Category
Title Brands
In-depth explanations of every title brand that can appear on a vehicle history report.
Read the Title Brands pillar guideTotal Loss Thresholds by State: When Is a Car Totaled?
A car is totaled when repair costs reach a set share of its value, and that share differs by state. Here is how it works and why it matters when you buy.
Read articleManufacturer Buyback or Lemon Reported: Meaning
That line means the maker bought the car back under a lemon law because a warranty defect could not be fixed. Here is what it does and does not tell you.
Read articleBonded Titles by State: Rules and Amounts
Bond amounts, value bases and eligibility rules differ by state, and the differences are bigger than most guides admit. Here is what eight states require.
Read articleBuying a Car Without a Title: What to Know
The seller says the title is lost, coming soon, or in someone else's name. Here is what each answer means and the one check to run before you pay.
Read articleWhat Is a Flood Title?
A flood title means an insurer declared the car a total loss from water damage. Here is what the brand means, why it often hides, and how to check.
Read articleWhat Is a Reconstructed Title?
A reconstructed title means one thing in Pennsylvania and something very different in Nevada. Here is how to tell which car you are looking at.
Read articleCan a Totaled Car Have a Clean Title?
Yes, a car can be a total loss and still show a clean title because of timing, state rules, and title washing. Here is how to catch it before you buy.
Read articleHow Much Does a Salvage Title Lower Value?
Expect roughly 20% to 40% below a clean-title car, and the gap never closes. See what widens it, what narrows it, and how to price one before you make an offer.
Read articleCar Title Types Explained
Clean, salvage, rebuilt, flood, lemon, junk, bonded: here is every car title type in plain English, and what each one means before you buy.
Read articleSalvage and Rebuilt Titles: What They Mean for Resale, Insurance, and Financing
An authoritative reference on the two most common title brands, what triggers each one, what they cost the buyer over typical ownership, and how each one appears on a vehicle history report.
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