Salvage, Rebuilt and Other Title Brands by State

A title brand is a label a state puts on a vehicle's title to record serious history, such as salvage, junk, flood or a rebuild after a total loss. Every state brands titles under its own law, so the same wrecked car can be "Revived Salvage" in California, "Rebuilt Salvage" in Texas and "Restored Salvage" in Arizona. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) keeps brands from every state attached to the VIN. The quickest way to see the full brand history is an NMVTIS report from an approved provider, plus a careful look at the paper title.

What a title brand is (the official definition)

The U.S. Department of Justice runs NMVTIS. It describes brands as labels that state titling agencies apply to show a vehicle's status, such as "junk," "salvage" and "flood." It also says NMVTIS keeps a history of brands applied by any state (vehiclehistory.gov: Understanding an NMVTIS report).

The official NMVTIS consumer disclaimer adds an important caveat: "Brand types and definitions vary by state" (NMVTIS Consumer Access Product Disclaimer, rev. September 2022). NMVTIS doesn't replace state law. It collects each state's brands under a common set of national codes. For the basics, see our guide to salvage vs. rebuilt titles.

The national NMVTIS brand list

NMVTIS has dozens of brand codes, and many states don't use all of them. NMVTIS records only permanent brands, such as Salvage or Junk, and not temporary ones. The Texas DMV's NMVTIS Guide (October 2023) reprints the official definitions for the brands buyers see most often (TxDMV NMVTIS Guide, Chapter 5):

Why the names and triggers differ by state

The NMVTIS salvage definition leaves the damage threshold to each state, so a car can be salvage in one state and not in another. States set the line in different ways:

• Percentage of value. New York and North Carolina use 75%. Michigan issues a salvage title from 75% up to, but not including, 91% of pre-damage value.
• Repair cost versus value. TxDMV describes salvage as damage or a missing major part that makes the repair cost higher than the vehicle's value.
• Insurer or owner decision. In Florida, an insurer's total-loss payment is the trigger. Arizona's test is whether the owner, insurer, leasing company or lender considers the vehicle "uneconomical to repair."
• Parts count. Georgia counts a vehicle as salvage if restoring it would require replacing two or more component parts.

The names for the rebuilt stage vary just as much: Rebuilt Salvage, Revived Salvage, Restored Salvage, Salvage Rebuilt and "WA REBUILT." Watch out for the word "reconstructed." In NMVTIS and in North Carolina law it means a vehicle materially altered from its original build. In Pennsylvania, the reconstructed title is the path a salvage vehicle takes back onto the road.

Title brands in 11 large states

We list a state only if we could confirm its terms on an official DMV page or in state law. Illinois is left out because we couldn't load its official pages to verify the details. "Not stated" means the cited source doesn't give that detail. Rules and dollar figures are current as of October 2026 and can change, so check the official page before you buy, pay a fee or apply for a title.

A practical tip: California prints the brand in a red box labeled "VEHICLE HISTORY" near the upper right corner of current titles and salvage certificates.

Title washing, and how NMVTIS closes the gap

Title washing (Pennsylvania's DMV calls it "brand washing") happens when a branded vehicle is moved to another state and retitled there with a clean title (PennDOT NMVTIS FAQ). It exploits the differences shown above. A brand the new state doesn't use, or a threshold the car doesn't meet there, can quietly disappear from the paper title.

NMVTIS ties brands to the VIN in a national database, so, as PennDOT puts it, brands are not lost when a vehicle moves from state to state. Under federal law, states, insurers and junk and salvage yards must report to the system. Insurers must report total losses "regardless of whether a claim is paid or not" (NMVTIS FAQ). Junk yards, salvage yards and salvage auctions report at least monthly (NMVTIS reporting entities).

Texas shows how this works in practice. If NMVTIS shows a brand that isn't on an out-of-state title being surrendered, the brand must still be applied, and a "BRAND HOLD" blocks the new title until TxDMV reviews it. A car reported as salvage elsewhere must go through Texas's rebuilt process first. California requires licensed dealers to pull an NMVTIS report and post a disclosure on any car with junk, salvage or brand history.

NMVTIS has limits, and the disclaimer states them. Some states don't yet provide all their data, and some update only daily or within days. Damage can be missing if a car was never declared a total loss or branded. More on this in what an NMVTIS report includes.

How to check a vehicle's brands by VIN

1. Read the actual title. Ask to see it before you pay, look for brand wording, and match the VIN to the car.
2. Get an NMVTIS report from an approved provider. The official list is on vehiclehistory.gov, and prices vary by provider. The page notes that consumers cannot get NMVTIS reports from Carfax, DMVDesk or Experian.
3. Use a state tool where one exists. Florida's DMV says its free Motor Vehicle Information Check, which takes a VIN or title number, shows brands on Florida titles (FLHSMV). Texas's Title Check page links to NMVTIS providers and explains each brand.
4. Look at auction and damage records. Many salvage cars pass through insurance auctions, and the listing records the damage and title type at sale. See our guide to checking for a salvage title.
5. Have the car inspected. The DOJ strongly recommends an independent inspection before you buy.

A note on our own report: VIN Data Hub's title check tells you whether salvage records were found and gives details such as the cause and date. Its auction records show the title description recorded at salvage sales. It does not list every state brand, so for a complete brand history, use an NMVTIS-approved report alongside it.

What each brand means for a buyer

This table is general guidance only. Insurer and lender policies vary, so call yours with the VIN before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

What is a rebuilt title in Texas?

In Texas, a vehicle that was branded salvage and then rebuilt to roadworthy condition gets a title with the Rebuilt Salvage brand. The brand stays on the Texas record from then on.

What does a nonrepairable title mean in Texas?

TxDMV describes a nonrepairable vehicle as one so badly damaged that its only value is as a source of parts or scrap. It cannot be rebuilt for use on public roads.

What is a revived salvage vehicle in California?

It is a vehicle that was reported to the California DMV as a total loss by the owner or an insurer and was later repaired and reregistered. It needs brake and lamp or safety system inspection certificates and a DMV or CHP inspection, and the brand appears in the vehicle history box on the title.

What does a junk title mean?

Under the NMVTIS definition, a junk vehicle can't be operated safely and has no value except as parts or scrap, and it should never be titled or registered again. States use different names for the same idea, such as nonrepairable, scrap, or certificate of destruction.

Is a reconstructed title the same as a rebuilt title?

Not everywhere. In the NMVTIS list and in North Carolina, reconstructed means a vehicle materially altered from its original construction. In Pennsylvania, the reconstructed title is how a salvage vehicle returns to the road, much like a rebuilt title in other states.

Can moving a car to another state remove a salvage brand?

It shouldn't. NMVTIS keeps brands from every reporting state tied to the VIN, and states such as Texas apply NMVTIS brands even when they are missing from the surrendered title. Gaps can still exist because not every state reports fully or in real time.

Related: How to check a car for flood damage · Buying from Copart and IAAI online auctions · How to read a vehicle history report