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
Green Valley 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 – Green Valley (Visit https://azdot.gov/mvd to find the nearest Green Valley 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 Green Valley 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 – Green Valley; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.