California State Center Wiki: How To Identify A Salvaged Vehicle In California

How To Identify A California Salvaged Vehicle

First, look at the title. The title will tell you:

If the vehicle is salvaged.
The mileage when the vehicle was last sold.
Who the owner of record is.

Sellers, including dealerships, are legally required to disclose the vehicles salvage title and history, but the law is difficult to enforce, especially when cars come in from another state. Be sure the seller is indeed the owner. If the seller isnt the owner or an authorized agent for the owner, he or she is not entitled to sell the vehicle, and you are not entitled to buy it. If the sellers name is not on the title, there must be documentation, such as a bill of sale, dealer report of sale, or power of attorney, authorizing him or her to sell the vehicle.

Next, inspect the vehicle itself. Some of the following "clues" may indicate the vehicle has an undisclosed salvage history.

Signs of major repairs on the inner fender structures.
Mud, mold, or rust under the carpet in the trunk.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate attached with materials other than rivets.
Safety restraint light is always on.
Airbag covers are resealed or improperly installed.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) labels which usually appear on doors, inside hood, tailgate, or hatchback are missing.

You might also want to check various aspects of the vehicles history using the internet and the following websites:

Check the Smog Test History of a California Vehicle
How To Get a Copy of Someone Elses California Vehicle Record
[Verify a California Repair Dealer's License]Create?
California Consumers Guide To Purchasing a Used California Vehicle

Other California Salvaged Car pages:

From California Vehicle History

Fresh copy to be cached until 7:09:11 AM

Daily Fact

Similar to Biloxi, the city of Slidell, Louisiana, is susceptible to periodic flooding and hurricanes because it is located at the juncture of a floodplain and coastal zone.

Source: Louisiana State Center