How to Get a Rebuilt Title in Texas
You can get a rebuilt title in Texas by applying for a salvage title, making necessary repairs, and paying a $65 rebuilt salvage fee.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
To get a rebuilt title in
Texas
, you’ll need to apply for a salvage title, make all the necessary repairs, and apply for a rebuilt title at your local county tax office for $65.- You’ll need a rebuilt title in Texas to drive or sell a previously totaled car.
- You must first get a salvage title and make the necessary repairs.
- You can apply for a rebuilt title with your county for an extra $65 fee.
- You’ll need a rebuilt title in Texas to drive or sell a previously totaled car.
- You must first get a salvage title and make the necessary repairs.
- You can apply for a rebuilt title with your county for an extra $65 fee.
What is a rebuilt title?
A
rebuilt title
certifies that a car, once deemed a total loss by an insurance company, has been restored to drivable condition. The car needs to have a salvage title first, indicating it has been totaled and is not safe to drive. The salvage title
can be removed
once a mechanic has restored the vehicle.Does my car need a rebuilt title?
If you want to sell or drive a previously totaled car, you will usually need a rebuilt title.
Once a car is totaled, it’s considered a salvage vehicle. You may be able to sell a salvage car to an enthusiast who wants to fix it up, but in general, buyers will steer clear of cars with salvage titles.
Buyers may be more willing to purchase a car with a rebuilt title. Getting a rebuilt title won’t erase the car’s history, but it does prove that the used car is fully repaired and deemed road-legal by a licensed inspector.
MORE: How to insure a car with a salvage title
How to get a rebuilt title in Texas
If you want to get a rebuilt title in Texas, you’ll need to put significant time and money into the process. The cost to fully repair a totaled car is steep, and the title won’t be issued overnight.
Step 1: Apply for the salvage title
Start by applying for a salvage title with the DMV if the vehicle does not already have one. You’ll need:
- The car’s original certificate of title
- A completedSalvage Title Application (VTR-441). If you lost the original title, the application fee is $10.
- Photo ID
- A lien release (if applicable)
- A check or money order for $8 made payable to TxDMV.
Mail the form to:
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
ATTN: Title Control Systems
P.O. Box 26450
Austin, Texas 78755-0450.
You can expect to receive your salvage certificate within three weeks.
Step 2: Make the necessary repairs
Once you’ve received the salvage title, you can begin making any necessary
car repairs
yourself or go to a licensed mechanic. Get the car inspected at a valid
Texas Department of Safety inspection station
before you apply for the rebuilt title. Step 3: Gather documents to get a rebuilt title
Once the car has been fully repaired, you can apply for a rebuilt title. You’ll need the following documentation to proceed:
- The car’s salvage title
- A completedRebuilt Vehicle Statement (VTR-61), including details of the repairs made to the car and who made them
- Inspection certificate
- Photo ID
Bring the documents in person to your
local county tax office
along with the $65 rebuilt salvage fee. You’ll also need to pay the usual title fee, which is $28 or $33 depending on the county. MORE: Texas replacement title
How long does a rebuilt title take in Texas?
From start to finish, applying for a rebuilt title in Texas can take six weeks or more.
The exact time to get a rebuilt title vehicle depends on how long it takes to repair the salvage title vehicle.
“I love how easy it was for me, as someone who has an older beat-up truck, to get insurance without going through a lot of trouble. I would recommend anyone tryJerry!” —Melissa I.
Is a rebuilt title bad in Texas?
It depends. A rebuilt title indicates that the car has been fully restored and is safe to drive, so you might get a good deal if you buy a car with a rebuilt title. However, cars with rebuilt titles can often hide more mechanical frailties than other vehicles, so be cautious.
How much does it cost to get a rebuilt title in Texas?
Depending on the county you live in and which titles the car already has, getting a rebuilt title in Texas could cost between $93 and $108.
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