Title Check: what a California car title really says
No brand, salvage, rebuilt, flood and the other brands this state uses. Each word changes what the car is worth and what you can do with it.
The title is the document that says who owns the car and what serious things have happened to it. Brands and disclosures depend on the issuing jurisdiction’s rules; also review available records from previous states. A branded car can be the right buy at the right price; the problem is paying a no-brand price for one that has a brand.
Title brands and disclosure information in California
| Brand or condition | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No brand | An unbranded title does not establish that there were no accidents, flooding or repairs. Review available records and the car’s condition. | Check odometer and listing history, and get a pre-purchase inspection. |
| Salvage | Total loss: the owner, lender or insurer decided it was "uneconomical to repair," or the insurer paid a total loss even if it is later repaired (VC § 544). California sets no damage percentage: DMV defines total loss by the "uneconomical to repair" test, not by a percentage. The word DMV prints on the title is "Salvaged," and it includes previously dismantled (junk) vehicles. With a Salvage Certificate the car cannot be driven or registered until it is revived. | Not a car to drive; a project. Only at a project price, with a CHP inspection appointment in mind. |
| Revived Salvage | It was salvage, was repaired and re-registered after a physical vehicle verification (DMV or CHP), one "PASS" electronic Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection (VSSI) certificate from the Bureau of Automotive Repair — which since September 28, 2024 replaces the old paper brake and lamp certificates — and a smog certification. The brand stays forever in the red "VEHICLE HISTORY" box on the title. DMV warns that some were not properly repaired or carry stolen parts, which can end in seizure. | Can be a good buy if the repair was serious. Demand parts receipts and damage photos; check inner fenders, the airbag light and NHTSA labels. |
| Nonrepairable (Junk) | No value except as parts or scrap, or a theft-recovered car completely stripped, or completely burned (VC § 431). It gets a Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate and can never be titled or registered again. | Never as a road car. If someone offers it with plates, it is illegal. |
| Lemon Law Buyback / Warranty Return | The maker bought it back over a warranty defect. It must retitle it in its name with the notation "Lemon Law Buyback," put a decal on the door and give you a signed statement: "THIS VEHICLE WAS REPURCHASED BY ITS MANUFACTURER DUE TO A DEFECT..." (Civ. Code § 1793.23). | Ask what the defect was and whether it was fixed; the maker must put it in writing. A dealer cannot sell it under a manufacturer quality-inspection program label (VC § 11713.18). |
| Original / Prior Taxi · Original / Prior Police | Prior use as a taxi or law-enforcement vehicle, usually with high mileage and hard use in few years. | Price by real use, not by model year. |
| Remanufactured · Non-USA (gray market) | Remanufactured: built by a licensed remanufacturer from used or reconditioned parts. Non-USA: made for another country and converted to meet federal and California standards. | Different value, parts and insurance. Confirm with your insurer and a shop first. |
| Water damage / Flood (marca de otro estado) | California issues no flood brand of its own; the brand comes from another state and DMV keeps it in the history. Water destroys wiring, modules and airbags progressively. | For most buyers: no. Check for mud, mold or rust under the trunk carpet. |
The law protects you, if you use it
Every seller, dealer or private party, must disclose a salvage title and its history. A licensed dealer must obtain an NMVTIS report before a used car is offered or displayed for sale and, if it shows a brand or a salvage or junk history, post a warning on the car while it is displayed (since July 1, 2012). That posting duty does not apply if the dealer sought a report and NMVTIS has no record for the vehicle, or if the vehicle is a motorcycle, recreational vehicle or off-highway vehicle subject to identification under VC §38010. Whoever sells a "Lemon Law Buyback" must give you a written statement that you sign (Civ. Code § 1793.23(f)). A dealer cannot advertise under a quality-inspection program a car with a brand, altered odometer, frame damage or sold "AS IS" (VC § 11713.18).
How to review the title and available history
- Branded Titles (DMV) + NMVTIS; no public online title lookup, vehicle record by request: check the service coverage, costs and access requirements; not every service displays title-brand history.
- NMVTIS: the federal title-history system. Consumer access is through approved providers; report prices and limitations depend on the service.
- NICB VINCheck: thefts and total losses reported by insurers.
- The paper: ask to see the physical title (or the printed electronic one) before handing over money. The VIN on the title must be the car's, and the name the seller's.
Odometer: the other brand
Where an odometer disclosure is required, review the mileage and any notation of unknown mileage or counter limits. Exemptions exist; check current requirements and compare the odometer with maintenance and inspection records.
How much it changes the price
This guide sets no fixed discount and recommends no individual vehicle price. Consider condition, documented repairs, insurance terms and market context, supported by an independent inspection.
From a guide to the individual vehicle
Sources
- California DMV — Branded Titles: Look Before You Buy
- California Vehicle Code § 544 — Total loss salvage vehicle (text via public.law mirror)
- California Vehicle Code § 431 — Nonrepairable vehicle (text via public.law mirror)
- California Civil Code § 1793.23 — Lemon Law Buyback notation and disclosure (text via public.law mirror)
- California Vehicle Code § 11713.18 — Dealer quality-inspection program bans for branded or AS IS cars (text via public.law mirror)
- California DMV — Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual 19.015, Definitions (total loss salvage, nonrepairable: no damage percentage)
- California DMV — Junk/Revived Salvage Vehicles: what a revival requires
- California DMV — Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual 19.090, Vehicle Safety System Inspection Program (VSSI replaces brake and lamp certificates)
- DMV — Branded Titles (DMV) + NMVTIS; no public online title lookup, vehicle record by request
- NMVTIS — National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
- NICB — VINCheck
- NHTSA — Odometer Fraud
- FTC — Buying a Used Car From a Dealer
This guide informs; it is not legal or financial advice, nor an offer, quote or appraisal. Every figure carries its source and date; check it is still current before you decide.