Vehicle title salvage vehicle process
Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) considers a vehicle salvage when it is a high value vehicle and meets one of the following:
- Insurance company acquires a damaged vehicle after paying a total loss claim.
- Vehicle’s owner is self-insured, and the vehicle’s damage is more than 80 percent of its value.
- Vehicle’s cost of repairs exceeds the value of the damaged vehicle.
- Vehicle has an out-of-state salvage title.
A vehicle is considered high value if one of the following applies:
- Vehicle model year is within the last 6 years.
- Vehicle gross weight rating is 26,000 pounds or more.
- Actual cash value or fair market value is $9,000 or more.
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 call 651-282-2173.
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.