like new OEM parts.

 

good luck. you definitely need more periods though, tough to read otherwise.

 

usually only as much as someone is willing to pay, and that's not really near kbb pp

for that car i would say 12k

 

Why.

 

He obviously knows what he's talking about ... He uses mixed capitalization in his name. Instant street cred ...

 

There was a video where they took a Focus that was never in an accident and a Focus that was in a front end accident before, and I think they drove them straight into each other, head-on. Even though you couldn't tell (at least from the video) which one was which, after the accident it was pretty apparent.

I'd only take a salvage title car if it were a project or a toy. Whatever money I put into it isn't going to help its value anyway, and it won't get driven much plus it might have a cage which would likely make it a lot safer even than a standard car without a cage.

 

I know some of you must be kinda crazy to still like this car/deal. I will say it again this was a rear ended accident that totaled it. I should have taken pics to try to convey this better....but the damage was very minor in reality or the end result of replaceing the parts I mentioned that are easy parts to replace and make like new (back bumper,rear trunk lid,tail lights) that do not effect the way it performs or the way it can ensure safety. The rear of the frame had a slight bend that FYI any time a frame has any damage insurance has to total it. It was fixed and reinforced to be stronger then it was. So what this should be more about is a 2005 TL worth $17,000? I do not plan on selling this car till it's not going to be worth much of any thing like it would be if it wasn't salvaged by the time I will be getting rid of this car. My insurance company has no problem insuring this car as if it wasn't totaled and if I total this car will get replacement value/book value like it was not a salvaged. In fact my motorcycle I have totaled going on FOUR times and has over 150,000 miles on it and had since new in 1997 and each time I total it I get book value for it plus a % of the cost I have in after market parts on the bike from my insurance. Each time purchase the bike back I bring back the bike to as good and better shape then it was before the total which is like new condition and even better then it was when it was new and just as safe and performs better then new. LOL Take a look at my love/passion if you have any interest
http://www.bikepics.com/members/joefoefrombuffalo/

 

Meh, just be very careful and ask lots of questions. Here is a very good example of a salvaged titled car brought back from the dead. Pizauls Life of the TL thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-photograph-gallery-99/life-tl-622900/

Edit: I just realized that car may not be a salvage title, for some reason I always thought it was though due to the condition and price he paid for it.

 

i don't believe that a frame on a wrecked car can be made stronger than it was from the factory.

 

Keep in mind some insurance companies refuse to insure cars that have a salvage title.

I would only get a car with a salvage title if I knew the exact circumstances and knew that the car's unibody was unaffected. Very few people get that lucky.

 

i would feel more comfortable buying an r-title that was theft recovery where parts were stolenand there wasnt any other damage.
quite a few years ago i purchased a 1987 escort gt that was theft recovery. I had to replace a couple windows and locks, but i never reallyhad any problems with it.

 

Theft recovery can be a great deal, and there are even theft recoveries out there with just about zero damage. The title is what kills the value in those cases, because when you buy it, you know why it was salvage title, but years later someone else only knows it has salvage history, and they will most likely be scared off. As was said above, branded title usually cuts the value in half. At least, that's the point at which most people seem to feel comfortable chancing it.

 

I've had multiple salvage cars and that never stopped people from buying them. I obviously didn't get as much money as I wanted. If the repairs are done right and you plan on keeping the car for a long time, then there is no reason why you can't buy it. Save yourself thousands of dollars!

Every insurance company I had let me buy full coverage for the salvage cars, Geico/State Farm/Liberty Mutual.