1991 Civic Salvage Title

Okay guys, a little more help. My car was officially declared dead
today. I was given the option of taking $2,060 for it and they keep
the car, or give me $1590 for it and a salvage title. I'm not sure
about the rules of salvage vehicles. Is it a benefit to me keep it
since the car is mechanically and strucurally sound? Would it be too
hard to get rid of? I need guidance. I don't want to see it go to
scrap, it's better than that. It's "salvage" because they gave it a
value of $1,975 and a cost of repair $1,995 (or similar to that, I left
the papers at the office).

 

"Salvage title" to a prospective buyer is sort of like telling a new lover,
"don't worry, I'm not infected any more".

The car might be just fine after a repair, but with salvage on the
paperwork, it's worth rock bottom to anyone willing to buy it. If you can
find someone.

If you plan on keeping it forever and don't mind not ever getting anything
for it if you do get rid of it, then by all means fix the thing. I'd get a
professional opinion first from a reputable bodyshop, though. If they tell
you you'd never be happy with it if it was fixed, then listen to them.

 

round here, that's not so much of a deal. indeed, if you want a crx,
you may not have /any/ choice. and it depends where the salvage title
came from. if it's crash rebuild, that's different to theft recovery.
and /that's/ different to the situation i had where the previous owner
had de-registrered to avoid p.n.o fees. [duh]. a cherry civic hatch
with salvage title - go figure. when i sold it, the buyer didn't blink,
and rightly so.

 

why not take $2060? Is it DMV gave that amount money for your car?
What state
DMV is that?

 

are you going to drive it?
do you WANT to keep it?
try to fix it yourself?
know someone who will give you at least $500 for it? if so, keep it. if
you dont want the hassle, let it go.

personally, id be tempted to fix it as a project. harbor freight sells a
hydraulic "ram" frame/body straightening kit for bout $100.

if youre interested in selling, i might be interested in buying for the
abovementioned reason. not like i need another car or a project, but my
lil brother can use a gas-saving car so he can get rid of his 93
silverado gashog. i saw your profile (nice!)... and north h-wood isnt
that far from long beach.

get back to me offline if youre interested, and ill see if my lil bro is
interested.

 

Its already 15 years old and according to their assessment, it is only worth
$2000 if it were in pristine shape. I would take the car and the $1590.
Your investment in it becomes $500 plus whatever you pay to fix it. Then
drive it until the wheels fall off.

Had you tried to trade it in to a dealer before the accident, it is unlikely
they would have offered even $500 to you. This car is at the age where its
value is whatever you can get from a prospective buyer. I think the salvage
title makes little difference in what you can get selling it.

It does however make it uninsurable. You will only be able to get liability
and medical coverages, none of the damage coverages (collision,
comprehensive, etc) will be available on a car that is already salvage.

 

Thanks for all of your input (everyone who replied). Amazingly
enough, the adjuster called this morning and said she believed the
car really is worth more and asked me what I wanted. It made me
think I should keep it. They're realizing it's value, too. But I
asked her for the high retail on NADA, which with tax is $2652.
That's much better and she agreed. Of course, after that my boss
called and said he had a friend who does body work who would be
interested in taking it and he wants me to find out what the new
"keep" amount is, but she's already on her way with a check. I'm
just tired of it all now.

Oh, and I have "licked the handle" of an '06 Civic Coupe LX in
Alabaster Silver. It will be here Wednesday. They said I will
most definitely be the first on the block, if not the country, to
get one.

 

I had the same option - sort of.
My '91 CRX SI was stolen, recovered, but the engine had seized and declared
a total loss.
I kept it and put a ZC in it. And that was nearly 5 years and 100K ago.
So, I believe I've gotten my money's worth several times over.
However, it was a PITA to get it reregistered, titled, reinspected, etc. -
the police had to inspect it after the repairs to confirm that it was OK.