What Is A Car Title?

So, the first thing on your mind when you get enough money to buy the ride of your dreams usually isn’t paperwork. 

But the last thing you want is for somebody to rain on your parade, all the more if that someone ends up being an officer wanting to possess your vehicle!

So, where does a car title come into all that? It’s the first stop, and it’s often the first thing you’ll be asked about.  Don’t worry, everything you need to know about these is what we’re here to go over today!

What Is A Branded Title?

The one car title that people most commonly inquire about is a branded title.

Usually, when making a purchase, you often get hesitant when you see “Reconstructed” or “Rebuilt”. You see, these car titles all reflect the state of the car and its past history.Now, if you happen to have a car laying around that doesn’t have one of these, you’d want to head on over to your local DMV asap. But why should you care about a car title?

Let’s say you buy that car, but it used to be salvaged and then it got rebuilt, or it got totaled in a flood. All possible scenarios, right?

Despite not knowing, you could be held responsible for driving a car like this. Anything from a fine to the impound is fair game, and that’s why it’s wise to always have your car titles in order. But wait, what do all these different titles mean?

What Is A Rebuilt Title?

So, rebuilt titles get designated to cars that were salvaged due to being in a heavy accident, a natural calamity or any hostile incident but end up getting repaired and inspected. The inspection process is done by the state once the proper repairs by licensed auto body mechanics have been done.

This isn’t exactly a green light. Depending on the car’s history, it may still have kinks to iron out or issues worth taking a look at, or it may cost you more in repairs down the line. Whenever you buy a car with a rebuilt title, it is always worth getting a second look at it by a trusted mechanic.  Now, let’s not unbuckle our seatbelts just yet.

What Is A Title Number?

The DMV doesn’t just stop at a plate, they give your plate its very own title number, which is an identifier unique to only your vehicle. The purpose of this is to help state agencies and prospective buyers to help not just track the history of your car, but to also validate it.

Basically, think of it like a social security number but for your car.

It’s really important to have the right one, so make sure you write yours down someplace safe!

What Is A Salvage Title?  

A salvage title is essentially a worst-case scenario. It means the vehicle isn’t fit for the road at all, or in most cases, is in pretty bad shape. Insurance companies consider these a total loss, but there’s always the option of getting it rebuilt, right?

The important part about salvage titles isn’t that they tell you this vehicle has been through a lot, it’s that they tell you a perfectly fine-looking, restructured, state inspected vehicle has been through a lot.

Salvage titles remain a part of the history of the vehicle even after it goes through the necessary channels and gets a rebuilt title, and that’s purely in the interest of customers like yourself.

What Is A Blue Title?

With all these terms like “salvaged” and “rebuilt”, it makes you wonder what title they give to a perfectly clean car.

Well, you see, that’s what a blue title happens to be. In some states, including our very own Texas, they give you a physical title document on blue paper, which is where it gets the namesake. In others, you can get digital records. 

It’s simply a title given to vehicles that have undergone the same processes you’ve already read about, but this time, the car passes with flying colors. Vehicles with no mechanical, structural or technical defaults are given blue titles, signifying that they’re perfectly safe.

These usually get the highest resale value, and whenever you’re out looking for a car to buy, these are the ones you should keep an eye out for!