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If you're in the market for a vehicle or considering exporting one, understanding the various types of vehicle titles is crucial. The title of a vehicle plays a significant role in determining its value, legality, and exportability. In this article, we'll explore different types of vehicle titles and discuss what you can and can't export.
Introduction
Vehicle titles are legal documents that establish ownership of a vehicle. They contain essential information such as the vehicle's identification number (VIN), owner details, and any liens or loans against the vehicle. Understanding the nuances of vehicle titles is essential, especially if you're looking to buy or export a vehicle.
Understanding Vehicle Titles
What is a vehicle title?
A vehicle title, also known as a certificate of title or pink slip, is a legal document issued by the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency. It serves as proof of ownership for a particular vehicle.
Importance of vehicle titles
Vehicle titles are crucial because they establish ownership and provide a record of the vehicle's history. They also help prevent fraud by ensuring that only the rightful owner can sell or transfer ownership of the vehicle.
Types of Vehicle Titles
1. Clean title
A clean title indicates that the vehicle has never been severely damaged or deemed a total loss by an insurance company. It has no salvage, flood, or other major damage designation.
2. Salvage title
A salvage title is issued when a vehicle has been significantly damaged, typically due to an accident, fire, flood, or theft, and the cost of repairs exceeds a certain percentage of its value.
3. Rebuilt title
A rebuilt title is given to a vehicle that was previously issued a salvage title but has since been repaired and passed inspection to ensure it is roadworthy.
4. Lemon title
A lemon title is assigned to a vehicle that has been declared a lemon under state lemon laws due to recurring mechanical problems that cannot be fixed.
5. Flood title
A flood title is given to vehicles that have been damaged by water, usually due to flooding from natural disasters like hurricanes or tsunamis.
6. Junk title
A junk title is issued when a vehicle is considered too damaged or old to be repaired and put back on the road. It is often sold for parts or scrap metal.
Compare Vehicles by Title Type Before You Bid
After learning how different vehicle titles affect ownership and export eligibility, the next step is comparing real auction listings. Reviewing title types alongside condition reports and historical sale data helps determine which vehicles are suitable for export and resale.
- ✅ Filter vehicles by title status
- ✅ View historical auction sale records
- ✅ Review detailed condition reports
- ✅ Compare prices across title categories
What Titles You Can/Can't Export
| Certificate type (Title name) | Good for export? | Comments |
| NY-MV-907A SALVAGE CERTIFICATE | Yes | |
| SC-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| CA-SALVAGE CERTIFICATE | Yes | |
| DE-CERTIFICATE OF TITLE | Yes | |
| PA-CERTIFICATE OF SALVAGE | Yes | |
| CO-PUBLIC – SALVAGE TITLE | Yes | |
| NC-SALVAGE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE | Yes | |
| FL-CERT OF TITLE SLVG REBUILDABLE | Yes | |
| AZ-CERT OF TITLE – SALVAGE | Yes | |
| MO-SALVAGE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE | Yes | |
| TN-SALVAGE CERTIFICATE | Yes | |
| IL-SALVAGE CERTIFICATE | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Pennsylvania) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (North Carolina) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Arkansas) | Yes | |
| NON-REPAIRABLE (Texas) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Massachusetts) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Ohio) | Yes | |
| MI-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE VEHICLE | Yes | |
| IN-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE TITLE | Yes | |
| MD-CERT OF SALVAGE < 75% DAMAGE | Yes | |
| WI-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE VEHICLE | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Louisiana) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (New Jersey) | Yes | |
| TX-SALVAGE VEHICLE TITLE | Yes | |
| NM-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| MA-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| OK-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE FLOOD | Yes | |
| MD-CERTIFICATE OF TITLE | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Georgia) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE – GREATER THAN 75% (Maryland) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Kansas) | Yes | |
| ME-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE COLLISION | Yes | |
| NJ-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Missouri) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Virginia) | Yes | |
| REBUILDABLE (Florida) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE TITLE (Texas) | Yes | |
| LA – CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION | Yes | |
| MV-907A (New York) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE – 75% OR LESS (Maryland) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE CERTIFICATE (California) | Yes | |
| GA-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| MN-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| TX-SALVAGE VEHICLE TITLE | Yes | |
| MD-CERT OF SALVAGE > 75% DAMAGE | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Indiana) | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Michigan) | Yes | |
| KY-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| MA-CERTIFICATE OF TITLE | Yes | |
| AR-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| VA-CERT OF TITLE – SALVAGE | Yes | |
| OH-CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE | Yes | |
| SALVAGE (Oregon) | Yes | |
| ORIGINAL (Texas) | Yes | |
| NJ-CERTIFICATE OF TITLE | Yes | |
| CA-DIS/DLR/EXP ONLY SALVAGE CERT | Yes | |
| WA – VEHICLE CERT OF OWNERSHIP-TITL | Yes | |
| INSURANCE BRAND (Wisconsin) | Yes | |
| WI – CERT OF TITLE-CLAIM PAID | Yes | Claim paid. Good for export |
| MA – CERT OF TITLE-SALVG PARTS ONLY | Yes | |
| MA – CERT OF TITLE-PARTS ONLY SALVA | Yes | |
| MA – CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (P) | Yes | |
| CT – CERT OF TITLE-PARTS ONLY | Yes | |
| SC – CERT OF TITLE-SALVAGE NON-REM | Yes | NON-REM – means that it has to be always a Salvage Title, that the “Salvage” designation cannot be removed |
| CT – CERT OF TITLE-PARTS ONLY SALVA | Yes |
These Certificate types from Copart and IAAI that are good for export, but it requires extra steps to process. Check comments section. New title might take up to 4-6 weeks to process:
| Certificate type (Title name) | Good for export? | Comments |
| MO-JUNKING CERTIFICATE | Yes (read comments) | Need to call an auction to verify whether it comes with title or Bill of Sale (BOS). If it is a title, it is good for export. If it is BOS, then we need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| WI – JUNKED VEHICLE BILL OF SALE | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| JUNK (Wisconsin) | Yes (read comments) | Need to call an auction to verify whether it comes with title or Bill of Sale (BOS). If it is a title, it is good for export. If it is BOS, then we need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| KY – BILL OF SALE/PART ONLY/NO TITL | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| Junk BOS for scrap only | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| IL – JUNKING CERT OF A VEHICLE | Yes (read comments) | Need to call an auction to verify whether it comes with title or Bill of Sale (BOS). If it is a title, it is good for export. If it is BOS, then we need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| CO – BILL OF SALE-PARTS ONLY | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| GA – BILL OF SALE – PARTS ONLY | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| WA-BILL OF SALE | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title via Seattle. Junk title 200$ |
| SCRAP (Michigan) | Yes (read comments) | Export via Chicago. No extra cost. |
| CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION (Florida) | Yes (read comments) | Europe does not accept it. Do not ship to Germany or Poland. |
| MI-SCRAP CERTIFICATE OF TITLE | Yes (read comments) | Export via New Jersey – OK. No extra cost. |
| FL-CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION | Yes (read comments) | Europe does not accept it. Do not ship to Germany or Poland. |
| HI – DLR/DIS/EXP-CT OTHERS-CA ACQ | Yes (read comments) | We get Hawaii Clean Title. Wait time is 30 days. No extra cost. |
| CA – CERT OF TITLE OR SALVAGE ACQ | Yes (read comments) | It is a clean title for us. No extra cost. |
| BILL OF SALE (Colorado) | Yes (read comments) | We can export from Los Angeles with Bill of Sale. If Chicago, New Jersey and Savannah we need junk certificate. Extra cost $500. |
| ON – PERMIT NO BRAND – UNFIT | Yes (read comments) | If car is in Canada, and we export it from Canada – it is OK |
| ON – PERMIT SALVAGE | Yes (read comments) | If car is in Canada, and we export it from Canada – it is OK |
| OR – CERT OF LIEN FORECLOSURE | Yes (read comments) | It is only able to export if this certificate comes with the title. New title usually takes 6 weeks. If auction requests the title from the dmv, it is free. If auctions denies help, we need to get a new title ourselves. It will cost additional $600-$650 to receive IL – junk title. |
| JUNK (Missouri) | Yes (read comments) | If it is a title – we can export it. If it is a certificate we need to get a new title. Extra cost $500. |
| MN – PARTS VEHICLE BILL OF SALE | Yes (read comments) | Export via Chicago. New title $500 |
| RI – CERT OF TITLE-SALVG PARTS ONLY | Yes (read comments) | Export via Chicago. New title $500 |
| PARTS ONLY BOS (Minnesota) Junk | Yes (read comments) | Export via Chicago. New title $500 |
| BILL OF SALE – PARTS ONLY (Connecticut) | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| JUNK (Oklahoma) | Yes (read comments) | We need to get a new title. We can do it via Chicago, New Jersey (NJ #2) and Savannah (SAV#2). Cost is $500 extra. |
| NY – MV907A-PARTS ONLY | Yes (read comments) | Export via New Jersey |
| NY – MV-907A DISMANTLERS | Yes (read comments) | Export via New Jersey |
| SALVAGE-PARTS ONLY (Connecticut) | Yes (read comments) | Title required $500 |
| IN – BILL OF SALE – PARTS ONLY | Yes (read comments) | Export via Chicago. Title $500 |
| QC – GRAVEMENT ACCIDENTE | Yes (read comments) | If car is in Canada, and we export it from Canada – it is OK |
| SK – BOS – SALVAGE | Yes (read comments) | If car is in Canada, and we export it from Canada – it is OK |
| MD – PARTS ONLY-NO TITLE LETTER | Yes (read comments) | Title required $500 |
| RENTAL RIDES – ENTERPRISE (Florida) | Yes (read comments) | Rental Rides is a new auction type, IAAI remarketing division handles titles, they should have it in 7-10 days after the sale. Need to verify certificate type at the auction. |
| MI – SCRAP-BILL OF SALE | Yes (read comments) | Title required $500 |
| BILL OF SALE (Kentucky) PARTS ONLY | Yes (read comments) | Title required $500 |
| TX – SALVAGE CERT-MANUFACTURER BUYB | Yes (read comments) | Export from Houston. No extra cost. |
| WI – Junk-Endorsement | Yes (read comments) | Title required $500 |
| NY – MV-37 – DISMANTLE OR SCRAP | Yes (read comments) | Title required $500 |
| CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION (Florida). PARTS ONLY | Yes (read comments) | Europe does not accept it. Do not ship to Germany or Poland. |
These Certificate types from Copart and IAAI that are NOT GOOD for export:
| Certificate type (Title name) | Good for export?! | Comments |
| Scrap – bill of sale | NO | |
| MD – VR-112 | NO | |
| BILL OF SALE DESTRUCTION ONLY – SALVAGE (Ohio) | NO | |
| OR – LIEN PAPERS SALVAGE | NO | |
| FL CERT OF DESTRUCTION/PARTS ONLY/DLR ONLY | NO | |
| NY – MV907A-PARTS ONLY W/LIENHOLDER | NO |
Estimate the Full Export Cost Before Purchase
Vehicle titles can influence export documentation, shipping timelines, and overall costs. Before bidding, calculate the complete purchase structure including auction fees, inland transport, port processing, and international shipping.
- ✅ Transparent auction fee estimates
- ✅ Inland transport cost calculation
- ✅ Export documentation guidance
- ✅ Shipping cost visibility
Challenges in Exporting Vehicles with Certain Titles
1. Inspection requirements
Many countries have strict inspection requirements for imported vehicles, especially those with salvage or rebuilt titles. Meeting these requirements can be costly and time-consuming.
2. Import regulations in other countries
Each country has its own import regulations for vehicles, including restrictions on salvage or rebuilt titles. It's essential to research and understand these regulations before attempting to export a vehicle.
3. Market value and demand
Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles typically have lower market value and demand compared to those with clean titles. Finding a buyer or exporter willing to purchase these vehicles can be challenging.
Tips for Exporting Vehicles
1. Research export regulations
Before exporting a vehicle, thoroughly research the export regulations in both the originating and destination countries to ensure compliance.
2. Verify the title status
Always verify the title status of a vehicle before attempting to export it. This helps avoid legal issues and ensures the vehicle meets the requirements for export.
3. Work with reputable exporters
When exporting a vehicle, work with reputable exporters who have experience navigating the complexities of international trade and understand the requirements for exporting vehicles with certain titles.
4. Consider professional inspection services
Consider hiring professional inspection services to assess the condition of the vehicle and ensure it meets the safety and emissions standards of the destination country.
Conclusion
Understanding the types of vehicle titles and their implications for export is essential for anyone involved in buying or selling vehicles internationally. While vehicles with clean titles are generally easier to export, navigating the complexities of exporting vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles requires careful research and compliance with regulations.
Browse Export-Eligible Vehicles from US Auctions
Once you understand which vehicle titles can be exported, you can explore available inventory from major U.S. auctions like Copart and IAA, Inc.. Register for free to review listings, verify title status, and start bidding with full transparency.
- ✅ No dealer license required
- ✅ Free membership registration
- ✅ Title verification before purchase
- ✅ Worldwide shipping available
Further Reading
How do US auto auctions work?
How to buy a used car from a US auction
Buy Salvaged Cars from the USA. What's the Meaning and Benefit?
Do You Have Any Questions?
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