Vehicle title salvage vehicle process
A vehicle is considered to be a salvaged vehicle when any of the below circumstances occur:
- An insurance company determines that the vehicle is a high-value or late-model vehicle and the insurance company acquires title through payment of damages.
- An insurance company has declared the vehicle a total loss or paid a total loss claim.
- The vehicle incurs damage in excess of 80 percent of its value.
- The vehicle is a damaged late-model or high-value vehicle and:
o will incur costs of repairs that exceed the value of the damaged vehicle,
o was previously acquired by an insurer through payment of damages,
o has an out-of-state salvage certificate of title as proof of ownership, or
o bears the brand "damaged," "repairable," "salvage," or any similar term on the certificate of title.
A vehicle is considered high-value if one of the following applies:
- Vehicle gross weight rating is 26,000 pounds or more.
- Actual cash value or fair market value is $9,000 or more.
A vehicle is considered late-model if:
- It was manufactured within the last six model years (2021-2026).
Salvage titles
Minnesota salvage titles indicate the brand with the word “salvage” inside of a black box printed near the bottom of the title. Once a vehicle is marked salvage it must be inspected to remove the Salvage Brand.
Vehicle registration may be renewed only once on a salvage title. It is to your advantage to clear the salvage status of the vehicle in a timely manner.
Vehicle inspections
To clear your vehicle’s salvage status, it must pass a DVS inspection. The inspection is not a safety inspection. Instead, it’s focused on deterring fraud and theft.
You need the vehicle identification number to schedule an inspection. You may schedule an inspection online or contact us.
What you need to bring to the salvage inspection:
- The salvage title, if not already surrendered to DVS.
- If you applied for title before the inspection, you will receive instructions on how to arrange the inspection.
- Declaration of Reconstruction form completed by the owner at the time of repair.
- Receipts on original company letterhead for any major parts that were replaced. If using a parts vehicle, a copy of that title can be provided.
Once the vehicle passes the inspection
Submit the documents listed above to a Deputy Registrar office, along with a $35 salvage inspection fee and a filing fee.
The salvage status will be removed from the vehicle’s title and replaced with a “prior salvage” brand.