The Expert Podcast

So how do you transfer a vehicle into your name If it's a salvage title, in many cases, if you bought a car and it's a salvage title, you will not be able to transfer and to get a new title issued until it goes through an inspection process. The first time that a new title is issued for salvage car. The state and the DMV wants that car to be inspected to make sure it's good for the road They want to make sure that after that salvage stamp was put on the title meaning it was damaged or flooded, then it's not going back on the road until it's fixed properly. So. the old title with the old owner's name on it or the insurance company name on it, can't be transferred to you until that inspection process is followed Every state is going to have some version of the inspection process Some are harder than others New York for example it's a very difficult state. Some other states are easy. After that inspection is done there are no more inspections needed after that Every time it's transferred. Part of the inspection process is to make sure that the repairs were done correctly. Part of it is to make sure that the parts that were put on are all legitimate For example, if it needed a new front clip. They're going to look to see if you have receipts for where that front clip came from. They're looking to make sure that no parts were from stolen cars in a chop shop. So if you bought them brand new from, let's say a new deal. Dodge dealer for your Dodge dart, D you have the receipt from that Dodge dealer If you bought it from a junkyard, they're going to make sure that you have a receipt from that junkyard with the VIN number of the donor vehicle So they know that's not a stolen car. The process is very. specific to that state. You have to bring it to a. inspection facility You have to have an appointment for it. There's very likely no way you can transfer and get a new title in your name until that process is followed. They're also going to look to make sure that all the safety features work, the airbags can be deployed The antilock brakes are good The wiring's not rusted They're gonna look to see if there's any frame damage or frame corrosion on the car So make sure you have good documentation You go through that inspection process In the meantime, don't lose that title You have that signed over to you If you lose it, it's going to be very tough to get a replacement without having the car in your name Prior to that.