Arizona Restored Title
In Arizona, vehicles branded as salvage (after being wrecked, stolen, destroyed by water or otherwise damaged) may be repaired to a roadworthy state, pass a mandatory Level III inspection and get a new roadworthy title branded as Restored Salvage. The law permits private persons to buy salvage vehicles for later restoration and re-titling. Please note that the seller must disclose a salvage title to the buyer.
Important! if you are buyng a damaged salvage vehicle and plan to fix it on your own or at your own expense remember to keep all the receipts and invoices for parts your are going to use, as well as repair bills. If your are buying a repaired salvage vehicle that still needs to pass an inspection to be issued a roadworthy title remember to get all the receipts for replacement components from the seller.
How to obtain a Restored Title for a fixed salvage vehicle?
- Complete a title application, pay a $4.00 title fee and surrender the salvage title
- Obtain an emissions compliance certificate ($1.50, if applicable)
- Get the vehicle repaired
- Schedule a Level III inspection for the vehicle
- Pay $8 registration fee
What is Level III inspection?
Restored salvage vehicles require Level III, the highest level and the most expensive inspection in AZ, performed by a certified ADOT Officer. The fee is $50. Please note that the payment can only be made by a credit / debit card, except for AmEx. Inspections for rebuilt vehicle salvage vehices are performed at specific inspection locations, the link to the up-to-date list is provided at AZ moto vehicle division page at https://azdot.gov/motor-vehicles/faq-motor-vehicle-division/vehicle-services-faq/vehicle-inspections-and-salvage
Level III inspections serive 2 major purposes:
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The functioning of equipment required for highway use is checked.
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Make sure the vehicle is not stolen as well as its major replacement parts (front and rear end assembly, engine, transmission) are original or do not belong to stolen vehciles. The inspection is performed by a police officer. For vehicle verification purposes it is necessary to provide proof of ownership in the form of bill of sale, title or registration (all of available papers) and grant access to the VIN on the vehicle. For replacement parts used is the repairs, provide proof of their legal origin of replecement parts (receipts or invoices). Each receipt must contain the following information:
- The VIN of the vehicle the replacement part was taken from, make, model and year
- Seller contact information (address and phone)
- Tax identification number for companies or driver license number for private sellers
Valid driver license is also required.
