, it means that the title hasn’t been branded. Brands are usually assigned by insurance companies or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Different types of brands exist to designate any significant damage that the car has undergone over its lifetime.

If you’re thinking of purchasing a used vehicle, it’s important to check the status of its title. A title is a legal document that confirms the status and ownership of a vehicle. A clean title means the vehicle has never been totaled or suffered major damage, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best car. Even if a car has a clean title, it’s a good idea to have a trusted mechanic inspect it for you.

It’s no secret that navigating the used car market these days is a dicey task. Luckily,

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Common title brands to look for

There are various types of title brands that you might run into—different ones are recognized in different states, but here are the main ones.

Salvage

A salvage title vehicle brand indicates that the car is currently not roadworthy. It usually means that the car has been deemed to be a total loss and is being sold to be salvaged for its individual parts that might still be working.

It is illegal to operate a salvage vehicle on public roads.

Salvage cars will need to be repaired

and inspected in order to earn a new title with a rebuilt title brand.

MORE:

How to insure a car with a salvage title

Rebuilt

rebuilt title

means that a vehicle was previously a salvage car that is now repaired and can be driven legally. Other terms like repaired, reconditioned, or reconstructed might be used to refer to a rebuilt title.

Cars with rebuilt titles will often be more affordable to purchase, but they may be more expensive to insure.

MORE:

Insuring a car with a rebuilt title

Lemon

There is a federal

lemon law

in place, and most states have their own complimentary lemon laws in place to protect you if you buy a defective new car or used car with warranty from a dealership. The specifics of these laws vary from state to state, so it’s a good idea to understand your state’s lemon law, if it has one in place.

Basically, a lemon law allows you to return a vehicle for a refund or a replacement if the automaker cannot adequately address the defects. The returned vehicle will then receive a lemon brand. You’ll most likely want to avoid purchasing a used vehicle with a lemon title.

MORE:

How to check if a used car is a lemon

Water damage

A car will be given a water damage title if it has been significantly damaged by a flood or other form of water damage. These vehicles are especially prove to interior mold and engine problems.

MORE:

How much water damage will total a car?

Odometer rollback

An odometer rollback title brand will be given to a car if it’s ever found that the vehicle’s odometer has been tampered with to make it appear that it has lower mileage than it actually does. Odometer rollback is a form of fraud, although it’s fairly difficult to detect.

What is title washing?

Title washing is another form of fraud where a seller attempts to hide or misrepresent a branded title. Here are some common ways that a seller might get away with title washing:

Moving states: A seller might try to move the vehicle to another state where the brand on its title isn’t recognized, since

titles are transferred

when a car is sold and registered in a new state.

Altered title: Some fraudsters might try to cover or illegally alter a brand on the car’s certificate of title.

Falsified car title: If the vehicle’s title was transferred or replaced, the seller may have intentionally failed to disclose existing brands.

How to find out if a used car has a clean title

If you’re thinking of purchasing a used vehicle, you could always ask the seller to show you the physical title to prove that there is no brand on it.

If they don’t want to show you the title right away, you can simply check the vehicle identification number (VIN) and get a used car vehicle history report. You can do this by contacting your local DMV or using a VIN check website like

CARFAX

MORE:

What is a CARFAX report?

How to find cheap car insurance for your ride

If you’ve just become the new owner of a used car, you’re going to need to get yourself equipped with a solid

car insurance

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FAQs

Is a clean title the same as a clear title?

No. A clean title car is a car without any brands on the title. On the other hand, a clear title is a title without any liens on it. If a car has a lien on it, it cannot legally be sold unless all liens are released by any lenders and/or lienholders.

Is it okay to buy a car with a salvage or rebuilt title?

There is nothing preventing you from buying a car with a salvage title, but in most cases, a salvage title means the car experienced enough damage to make it undriveable. If you want the car for its parts, it’s perfectly okay to buy it, and you might end up getting a great deal on some parts in fine working condition.

There’s also nothing inherently wrong with buying a car with a rebuilt title. These vehicles are legal to drive on public roads, and will often have freshly installed engines or other internals. However, sometimes rebuilt titles can be more expensive to insure.

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