Salvage title — What You Need to Know
The vehicle has been declared a total loss by an insurance company and carries a salvage title brand. Salvage vehicles cannot be legally driven until they pass a rebuilt/salvage inspection in most states.
Seller guidance
You must disclose the salvage title status in writing. The bill of sale should state "salvage title" prominently. Some states require a separate salvage disclosure form. Do not represent a salvage vehicle as a rebuilt title unless it has passed the required state inspection and been formally re-branded.
Buyer guidance
A salvage title vehicle cannot be registered for road use in any state until it passes a state-mandated rebuilt inspection. Lenders rarely finance salvage title vehicles, and insuring them for full value is difficult. Even after a salvage vehicle is re-branded as "rebuilt," it will always carry diminished resale value.
Legal note (Arizona-specific)
Arizona law A.R.S. § 28-2091 requires any seller of a salvage-titled vehicle to clearly and conspicuously disclose in writing or by electronic means to the buyer before completion of the sale that the vehicle is a salvage vehicle and has a salvage certificate of title. Failure is a class 2 misdemeanor. A salvage vehicle cannot be registered for road use until it receives a Restored Salvage title. To obtain a Restored Salvage certificate, the owner must: (1) complete a title application (Form 96-0236), (2) schedule and pass a Level III inspection ($50 fee) at an ADOT ECD location by appointment — which verifies the front-end assembly, engine, transmission, and rear-end assembly and confirms the vehicle is equipped for highway use — (3) obtain an emissions compliance certificate if required, (4) surrender the salvage title, and (5) pay a $4 title fee.
Salvage title checklist
- Confirm the title is branded "salvage" and the brand is disclosed on the bill of sale
- Run a NMVTIS or CARFAX report to verify complete title history
- Disclose all known damage, repairs, and any prior insurance total-loss declarations
- Confirm the vehicle cannot be legally driven until rebuilt inspection is complete
- Check insurance availability before purchase — many carriers restrict salvage vehicle coverage
- Seller: disclose salvage status 'clearly and conspicuously in writing or by electronic means' before completing the sale — required by A.R.S. § 28-2091 (class 2 misdemeanor for non-disclosure)
- Run a title brand check at AZMVDNow.gov Title Viewer to confirm the salvage brand and any additional brands before purchase
- To restore a salvage vehicle for road use, schedule a Level III inspection by appointment through azmvdnow.gov — inspection fee is $50
- After passing Level III, submit Form 96-0236, the salvage title, and an emissions certificate (if applicable) and pay the $4 title fee to receive the Restored Salvage title
Side by Side Safety & Recall Information
Data sourced from NHTSA safety ratings and recall databases
Average Safety Rating
0 / 5
Avg. Price Range
$5,000–$30,000
Odometer Disclosure
Not required
Safety checkpoints for side by side buyers
- Verify ROPS (cage) is intact and meets manufacturer specifications
- Check all seat belts and door/net latching mechanisms
- Inspect CV axles and boots — the highest-wear item on side-by-sides
- Test power steering operation and differential lock engagement
- Confirm headlights, taillights, brake lights, and (where required) turn signals function
- Verify horn and reverse-warning beeper operation
- Check that windshield (if equipped) is rated and unmodified
- Inspect parking brake operation on a 15-degree slope
Common recall categories
SteeringFuel SystemFire HazardSuspensionThrottle
On average, each side by side model has approximately 2.6 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls before completing a sale.
Arizona Tax & Fee Summary
Dealer sales: 5.6% + county. Private sales: flat $20 VLT instead
Private party sales pay a flat $20 vehicle license transfer fee instead of sales tax
Visit the official Arizona DMV website
Dewey-Humboldt Salvage title side by side pdf — when to file
Arizona requires title transfer within 15 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For salvage title transactions specifically, file at Arizona DMV – Dewey-Humboldt (Visit https://azdot.gov/mvd to find the nearest Dewey-Humboldt office) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (verify hours with local office). Miss the 15-day window and Arizona typically charges a late-transfer penalty plus accrued use tax, and the seller can remain on the title for civil liability until the buyer completes retitling. Bring the signed title, the completed Dewey-Humboldt bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $4.00 title transfer fee plus 5.6% sales tax on the purchase price.
PDF reminder. Whether you keep your pdf as a signed digital PDF, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at Arizona DMV – Dewey-Humboldt; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.