California Rebuilt (Revived) Title

In California, rebuilt title can be given to both salvage and junk vehicles. Such vehicles get the status of "revived" vehicles. A salvage vehicle is one that can be fixed after beeing deemed total loss by the insurance company because repair costs were approximately the same or greater than it's market value immediately before it received the damage, as opposed to junk cars, which are non-operable dismantled vehicles because they were wrecked, abandoned, or low value vehicles. Correspondingly, these repaired vehicles vehicles will save "revived salvage" and "revived junk" titles. Please note that unlike in other states, a "junk" vehicle in CA is not a non-repairable vehicle. It can the registered and fixed to an operable condition, and CA DMV may issue a rebuilt title to it. Non-repairable vehicles are only burned vehicles, "surgically" stripped vehicles after theft recovery or those having no resale value and good only for parts or as scrap metal. That's why used car shoppers should be particularly cautions about California rebuilt title cars.

According to CA DMV,the rebuilt title is called Revived Title.

How to get a rebuilt title in California

Revived Salvage Vehicles in CA

According to CA automotive law, a revived salvage vehicle is one that has been restored to operational condition after being reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by the insurance company or owner a total loss. A salvage vehicle is a vehicle that has been wrecked, destroyed, or damaged to such extent that the insurance company considers it not cost effective to repair the vehicle and the vehicle is not repaired by or for the person who owned the vehicle when the damage occurred.

You will need the following documents to revive a previously salvage vehicle in CA:

• California Certificate of Title or Salvage Certificate in your name or endorsed for transfer to your name or Application for Duplicate. You need these documents to prove your ownership of the vehicle.
• Application for Title or Registration (PDF) (REG 343). The application should be signed by all listed owners.
• Verification of Vehicle (REG 343) or CHP (California Highway Patrol) Inspection Certificate. CHP is mandatory for ex-salvage vehicles. The CHP will aslo ask you to provide the proof of ownership and repair receipts. The non-refundable inspection fee is $50.
• Brake and Light Adjustment Certificates. These certificates are not required for trailers weighing 3,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight. In case an official California brake and light inspection station is located too far from the vehicle location, a Statement of Facts (REG 256) from a California repair shop certifying that the brakes and lights are in proper operable state will be accepted by the DMV. However, out of state certifications will not be accepted.
• Appropriate Fees

You may also be requested to provide the following:

• Weight Certificate
• Smog Certification
• Statement of Facts (REG 256). You will be requested to fill out this form if the Salvage Certificate is missing and explain what happened to the original certificate.
• Application for Salvage Certificate or Nonrepairable Vehicle Certificate (PDF) (REG 488C) Form (REG 262). You will be requested to fill out this form if the Salvage Certificate is missing.
• Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262) - you may be requested to fill it out as a part of the proof of the vehicle's ownership.
• You will have to to Surrender Existing Plates
• Declaration of Gross Vehicle/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (REG 4008)
• Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Application/Certification (REG 4017)
• Vehicle history

Revived Junk Vehicles in CA

According to CA automotive law, a revived junk vehicle is one that has been restored to operational condition after being reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by an individual or dismantler as dismantled. A junked vehicle is one which has been dismantled because it was wrecked, abandoned, or a low valued vehicle that was impounded and acquired from an enforcement agency and is no longer operable.

• Junk Receipt from DMV or Dismantler's Bill of Sale
• Application for Title or Registration (REG 343)
• Verification of Vehicle (REG 343) or CHP (California Highway Patrol) Inspection Certificate. CHP is mandatory for revived junk vehicles. The CHP will aslo ask you to provide the proof of ownership and repair receipts. The non-refundable inspection fee is $50.
• Brake and Light Adjustment Certificates. These certificates are not required for trailers weighing 3,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight. In case an official California brake and light inspection station is located too far from the vehicle location, a Statement of Facts (REG 256) from a California repair shop certifying that the brakes and lights are in proper operable state will be accepted by the DMV. However, out of state certifications will not be accepted.
• Appropriate Fees

You may also be requested to provide the following:

• Statement of Facts (REG 256). You will be requested to fill out this form if the junk receipt is missing and explain what happened to the original junk receipt.
• Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form - 1) Bill of Sale for all parts used to rebuild the vehicle which lists the name of the part, the make, model, year and VIN of the vehicle the part comes from, and name, address, phone number, and either the driver license number, ID number or FEI number and the signature or the person or business from whom you purchased the parts. 2) Odometer Disclosure 3) Power of Attorney (REG 262)
• Declaration of Gross Vehicle/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (REG 4008)
• Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Application/Certification (REG 4017)
• Weight Certificate
• Smog Certification, if the vehicle is a 1976 or later year model.
• Vehicle history

All of the above forms you need to register a rebuilt title vehicle in California can be found here. The requirements may differ for cars, motorcycles and trailers. For more detail, please visit CA DMV site www.dmv.ca.gov.