Anyone have any insight or advice on cars with rebuilt titles?
Considering one right now, but still don't know if I'm confortable buying a written-off car which has been rebuilt.
This unit drives well and looks real nice, but is only about 15% under the cost of comparable clean units. From what I've read, that difference should be way higher than that. More like 30%?
I know there are strict certifications and tests which the car has to pass before it can be re-sold and considered road worthy again, but I think in the back of my mind I'd always be worried about safety and any future issues.
Plus, re-selling it will be a huge issue as it is an issue for me as a potential buyer.
if you can, you want to know why it was a write-off. My sister bought a vehicle that was a theft a few years ago, and it was great car. If it was an accident though, I wouldn't do it.
As someone who is in the collision industry and does not even purchase and repair write offs for himself its usually never worth it. If the ACV (actual cash value) vs the repair invoice is up around the 75-80% mark its deemed a total loss. Alot of them are cobbled back together with the cheapest standard of aftermarket/used parts with alot of them still having hidden damage that was just covered up with paint or seam sealers. RUN AWAY!!
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if you can, you want to know why it was a write-off. My sister bought a vehicle that was a theft a few years ago, and it was great car. If it was an accident though, I wouldn't do it.
What was wrong with the car that it was written off by a theft?
What was wrong with the car that it was written off by a theft?
It depends though. Sometimes they are written off because they're not found within a certain time frame. Sometimes they are written off because of "hidden damages". Cars like that can be totally fine, but still get the rebuilt title. They still have to be recertified, so you have some element of safety there. I mean obviously if the car was wrapped around a tree and taken for a ridiculous joyride, you probably skip those!
Incidentally in the case of my sister she was hit shortly after buying the rebuilt car, and it was written off. The value at that point was based on the vehicle without the rebuilt status, and she got more than she paid for.
What was wrong with the car that it was written off by a theft?
My vehicle is a theft recovery and haven't had any problems with it in 4 years of driving it.
Insurance companies have to pay out the owner of the vehicle if its not recovered within a certain time frame. Once its paid out even for theft, the vehicle is given a salvage/rebuilt title.
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I agree if it's inspected and found safe it may be okay but 15% under cost is still too much (20-50% is standard devaluation) as if you try and sell it in a couple of years you will get next to nothing for it.
Last edited by Erick Estrada; 05-22-2014 at 03:15 PM.
It depends though. Sometimes they are written off because they're not found within a certain time frame. Sometimes they are written off because of "hidden damages". Cars like that can be totally fine, but still get the rebuilt title. They still have to be recertified, so you have some element of safety there. I mean obviously if the car was wrapped around a tree and taken for a ridiculous joyride, you probably skip those!
Incidentally in the case of my sister she was hit shortly after buying the rebuilt car, and it was written off. The value at that point was based on the vehicle without the rebuilt status, and she got more than she paid for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Log
My vehicle is a theft recovery and haven't had any problems with it in 4 years of driving it.
Insurance companies have to pay out the owner of the vehicle if its not recovered within a certain time frame. Once its paid out even for theft, the vehicle is given a salvage/rebuilt title.
Yeah I totally forgot about the need to report it to AB Transportion
Took a chance and bought one of those a year ago. Wanted a cheap 2nd car. Got a 2004 Sentra with 90,000km on it. Two days after private sale purchase, the transmission failed. A month or so later the muffler fell off. Then the battery. The AC and the horn don't work (didn't think to check for that when I bought it in January). Just totally bad news all around. I still plan on driving the wheels off this damn thing.
What was wrong with the car that it was written off by a theft?
Some of the best theft recovery vehicles I have seen/written off for the insurance company include vehicles:
Used as a makeshift rally car, top fuel dragster, stolen and damaged by owner only to realize that they forgot to pay for their insurance so had to pay out of pocket for the repairs, Liquor store battering ram, crack smoking/delivering vehicle and homeless people bed for a few weeks until found are always my favorite ones. Not to mention all the used syringes that are always in most of them. Alot of stolen cars people have lived or squatted in the smell would make you want to light the car on fire to make it stink less.
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Took a chance and bought one of those a year ago. Wanted a cheap 2nd car. Got a 2004 Sentra with 90,000km on it. Two days after private sale purchase, the transmission failed. A month or so later the muffler fell off. Then the battery. The AC and the horn don't work (didn't think to check for that when I bought it in January). Just totally bad news all around. I still plan on driving the wheels off this damn thing.
Which from the sounds of it, will be by November or so....
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Unless this is a very special or rare car, just walk away. Why do you want to deal with this headache? That 15% savings will come back to get you for much more.
If this is just your average mass-produced car (ie 95% of what's on the road), just wait for the next one. There are way too many good cars out there to screw around with crap.
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I just sold mine bought it as a rebuild had it for 5 years with no problems just normal wear and tear repairs i think it was in an accident before i bought it. But i bought it for about 4000 less than a clean car of the same year if it was only 15% less i never would have gotten it
Cars with rebuilt titles
