What does a Rebuilt Title Mean?
If you’ve spent any time shopping for a used vehicle, chances are you’ve come across the term “rebuilt title.” For many buyers, that phrase can sound intimidating at first simply because they may not fully understand what it means.
Here at Gosser Auto Sales, we believe in being upfront and transparent about the vehicles we sell, so we wanted to take a moment to explain exactly what a rebuilt title is, how a vehicle receives one, and what buyers should know before making a purchase.
What Is a Rebuilt Title?
A rebuilt title is issued to a vehicle that was previously given a salvage title by an insurance company after sustaining damage from an accident, weather event, theft recovery, or another incident.
When an insurance company determines the cost to repair a vehicle exceeds a certain percentage of the vehicle’s value, they may declare it a total loss and issue a salvage title.
After that vehicle is professionally repaired and passes the required state inspections, it can then be issued a rebuilt title and legally driven on the road again.
Simply put: A rebuilt title means the vehicle was previously damaged, repaired, inspected, and returned to service.
Are Rebuilt Title Vehicles Safe?
This is probably the most common question we hear, and the honest answer is that it depends on the vehicle and the quality of the repairs.
Just like with any used vehicle purchase, it’s important to know what you’re buying and who you’re buying it from.
Here, we carefully evaluate each vehicle before purchase and focus on finding vehicles that, once repaired, meet our standards for safety, reliability, and overall quality. We take pride in offering dependable vehicles that we would feel comfortable putting our own families in. In fact, several of the vehicles sold on our lot each year are driven by our immediate and extended family members before ever being offered for sale.
Not all rebuilt vehicles are equal, which is why transparency, and trusting the people you are purchasing it from, matters so much.
Why Do People Buy Rebuilt Title Vehicles?
For many buyers, the biggest advantage is value.
Because rebuilt vehicles have a branded title history, they are often priced significantly lower than comparable, clean title vehicles. This allows many customers to purchase newer vehicles with lower mileage and more features while staying within budget.
For some families, that can make a major difference.
Many of our customers purchase rebuilt vehicles and drive them reliably for years.
Are There Any Downsides?
Just like anything else, there are a few things buyers should understand before purchasing a rebuilt vehicle.
Some rebuilt vehicles:
- may have lower resale value
- can sometimes be more difficult to finance through certain lenders
- could have poor-quality repairs if purchased from the wrong source
That’s why doing your research and working with a dealership you trust is extremely important.
We believe customers deserve honesty and transparency throughout the entire process. Upon request, we provide potential customers with full VIN reports and pictures of the vehicle from before it was repaired. We’re always happy to answer any questions someone may have, discuss vehicle history, and help customers make informed decisions without pressure.
Our Approach at Gosser Auto Sales
We understand that rebuilt vehicles are not the right fit for every buyer, and that’s okay. It just so happens to be segment of the automotive market we operate in and be rest assured, we do it to the very best of our ability.
Our goal has never been to pressure anyone into purchasing a vehicle. Our goal is to offer quality, dependable vehicles at fair prices while treating people with honesty and respect.
At the end of the day, we know customers have many options when purchasing a vehicle, and we’re grateful for every person who chooses to support our family business.
If you ever have questions about rebuilt titles or any vehicle on our lot, we’d be happy to help.