Getting Car Insurance For a Salvage or Rebuilt Title

Written by  Aaron Besson

Edited by  Bryan Ochalla

+ 1 More

Published Feb 05, 2025 Content was accurate at the time of publication.

Can I get car insurance for a salvage title car?

No, you can’t usually get car insurance for a salvage title vehicle.

You can typically only get car insurance for a vehicle with a salvage title after it is repaired, passes a state-authorized safety inspection and has its title upgraded to rebuilt status.

A car with a salvage title is not safe for driving. After a car is totaled in an accident, the insurance company usually takes possession of the wreck. They will sometimes then sell the car at auction or a salvage yard to recoup the costs they can.

If you have a car with a salvage title, your main options are:

If you keep the salvage title car and have a licensed specialist repair it, it may get a rebuilt title if it passes inspection.

Can I get insurance for a car with a rebuilt title?

Yes, you should be able to get insurance for a vehicle with a rebuilt title.

Different states have different criteria for rebuilt title cars. For example, in Washington state, a rebuilt title car must be five years old or newer, unless it meets market threshold criteria. These criteria are:

Even if a car is given a rebuilt title, getting insurance for it can be challenging. No matter how road-safe the car is after it’s repaired, car insurance companies often consider rebuilt cars to be a high risk.

Some companies will only sell you liability car insurance coverage for a rebuilt car, while other companies won’t cover them at all.

How do I get rebuilt car insurance?

Have the proper documentation ready before looking for rebuilt car insurance quotes.

Insurance companies will usually ask for:

Once you have those documents, you can compare car insurance quotes from several different companies. When comparing quotes, use the same policy limits each time to make sure you’re getting an accurate comparison.

Be honest with insurance companies when entering your info for a quote, too. Note the rebuilt title status, if asked. Companies will see the rebuilt title status when they pull up the car’s VIN (vehicle identification number), so it won’t be hidden.

Where can I get auto insurance for a rebuilt title car?

Some companies that sell car insurance for vehicles with a rebuilt title include:

These companies sell at least liability-only car insurance for rebuilt title cars. Shopping around may help you find other companies that offer liability-only or full-coverage car insurance for rebuilt cars. Make sure to ask what your options are when you compare car insurance quotes.