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Salvage Vehicles

General Information

In Mississippi, a “Salvage Vehicle” is a vehicle upon which Salvage Title has been issued.  Salvage titles are issued to insurance companies to enable them to dispose of vehicles upon which they have paid a total loss claim.  Once a salvage title is issued there are additional restrictions on what can be done with the vehicle.

  • Cannot be operated upon the roads and highways of Mississippi.
  • Cannot be issued a license tag.
  • Cannot be sold by a licensed motor vehicle dealer until re-titled as Rebuilt.
  • Repaired in another state cannot be inspected in this state.

Definitions:

  • Branded Title is a specific designation made on a vehicle’s title that will indicate a vehicle has sustained damage or might be potentially unsafe to operate.
  • Junked vehicle means a vehicle that has been scrapped, dismantled or destroyed and the owner has surrendered the MS Certificate of Title.
  • Rebuilt vehicle means a vehicle that has been reconstructed in this state and in the reconstruction process one major or five minor components parts or six minor components parts, or two or more major component parts are replaced or repaired as a result of collision damage.
  • Salvage vehicle means a motor vehicle that an insurance company obtains from the owner as a result of paying a total loss claim resulting from collision, fire, flood, accident, hail damage, trespass, un-recovered theft, or another occurrence. A motor vehicle that is ten (10) years old or older with a value of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) or less or a motor vehicle with damage that will require the replacement or repair of five (5) or fewer minor component parts will not fall under the definition of salvage vehicle.

Salvage Vehicle Procedures for Insurance Company

  • Insurance Company to Apply for a Certificate of Title
  • Insurance Company May Re-assign Certificate of Title in Certain Cases
  • Inspection of a Rebuilt Motor Vehicle Prior to Retitling
  • Rebuilder Request Rebuilt Certificate of Title after Inspection and Prior to Retail
  • Rebuilder Can Retail upon receiving the Rebuilt Certificate of Title

Owner Retained Total Loss Motor Vehicle

If the owner retains possession of the salvage vehicle and the insurance company does not obtain a salvage certificate of title, the owner may have the vehicle rebuilt and inspected in their name.  After inspection, the owner must take the letter from insurance company along with the required salvage inspection forms to the County Tax Collector’s office and apply for a Rebuilt Certificate of Title and new registration.

Mississippi will not issue a title nor registration for the following brand types:

  • Junk Vehicle
  • Non-Rebuildable Vehicle
  • Certificate of Destruction Title
  • Parts Only Title

Forms

Application for Inspection for a Salvage Vehicle

Regulations

Salvage Vehicles Regulations - Title 35 Part VII Subpart 6 Chapter 05