I’ll kick this off with an anecdote directly involving a car with a rebuilt title (don’t worry): When I was younger and hotter in the heels, I had yet to truly understand the importance of personal finance. It was an elating period in hindsight, trolling through the day-to-day without too much of a care. Though having exponentially less responsibility than I do now, I still needed a vehicle to get to a fro. Without the background funding or shoulder-loading ability to take on a car payment, I looked for used vehicles.
Eventually, I found one. Prim, proper, and cheap. After a test drive, there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. It was, in all aspects, too good to be true. And, being young and naive, I bought it. It wasn’t until I returned home, grinning and gleeful, that I realized the fallacy of my decisions. I had been duped. I had been robbed of my dignity. I’d bought a car with a rebuilt title.
There was a few moments of panic, sure. But my story holds two truths. One, do your due diligence before purchasing anything (except those $5 sunglasses from the gas station). Two, a rebuilt title isn’t a death sentence. In fact, the car was fantastic for years without any problems. And though I took a slight hit on reselling it, I didn’t have a problem selling it.
There are a few things to consider when selling a rebuilt vehicle, though. Let’s get into them:
What Is a Rebuilt Title?
Overall, rebuilt titles carry a terrible and horrifying connotation. In a way, this is reasonable. But, there are times when the case is not as disastrous as it may seem.
Ultimately, a rebuilt title is a specific title for a vehicle. The title being the paperwork that is provided by the state that proves the owner and condition of the vehicle, not just a dignified name.
The rebuilt title is different than the normal state title. It is given to vehicles that have already been deemed a loss by insurance companies. Meaning, if a car was in an accident or physical issue and was deemed totaled, it gets a salvage title. After that, the owner or insurance company repairs the vehicle and gets it inspected by the state, leading to a rebuilt title.
Most of the time, a rebuilt title is given to vehicles that experienced extensive damage from things like significant collisions, fire damage, water damage, or vandalization. Therefore, people already begin to become weary when hearing the name. If a car was already totaled, the chances of it having mechanical issues in the future are significantly higher. As we noted, this is a fair assessment. It was broken. Sure, it was repaired, but it could have lingering issues.
Sometimes It’s Being Dramatic
An important thing to remember is the fallacy of insurance companies. A car is considered totaled when the cost of repair is higher than the cost of the vehicle. It leads to the insurance company paying out the owner and taking the vehicle (or uninsuring it entirely). Henceforth, if a car is older or cheap, less-than-significant damage will total it.
Furthermore, if a car is brand new, it could be considered totaled through flood or water damage. This is more fixable than, say, a full accident.
Therefore, each rebuilt title comes with its own stories and worries.
Salvage Titles Are An Entirely Different Story
A rebuilt title is the middle ground between a salvage and a clean title.
The salvage title happens when a car is deemed totaled and is too expensive to fix or completely unfixable. Sometimes, too much damage cannot be reversed, regardless of how much you love your car. Therefore, salvage titles can be deemed junk cars.
Selling a salvage car is the same as selling a junk car. You can sell it to a junkyard, a person attempting to salvage the salvage for parts, or Sell My Car Colorado.
Yep, we will buy your junk car today. We will even move it for free.
All Rebuilt Titles Aren’t Bad
Let’s get this out of the way now: every rebuilt car is different.
Let’s return to my story, for example. The rebuilt car I received was salvaged one year after the car was manufactured. It had front-end damage from an accident. The owner got the front end rebuilt, leading to the title that I had received from them. They continued to drive it for six years before selling it to me. The car had, on record, regular maintenance and repairs. It was well taken care of in all aspects.
As noted, it drove without problems for years. It had one owner before me and was loved. The initial salvage title was caused by an unfortunate event years and years before I purchased it.
This is not to say that every rebuilt vehicle will produce the same positives, being a cheaper alternative to a new car, but it’s important to get the whole story and check the CarFax before purchasing. Sometimes the lower price is worth it, especially if the total cause was semantics.
Unfortunately, despite driving well, the negatives of a rebuilt title still came with the vehicle. Insurance was higher, selling was going to be a pain, and trade-ins were almost impossible.
Hence why you need tips on how to sell them. Speaking of…
How to Sell a Rebuilt Title
How does one get rid of a rebuilt car? If it carries such negative connotations, how can it be sold?
Firstly, it is possible, so do not worry. Second, you aren’t out of luck. You can still get great value for it.
Here are a few tips:
Private Sales Are Your Best Bet
It’s always easier to trade your car in or sell it to a dealership, sure. But, if your vehicle is rebuilt, you may want to avoid the option entirely.
Overall, a dealership is unlikely to turn around and sell a rebuilt title to customers. Therefore, if they can’t get value out of the car, they won’t give you much value either. Some dealerships won’t even take rebuilt vehicles. If you truly need to get rid of the car and are buying a new car from the dealership, you can trade your rebuilt in. Don’t expect significant outcomes, though.
Like any car-selling expedition, private sales are always going to be your best bet for profit. The downside is how long they take. Posting the sale, dealing with test drivers, and answering questions takes time and effort. But, if you want max return, the effort is worth it.
Always Be Honest
Referring back to my story, the person that sold me the car hid the title from me. That’s a no-no. In fact, I probably could have pursued legal action or thrown a fit, but I didn’t deem it worth it at the time.
Selling a car without letting the buyer know is both a waste of time and insulting. One, the buyer will find out eventually, for they have to get the title from you. Two, if you hold the info to the end, you are liable to cause them to walk away from the deal. Now you’ve ruined your reputation as a car seller on, say, Facebook Marketplace. And you wasted everyone’s time.
Post that the car is rebuilt in the sale description. Note that you have the entire history on hand for inquiries and are open to questions. Be honest. Shoot, always be honest.
Though it may seem impossible to sell, some car buyers know that rebuilt titles hold great deals. Some mechanically-sound car enthusiasts will buy rebuilt cars cause they know they can handle potential repairs. There are always people willing to buy anything. You will sell it.
Have the Info On You
As mentioned, have the car’s history printed and ready to go. If a person is willing to look at a rebuilt car, they know the deal. They will probably have questions regarding its history and the extent of the damage.
For example, if the buyer in more story showed me the CarFax and was honest, I would have seen that the car was well taken care of and driver for years after the rebuild. I probably still would have bought it.
Have the information printed and ready to provide to the buyer. They will want it even if they buy it.
Expect Lower Returns
It’s simple: a rebuilt title will not new you as much profit as a car with a regular title. That’s to be expected. Therefore, temper your expectations. If your car is not getting any interest at the price you posted it for, don’t be discouraged when dropping it. It may take a significant bargain to draw attention.
While a rebuilt title will get you more money on a private sale than a trade-in, it will still get you a lower profit than a clean title. That’s just the way it goes.
Clean It Up!
Because buyers are going to be wary of the car’s condition and potential future, you need to sell them on the car being as great as it can be. Therefore, don’t skimp out on the spruce-up. Make sure your rebuilt vehicle is in the best shape possible!
Wash your car, wax it up, take great pictures, and make it shine. While you need to be honest about the car’s condition (especially physical damage), you still want to present what’s there in the best way possible.
Take extra time to make everything look great before posting it.
A New Alternative: Sell My Car Colorado
Time to talk about ourselves (my favorite thing to do).
Looking for an alternative for where to sell your used car? Tired of dealing with private messages and seedy dealerships? Don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling a rebuilt title? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Sell My Car Colorado will buy your used or junk car immediately. One of our qualified dealers will give you an offer. If you accept, we will come to pick the vehicle up from you. Even if it is inoperable, we will tow it free of charge. You don’t have to leave your home or office.
Furthermore, we will offer you valid and fair prices for your vehicles. We also guarantee $100 more than the competition. Plus, we sell cars, too. Regardless of your windshield status, we will buy your vehicle!
Contact us today for a free quote!