what does a car with a junked title mean?
I got pulled over with a car I just bought and the cop asked me did I know my car had a junked title? I live in the state of kentucky. My car is a nice ford focus with no problems. and a good frame. Im just as to curious of what that means. and wondering if I'm getting cheated some how.
Howard is correct, it is called a salvage title. It is when a car has been damaged so bad in a flood or hailstorm or a collission that the insurance buys the car out from the original owner. When the insurance does the law mandates that the car must have a salvage title.
The insurance company will then sell it at what is called a insurance or salvage auto aution. Some body shop or used car dealer will buy it for really really cheap. They fix the damage using cheap used parts and sell it on there used car lot making a nice profit. This is why people get Carfax or Autocheck to know the cars history before they buy and also get it inspected by a mechanic.
Some states like my state (Indiana) make you get what is called a rebuilt title if a car has a salvage title. Meaning If you have a car with a salvage title in my state and you try to register to get plates and drive it on the road you have to fill out a state form and have the car inspected (usually by a police officer) to make sure the car was fixed properly and it is now safe to drive on the public road ways. Every state is different though, I have know idea about the Kentucky laws or if you will have to do this.
But I will tell you this your car was in an bad accident or flood or or some other kind of damage in the past having the insurance buy it out from the owner.
