Salvage Vehicles
Do not buy a vehicle with an orange-colored salvage title.
In Nevada, these vehicles are strictly regulated to ensure they are safe to drive before they hit the road again.
What is a Salvage Vehicle?
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A salvage vehicle is a motor vehicle that at any time has been declared a total loss vehicle, flood-damaged vehicle, non-repairable vehicle or had “salvage” or a similar word or designation placed on any title issued for the vehicle.
Orange-Colored Salvage Title: Never buy a vehicle that currently has an orange-colored Salvage Title. It is illegal to sell these to a private individual until the vehicle has been fully rebuilt and inspected.
Type of Damage
Total Loss
A vehicle damaged to the extent that the estimated cost of repair would exceed 65% of the fair market value before the damage, not including painting costs.
Vehicles with less than 65% damage are not considered salvage vehicles.
Non-Repairable
A vehicle that has value only as parts and scrap metal, or has been:
- Designated for dismantling
- Stripped of all body panels, doors, lights
- Burned or destroyed beyond restoration
Non-Repairable vehicles may not be restored to operating condition.
Flood Damaged
A vehicle that has been submerged in water to a point that the water is higher than the door sill and has:
- Entered passenger/trunk/engine compartment
- Contacted the electrical system
- OR is part of a total loss settlement from water damage
Older Vehicles (10+ Model Years)
Vehicles 10 model years old or older are not considered salvage vehicles if the only repairs needed are a limited number of items:
- ✓ The hood
- ✓ The trunk lid
- ✓ Up to two of: doors, grill assembly, bumper assembly, headlight assembly, taillight assembly
If the vehicle requires more repairs than this, the 65% damage rule applies.
Rebuilt Vehicles (Non-Salvage)
- Vehicles which have had certain repairs must be titled as Rebuilt even if they do not meet the definition of a salvage vehicle. See Non-Salvage Rebuilt Vehicles.
Consumer Tips / After a Crash - 4 Simple Steps
In Nevada, license plates stay with the owner, not the car. If your vehicle is totaled, you must remove the plates immediately to protect yourself from fines and claim any credits or refunds you are owed. Follow these steps to handle your plates correctly:
Remove the Plates
Do not leave them on the car
Choose Your Plate Option
You have three options for what to do with the plates you removed
Cancel Your Registration
The fastest way to notify the state is through the MyDMV portal.
Cancel Your Insurance
Only cancel your insurance policy after you have completed Step 3
Remove the Plates
- As soon as the insurance company declares the vehicle a total loss, take both license plates off the vehicle. Do not leave them on the car when it is towed away or sold to a salvage yard.
Choose Your Plate Option
Below is a quick guide to your option and deadline
| If Your Goal Is To: | Required Action | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Use plates on a new car | Transfer the plates to your next vehicle via the DMV | within 30 Days |
| Save credit (Standard) | Surrender “Home Means Nevada” or standard plates | within 60 Days |
| Save credit (Specialty) | Surrender charity, veteran, or personalized plates | within 30 Days |
| Keep plates as souvenir | Bring plates to DMV to have the decal scrubbed off | within 30 Days (Standard) or within 60 Days (Specialty) |
- Refund Requirements: To get a cash refund, rather than a credit, the amount must be over $100 and you must provide a copy of the Salvage Title or a letter from your insurance company.
- The Fine Trap: Always cancel your registration or surrender the plates before you stop your insurance payments. If the DMV sees an active plate with no insurance, they will mail you a fine starting at $250.
Cancel Your Registration Online
The fastest way to notify the state is through the MyDMV portal.
- Transfer to a New Vehicle: You have 30 days to put these plates on another car you own. You will receive a credit for the unused portion of your previous registration.
Cancel Your Insurance
Insurance should only be removed after the vehicle registration has been canceled, or after completing Step 2.
This helps prevent fines or penalties for having an active registration without valid insurance coverage w.
Salvage Title Procedures - 4 Simple Steps
In Nevada, obtaining an orange-colored Salvage Title is a legal requirement once a vehicle is declared a total loss. Depending on your situation, here are the exact steps to follow to obtain one.
Identify Who Must Apply
Check Insurance and Loan Status
Prepare Your Documents
Gather all required documents
Mail the Application
Mail to the listed address
Receive Your Title
Issued in 2 business days
Identify Who Must Apply
- The Insurance Company: If they pay you for a “total loss” and take the car.
- The Lienholder (Bank): If you have a loan but no collision insurance, the bank must apply within 30 days of the damage.
- The Owner (You): If you have no insurance/loan, or if you choose to keep the car, you must apply within 30 days.
Prepare Your Documents
- The Original Title/Duplicate Title Application: It must be the physical original title or duplicate title application, signed, endorsed by the owner.
- Application for Salvage Title: Form VP 213 . Fill this out in blue or black ink.
- Payment: A check or money order for the $10 fee. There is no fee for a “Non-Repairable” certificate.
Mail the Application
You do not go to a DMV office for this; it is handled by the central Salvage Unit.
Mail to:
Nevada DMV
Central Services and Records Division, Salvage
Unit
555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711
Receive Your New Title
The DMV typically issues the orange Salvage Title within 2 business days of receiving your application.
2 business days
Processing time
Critical Rules to Remember
- No Private Sales: You cannot sell a salvage vehicle to a private person. You can only sell it to a licensed rebuilder, wrecker, or dealer.
- No Driving: You cannot drive or register a vehicle with an orange Salvage Title. It must be rebuilt and inspected first.
- No Cleanup: Do not use “white-out” or correction tape on any DMV forms. If you make a mistake, you must start a new form.
Vehicle Restoration - 4 Simple Steps
If you want to bring a salvage vehicle back to life, you must follow a specific inspection process. Nevada law requires these steps to ensure the car is safe for the road.
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About the Rebuilt Title:
All future titles will be a normal Nevada Certificate of Title but will be “branded”, which means the title will be labeled with the word “Rebuilt” or other appropriate term.
The brand cannot be removed.
Pre-Repair Authorization
5 model years old or newer
The Rebuild
Repair to safety standards
Safety Inspection
Registered garage/body shop
DMV Inspection & Branding
Bring to DMV for final check
Pre-Repair Authorization (Newer Cars Only)
If your vehicle is 5 model years old or newer, you must take it to a DMV Inspection Station before you start any repairs.
- Forms: You must have the DMV complete the Authorization for Vehicle Restoration (VP 209).
- Why? The DMV needs to document the damage and authorize the rebuild. If you fix the car without this, you may not be able to title or register it.
The Rebuild
You, or a professional, must repair the vehicle to industry safety standards.
- Safety First: Airbags and seat belts must meet strict federal safety laws.
- Keep Records: You must keep all receipts and identifying information for any parts used during the repair.
Professional Safety Inspection
Once the car is fixed, it must be inspected by a Nevada-registered garage, licensed body shop, or licensed rebuilder.
Final DMV Inspection & Branding
After the garage signs off, bring the vehicle to a DMV inspection station for a final check.
- The DMV will verify the VIN and the repair work.
- Once passed, you can apply for a new title and registration.
Salvage Vehicle Laws and Penalties
In Nevada, hiding a vehicle’s salvage history is a serious crime. The law is designed to protect buyers from unknowingly purchasing a car that was once a total loss. NRS 487.830
The Requirement: Mandatory Disclosure
Before you sell or transfer a vehicle, you must inform the buyer in writing if the vehicle is:
- Salvage: Currently has an orange title and is not road-legal.
- Rebuilt: Was once salvage but has been repaired and inspected.
- Reconstructed: Built from parts of multiple vehicles.
Failure to disclose this information, or lying about it, is a violation of Nevada law NRS 487.830.
Illegal Actions: Tampering with Titles
It is strictly illegal to:
- Remove, hide, or “wash” a salvage or rebuilt brand from a title.
- Alter any document to make a salvage vehicle look like it has a “clean” title.
- Take a salvage vehicle out of Nevada to sell it elsewhere without first obtaining a Nevada Salvage Title.
Penalties: Fines and Prison
If the vehicle is worth $250 or more, violating these laws is a felony offense.
- Criminal Penalties: You could face jail time, heavy fines, and be ordered to pay restitution to the victim.
- Civil Lawsuits: A buyer can sue you in court. If they win, you may have to pay:
- Their attorney fees and court costs.
- The greater of $5,000 or triple the actual damages.
- Additional punitive damages, extra fines meant to punish the offender.
Non-Salvage Rebuilt Vehicles
Vehicles which have had certain repairs must be titled as Rebuilt even if they don’t meet the definition of a salvage vehicle. This applies to any vehicle that has had one or more of these major components replaced:
Your vehicle must be titled as Rebuilt if you replace even one of these “major components”:
- ✓ Cowl assembly, the panel between the engine and the windshield.
- ✓ Rear clip assembly, the entire rear section of the car.
- ✓ The conventional frame, if replaced along with one other major part.
- ✓ The complete front inner structure, for unibody cars.
- ✓ Roof assembly
- ✓ Floor pan assembly
These vehicles must be inspected by a licensed garage or body shop and the DMV using the Certificate of Inspection for Rebuilt Vehicles (Not Salvage).
Note on Trucks: Replacing only the truck cab assembly does not trigger the rebuilt status.
Contact Us
Mail to:
Nevada DMV
Central Services and Records Division, Salvage Unit
555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711
Phone
(702) 486-4368 (486-4DMV)
Fax
(775) 684-4993
Important Forms & Publications
Dealers, Body Shops and Repair Garages
Contact your local DMV Compliance Enforcement Division office for licensing, regulatory guidance and support. Your local office can assist with questions about requirements, inspections, compliance issues, and operational standards.