How to Get a Rebuilt Title in Ohio
To get a rebuilt title in Ohio you must apply for a salvage title, repair the vehicle, keep receipts, pass the state-required inspection, and pay a $50 fee.
Written by John Pickhaver
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
In order to get a rebuilt title in Ohio, you must apply for a salvage title, repair your vehicle, pass inspection at a state-designated facility, and pay a $50 fee.
If an accident leads to your vehicle being totaled, that’s typically the end of the road for your car.
The insurance company writes it off before it’s transported to a salvage yard where it’s stripped of any remaining valuable parts before being destroyed by the car crusher. Sometimes, however, you can rescue your beloved vehicle and spare it from the dreaded car crusher with a rebuilt title.
If you opt to restore a totaled car in Ohio, whether to drive or sell, you first need to apply for a salvage title before you can hit the road again in your beloved ride. Luckily,
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comparison and licensed broker app Jerry
is here to map out all the steps of restoring your car. In this article, we’ll explore rebuilt titles: what they are, when you need one, how you complete the process in the Buckeye State, and how you can lower your Ohio insurance cost
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What is a rebuilt title?
A
rebuilt title
signifies that a car that was once designated as a total loss by an insurance company has been restored (rebuilt) to drivable condition. Usually, for a rebuilt title to be issued, the car first needs to have had a salvage title. A salvage title designation means the car has been totaled and is no longer safe to drive. The salvage title
can be replaced
once the vehicle has been properly repaired by a mechanic.Does my car need a rebuilt title?
You will most likely need a rebuilt title if you want to drive or sell a car that has been previously totaled. You could sell a car with a salvage title to a car enthusiast looking for their next project (or even to a risk-averse buyer), but most experts advise avoiding cars with salvage titles.
With a rebuilt title, however, buyers may be more inclined to purchase your restored vehicle. To be clear, a rebuilt title doesn’t expunge the car’s history, but it does prove that the car has been fully repaired and designated as safe by a licensed inspector. Furthermore, it’s the only way to safely and legally drive a car that formerly had a salvage title.
Pro Tip Don’t drive a car with a salvage title! In Ohio, motorists face a fine of up to $2,000 and could serve up to a year if caught driving a vehicle with a salvage title.
How to get a rebuilt title in Ohio
If you want to get a rebuilt title in Ohio, there are a few steps to complete before you can safely return to the road with your restored vehicle.
Apply for the salvage title
You must
apply
for a salvage title with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of the insurance company totaling your vehicle.Make the necessary repairs to your vehicle
When repairing your vehicle, keep receipts for all major parts that cost over $100. You will need these during the inspection. Also, all registration, serial, or other identification numbers must remain on the parts.
Get your vehicle inspected
Following the repairs of your rebuilt vehicle, schedule an inspection at one of Ohio’s nine designated salvage inspection locations by using the
Vehicle Inspection Gateway
.The fee for the inspection paperwork is $50. Be sure to obtain a receipt number upon submitting your application as you will need it for the inspection appointment.
The inspection is conducted to evaluate the safety of the vehicle, check the VIN, and confirm that no parts used in the rebuild were stolen. The inspector might also ask to see repair-related records such as:
- Bills of sale for replacement of major component parts
- Receipts for parts used to reconstruct the vehicle
- Invoices for the repair services performed on your vehicle
If your car passes inspection, the salvage title is returned to the title office and you will receive a rebuilt salvage title.
Key Takeaway Make sure to keep detailed records and receipts of repairs made on your vehicle as they are needed during the vehicle inspection.
How long does a rebuilt title take in Ohio?
From start to finish, the process of applying for a rebuilt title in Ohio varies widely. The exact length of time depends on how long it takes to make the necessary repairs to the vehicle.
Finding cheap car insurance in Ohio
After you invest the time and money in reviving your vehicle, you’ll want a quality car insurance policy that protects your car in its second life. To keep the costs of your restored ride low, turn to
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Is a rebuilt title bad in Ohio?
It depends. A rebuilt title indicates that the car has been fully restored and is safe to drive, so you might get a good deal if you buy a car with a rebuilt title. However, cars with rebuilt titles can often hide more mechanical frailties than other vehicles, so be cautious.
How much does it cost to get a rebuilt title in Ohio?
Outside of the repairs to your vehicle, Ohio charges a $50 processing fee when you apply for an inspection to obtain a rebuilt title.
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