How to Get a Rebuilt Title in New Jersey
To get a rebuilt title in New Jersey, apply for a salvage title, repair the vehicle, pass inspection, and submit documents to the DMV.
Written by Maxine Boyko
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
In New Jersey, to get a rebuilt title you will need to first apply for a salvage title, repair the vehicle, and pay a $60 title fee.
When a car is totaled, the insurance company will usually issue a check for the actual cash value of the vehicle and then auction it off to be harvested for any usable parts. But this doesn’t always happen—in some instances, a car can live a second life with a rebuilt title.
If you have big plans to bring a totaled car back from the dead, you’ll have to apply for a rebuilt title for it to be legal to drive, sell, or register. Here to help explain a rebuilt title and lower your
New Jersey insurance costs
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What is a rebuilt title?
A car with a
rebuilt title
essentially certifies that it was declared a total loss by an insurance company and has been refurbished to safe driving specifications.In order to be eligible for a rebuilt title, however, the vehicle first needs a salvage title, which deems the vehicle as totaled and unsafe to drive. A salvage title
can be rebranded
after a mechanic has made repairs to the vehicle. Does my car need a rebuilt title?
If you intend to register, sell, or drive a vehicle that has been declared as totaled in the past, you’ll need to get a rebuilt title.
Depending on who you are selling to, it’s completely legal to sell a vehicle with a salvage title to someone eager to make repairs—a salvaged vehicle may be considered a pretty great deal to certain buyers. However, most buyers are wary of cars with salvage titles.
While getting a rebuilt title doesn’t erase the car’s history, it will certify that the car has had necessary repairs and has been given the all-clear to drive by a licensed inspector.
How to get a rebuilt title in New Jersey
If your heart is set on getting a rebuilt title in New Jersey, prepare yourself for a lengthy and costly process. While the opportunity to rebuild a vehicle can be exciting and rewarding, repairs are expensive and the turnaround time for the title takes a while.
Apply for the salvage title
If you aren’t already in possession of a salvage title for the vehicle, you will need to apply for one. You can apply for a salvage title at any
Vehicle Center
, but you must schedule an appointment
in advance. You will need the following on hand: - The original vehicle title (which must be assigned by you and stamped by your insurance company)
- Proof of lien satisfaction (if applicable)
- Payment for the $60 title fee
There is an additional $25 penalty fee if there is a lien or if the request is received 10 days after the date of sale shown on the back of the New Jersey title.
Key Takeaway The first step to getting a rebuilt title is to make sure your car has a salvage title. Schedule your appointment ahead of time and bring the necessary documents to make the process easier.
Make the necessary repairs to your vehicle
Once you have a salvage title, you can start repairs on the vehicle. It’s important to carefully read the
Salvage Vehicle Information
form (OS/SS-4) so that your vehicle is updated to standards. Note that you must take photos of the car before starting repairs. After making repairs to your car, hand in the following items at your nearest salvage title
service location
or mail to the address on the information document: - A check or money order made payable to the NJ MVC for the $200 salvage vehicle inspection fee
Once you hand in those items to the service location, call to schedule your salvage inspection appointment at an approved inspection site listed on the information form (OS/SS-4). Once scheduled, fax copies of the required items on the OS/SS-4 form to your inspection site.
When your inspection appointment arrives, bring the following items with you to the inspection site:
- Your New Jersey salvage title
- Your completed Salvage Inspection Application form
- A bill of sale for the part replacements
- Photographs of the vehicle before and after repairs (a damage report will suffice if you don’t have the before pictures)
- Work order (VINs for the parts and repair details)
- Insurance damage report
Once your car passes its rebuilt inspection, you can apply for a new title—finally!
Essential documents for a rebuilt New Jersey title
Once your car has been rebuilt and passes its rebuilt inspection, you can apply for a New Jersey rebuilt title. You will be able to rebrand your salvage title at the MVC office in the same way that you would handle registering and titling a newly-purchased vehicle.
If you have an older salvaged car (at least 8 years) that doesn’t need an inspection, you can typically get a standard title. You can apply for a New Jersey standard title by mailing the following documents to the NJMVC Special Title Unit:
- Salvage title
- $60 title fee
- Photos of all sides of the vehicle (before and after repairs)
- Parts receipts with full vehicle description (year, make, VIN) and the work order
- Damage report from the insurance company
How long does a rebuilt title take in New Jersey?
Typically, the rebuilt titling process takes about 15-20 days in New Jersey but can take up to a month.
If you are rebranding an older salvage title into a New Jersey standard title by mail, the process takes a minimum of three weeks.
MORE: How to insure a car with a salvage title
Finding cheap car insurance in New Jersey
Once you have the hard-earned rebuilt title in your possession, your car is ready to legally hit the road! But first, make sure you have at least the minimum required car insurance in the Garden State.
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Is a rebuilt title bad in New Jersey?
A rebuilt title isn’t necessarily bad in New Jersey. Rebuilding a vehicle takes a tremendous amount of work and rigorous inspections, so the car could be in pretty great shape and a great deal for the buyer.
On the other hand, the car originally sustained a lot of damage so it could be hiding issues such as alignment problems or other damaged/pinched internal components. It’s best to exercise caution and be vigilant about potential problems when considering buying a rebuilt title.
How much does it cost to get a rebuilt title in New Jersey?
The title fee alone costs $60. If the salvage vehicle needs an inspection it will cost an additional $200, plus any fees needed for repairs.
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