Cal Club Autocross Forums

My GF fenderbent her 97 escort. It has minor but fixable front damage. She was still carrying full comp on it and the est was $3500 to repair so the ins co declared it totalled. They paid her $2500 or so and for $300 let us keep the wreck. What's the "skinny" on the salvage title. Do we need to apply to the DMV for it? Is it "optional" or does the ins co report it to the DMV somehow. Do you need to spring for a whole new registration if the title gets re-issued?

sc

The most inconvenient part of the process is you must get the car inspected for road worthiness before it car be retitled. Aside from taking the time to do and pay for that, the process was relatively painless. But like most government BS, you will have to jump through some hoops. Plan on spending the better part or a day to get it all done. If I recall, the DMV website spells out the requirements.

Steve Collins wrote:My GF fenderbent her 97 escort. It has minor but fixable front damage. She was still carrying full comp on it and the est was $3500 to repair so the ins co declared it totalled. They paid her $2500 or so and for $300 let us keep the wreck. What's the "skinny" on the salvage title. Do we need to apply to the DMV for it? Is it "optional" or does the ins co report it to the DMV somehow. Do you need to spring for a whole new registration if the title gets re-issued?

sc

If you have AAA they can help guide u thru the process .call them.

The other answers are correct, but wait there is more. The car will have to pass at brake and lamp inspection at an approved facility. What that means is all external lights on the car must work correctly. The brakes must also be in good or better condition. This done at a specialty shop not DIY or local mechanic. That and re-smogging the car was the biggest pain on mine.

About 5 years ago one of my kids tipped an 89 Bronco 2 on it's side avoiding another driver, not that hard to tip one as you can guess.

Slid about 100ft on i's side downhill according to the CPD report. Wrecker put it back on all 4 and I drove it home.

Damaged every right side panel. Cops involved, witnesses, other driver 100% fault. I settled with the other drivers ins co. I'm sure it was a total as the car was worth about 2k.

Nobody ever notified DMV or anyone regarding if it instantly became a salvage car when I took the check.

I fixed it myself & kids drove it for 3 more years until I sold it. Same title I had when it was first purchased.

So long story short I don't know what triggers DMV to convert a title to salvage, but it does not always happen when a car is "totalled".

The last thing you want to do is call DMV and ask some clerk what to do.

Steve Collins wrote:My GF fenderbent her 97 escort. It has minor but fixable front damage. She was still carrying full comp on it and the est was $3500 to repair so the ins co declared it totalled. They paid her $2500 or so and for $300 let us keep the wreck. What's the "skinny" on the salvage title. Do we need to apply to the DMV for it? Is it "optional" or does the ins co report it to the DMV somehow. Do you need to spring for a whole new registration if the title gets re-issued?

sc

I can help with this question!
The Ins. co with file a "Salvage retention notice" that will void your title. Then you must "revive" it which will include a smog, brake and lamp inspection, a "Verification of vehicle". Your ins. co should have paid you for the balance of unused registration. When you revive it, you start all over money and time wise. Smog can be done anywhere that does smogs. Same with brake and lamp. Verification must be done at the DMV! Going to AAA will not help you on this one exept to complete the proccess after the other stuff is done.
More questions? call me. I do this quite a bit. There are 20 or so of my "wrecks" running around out there with our Cal Club members!
909-641-1123
Tom

Tom Berry wrote:

Steve Collins wrote:My GF fenderbent her 97 escort. It has minor but fixable front damage. She was still carrying full comp on it and the est was $3500 to repair so the ins co declared it totalled. They paid her $2500 or so and for $300 let us keep the wreck. What's the "skinny" on the salvage title. Do we need to apply to the DMV for it? Is it "optional" or does the ins co report it to the DMV somehow. Do you need to spring for a whole new registration if the title gets re-issued?

sc

I can help with this question!
The Ins. co with file a "Salvage retention notice" that will void your title. Then you must "revive" it which will include a smog, brake and lamp inspection, a "Verification of vehicle". Your ins. co should have paid you for the balance of unused registration. When you revive it, you start all over money and time wise. Smog can be done anywhere that does smogs. Same with brake and lamp. Verification must be done at the DMV! Going to AAA will not help you on this one exept to complete the proccess after the other stuff is done.
More questions? call me. I do this quite a bit. There are 20 or so of my "wrecks" running around out there with our Cal Club members!
909-641-1123
Tom

Yup. I do remember having to go to the DMV to complete the process for my truck. It was like being in the Twilight Zone. I got to the first window OK, but even with an appointment, I had to wait over an hour to get to the second window. Then there was in inevitable you didn't dot this i.........go back and do it again. I honestly hope I never have to visit another DMV again. But I have a feeling it's not to be. Even though I received my "Congratulations, you can renew your drivers license without making a trip to the DMV" letter and paid the license tax online two months ago, I've yet to receive my license. Twilight Zone here I come. :barf:

I almost forgot, the light and brake inspection has to be done an an "approved" facility. And of course you need a new smog cert even though nothing has changed with your engine since your last smog cert. Welcome to............The Twilight Zone.

http://twitter.com/#!/CA_DMV/status/10124911183929344

CA DMV wrote:To obtain a salvage title you need to complete and submit the application located at http://tinyurl.com/24ofejc to the DMV. #CADMV

Congratulations, you can renew your drivers license without making a trip to the DMV" letter and paid the license tax online two months ago, I've yet to receive my license. Twilight Zone here I come.

The wife got her license two MONTHS AFTER the state processed the check. One day before needing the ID to get thru TSA at the airport.

Thanks mucho for the advice folks. I'm working on the car and we've got the paperwork underway. Think I'm going to spend a few hundred and have someone pull out the bumper mount on a frame rack (couldn't budge it with the come-along...) Found most of the other stuff I need already at pic-a-part.

steve

George,

If you think the DMV is bad here, the Illinois equivalent was worse. Getting a straight answer was impossible. Getting them on the phone only slightly easier. While the only thing that makes visiting the CA DMV tolerable is an appointment, at least the answers to simple questions don't change every time you ask.

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:George,

If you think the DMV is bad here, the Illinois equivalent was worse. Getting a straight answer was impossible. Getting them on the phone only slightly easier. While the only thing that makes visiting the CA DMV tolerable is an appointment, at least the answers to simple questions don't change every time you ask.

Not just the DMV Bob, rarely do I find a government office that doesn't totally frustrate. And the worst thing is, there's no alternative. My birthday is Sunday and still no license.

George Schilling wrote:

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:George,

If you think the DMV is bad here, the Illinois equivalent was worse. Getting a straight answer was impossible. Getting them on the phone only slightly easier. While the only thing that makes visiting the CA DMV tolerable is an appointment, at least the answers to simple questions don't change every time you ask.

Not just the DMV Bob, rarely do I find a government office that doesn't totally frustrate. And the worst thing is, there's no alternative. My birthday is Sunday and still no license.

What time of day were you born? As long as you check in at registration before then, you are good-to-go!

George Schilling wrote:My birthday is Sunday and still no license.

Bev renewed her license on her birthday 11/1 and it came in the mail yesterday.

OK, I was mistaken when I insinuated all government agencies cause frustration. I just checked my checking account and I've got to give the tax collectors of Los Angeles and Riverside Counties credit where credit is due. I paid my property taxes last night and before my head hit the pillow, the money had been withdrawn from my account via ACH withdrawals. Now that's service!

And I just checked back and noted my ACH payment to the DMV over 2 months ago was also immediately withdrawn (still no license).

Never let it be said Schilling doesn't admit when he's wrong. Not all public agencies are inept. Seems they're pretty good when it comes to collecting our money.

I never said they were efficient or easy, just that it could be worse.

And, not surprisingly, debit card charges are instant. Debit card credits take days. Whenever it involves money or time, the odds aren't on our side against any large entity.