About 3 months ago I purchased a Honda Civic from a small dealership in Orlando, FL who refurbishes and resells vehicles. After picking up my third 30 day temporary tag they told me they were having trouble getting the title from the auction in New Jersey. They said when the title arrives they would treat it as an “open title” and refund my taxes and fees. So I called the Florida DMV and they told me that the car had a salvage title and that it would be unlawful for a dealer to use an open title. Now the dealer has the title in hand and insists the title is clean. The carfax history report does not mention any salvage status but DOES say that the “Title was issued to insurance company”
All further attempts to get someone on the phone at the DMV were met with voice mail and “too busy to help.”
Does “Title issued to Insurance company” always mean “salvage?”
Can a salvage title in New Jersey somehow receive a clean title in Florida?
Any answers or advice would be appreciated.
2 Responses
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life_loverfl Says:
I would not settle for what they are offering you. A “salvage” title means that the car was totaled and someone or some company bought the car from an insurance company and put it back together.
The people you’re dealing with in Orlando know they are doing wrong and will say or do just about anything to make you accept the title they’re trying to give you.
A car with a salvage title is ANYTHING BUT CLEAN and worth far less than it would be with a clean title.
Don’t be taken in by Car Fax. They only know what is submitted to them about a vehicle. I bought a car from a dealer here in Florida and they insisted the car was clean because there was nothing listed with Car Fax. I found out after contacting the previous owner that the car had in fact be severely wrecked and never reported. He just fixed it and took it straight to the dealer.
Contact the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and seek their council. They are more than willing to help consumers and they will also go to great lengths to put dishonest car dealers out of business. I would get those phone numbers and call from the dealer that sold you the car. Make them fully aware of the waves you’re about to make and don’t settle for anything less that what the DMV says you should.
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oklatom Says:
Sorry, but yes indeed “Title issued to insurance company” always means the title will now be salvage at best, and junk at worst. If it’s a salvage title, you will have a hard time getting insurance on it, and there may be an inspection required to make it eligible to be driven. If it’s a junk title, you have a parts only car.
I have heard of cars in other states being run through Florida to hide a salvage title, so maybe that is what happened, but the whole thing is suspicious I’d say.
You might want to discuss this with an attorney. I would think the DMV would have the final word and they have already identified it as a salvage title.
