Would you buy a salvaged/rebuilt title vehicle if it was considered a "fender bender" and there is proof that the vehicle had no frame damage or any major damage for that matter?

I came across this website through cargurus.com:

Used Cars Strasburg ND | Used Cars & Trucks ND | Ken's Auto Inc.

Their Toyota Tacoma inventory refreshes weekly with new inventory with what seems like minimal damage.

1. Why dont these people fix the damage, get inspected and certified to sell as a clean title to turn more profit?
2. Am I wasting my time looking at salvaged/rebuilt title vehicles?
3. What else do I need to know about salvaged/rebuilt title vehicles before taking the plunge?

Thanks!

Note: I plan to keep the truck for 5+ years so resell value is no issue.

I think if you feel well informed about the damage and are good with the resale issues, go for it. Some great deals can be had.

Why they don't fix them:
1) Reputable body shop costs go up very very fast as more and more parts are damaged. Especially if the requirement is to make the vehicle just like it was before the crash... meaning no "bondo". Cars are made of fewer large integrated panels for safety reasons, and if the main cage is damaged it may not be possible to replace. One silver Taco at that site would require replacing the entire bed and both drivers-side doors... plus the rocker panel and main body cage appear damaged. And from the location of the damage I'd suspect damage to the rear suspension and/or axle.

If the blue book value for a vehicle is $30,000 and the cost to repair is $31,000, you will get a check for $30,000 less your deductible and the insurance company will own your scratched up car.

2) A commercial seller like this wouldn't get money back out of a repair. The silver Taco I mentioned has an asking price of $16,750. If they did a bondo-repair and paint for few thousand the sellable value would increase to... maybe $17,000.


With a salvage title you will never, ever, stand a shot at getting your money back, and 5+ years isn't enough time. Heck, you lose too much money with a regular title new vehicle if you only keep it 5 years.

Personally, I wouldn't consider getting a salvage vehicle for a daily driver. I might consider one for an off-road vehicle that I never plan on selling.

Also sometimes insurance companies will not insure salvage vehicles. So you might want to check with them first.

I wouldn't consider a salvage vehicle, typically. I guess I would consider one as a 3rd vehicle that I would never sell (like an old 1/2 ton work truck) or for a kid or something. Or if I was going to build a rock crawler or something but wanted it tagged.

I had a salvaged 92 civic hatch but it cost me $700 and it was salvaged due to theft. It was a damn good car! I drove it for 2 years and sold it for $1800 I miss that thing. If the deal is right go for it. I was only willing to spend money that I was willing to throw away. I guess I just got lucky and wound up making a profit in the long run.

I've had my salvaged 3rd gen for 6 years and 45k miles. It's been great and I got a fantastic deal on it. Fever never all the way!

In the last decade, I have had 2 branded used vehicles & son had one with accident, on CarFax.

Wife's 2002 Volvo v70 - hit in front shook tower, broken rim, air bags deployed & seat belts locked up.
- wagon was put on a body shop pull rack & lasered / uni-body frame was proved, not bent
- reputable shop put it all back together & repainted it
- I bought it at 25% wholesale, fully certified & e-tested
^^ Paid $8,900 and sold it for $4,500 eight years later @ high 300,000 Km.

My 1998 Chev. Silverado 4x4 pickup, 3/4T was totaled twice.
- last time it got a new HD frame / as well as new cab, box, etc.
^^ Purchased it 8 years ago, still driving strong & brakes straight / still low Km.
- a used truck purchased, at 15% of new cost / been of great value

Our son had a 2008 Nissan Rogue, paid $14K four years ago, registered damage was only $3,000 / no big deal.
- I just sold it with 110,000 miles, and SUV only depreciated $1,500/year.

My sister's first car was a salvage Mazda Protege from Texas (we live in GA). My dad got a great deal on it, and the only thing I remember that was a bit of a hassle is that we had to take it to a Georgia Inspection Station and pay a $100 inspection fee before they would issue a GA title. She drove it with no issues until the transmission crapped out on her.

I bought a Rebuilt Civic for $900 about a year ago and it turned out to be a good car. Luckily I was able to get out of it what I had in it, BUT only by doing a "payment plan" with the prospective buyer. If I wouldn't have set-up payments like that (and luckily for me, it's actually working out and he's a very honest guy), then I would have taken a loss.

If it were me, I'd consider one but I'd also need to be very informed of what exactly the damages were. I'd stay away from ANY water-damaged vehicles at any-and-all cost. And beware that some states (I think LA is the main one that's coming to mind) don't issue Salvage / Rebuild Titles. So they can look like clean Titles in LA, but then when you bring them to TX (or GA / or wherever) they lose value because they are technically "Rebuilt" and the new Title reflects that.