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Peabody · 09-24-2008, 03:53 PM

I found a 1981 Bluebird I was interested in but found out it had a marked title.Owner says he was told it was because there was a turbo fire and the insurance paid for it.He's owned this bus five years now and never checked into it.I told him if he can clear the title we could talk about me possibly purchasing.Any ideas on how to go about clearing a title that says Marked Washington. Hugs Peabody

Peabody · 09-24-2008, 03:53 PM

I found a 1981 Bluebird I was interested in but found out it had a marked title.Owner says he was told it was because there was a turbo fire and the insurance paid for it.He's owned this bus five years now and never checked into it.I told him if he can clear the title we could talk about me possibly purchasing.Any ideas on how to go about clearing a title that says Marked Washington. Hugs Peabody

UFO Pilot · 09-24-2008, 06:42 PM

Not sure if this is what you are after:

Washington drivers may not operate vehicles that have been reported damaged, destroyed, wrecked, a total loss, or salvaged. In fact, you can't even park such a car on a public road.

You may, however, retitle a salvage vehicle, provided it has been inspected and approved by the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and you have paid all the required license and title fees.

To get a WSP inspection, contact the the agency and schedule an appointment at a WSP location. To drive a salvaged car to an inspection legally, you must visit a DOL Vehicle Licensing Office first to obtain a transit permit.

After passing a WSP inspection, paying the appropriate fees, and applying for a new title, you will receive a "WA REBUILT" brand on the certificate of ownership if the vehicle is no more than five years old. The vehicle is also eligible for a rebuilt title if it meets all three of the following requirements:

The vehicle is is between six and 20 years old.
The vehicle is a used car, pickup truck, or sport utility vehicle.
The vehicle had a retail market value of $6,500 or more before it was damaged.

John90XJ · 09-24-2008, 06:53 PM

Having gone through this experience recently myself, the WSP is generally only concerned about whether the vehicle was repaired or rebuilt with stolen parts. The actual process generally consists of an inspection to verify matching serial numbers and any obvious replacement parts must be covered by proper invoices from either a wrecking yard or the repair facility. They will do a cursory review of safety issues like whether the lights work and whether the major components are intact.

Doing a Carfax or looking at the actual title will confirm that a rebuilt title has been issued and in WA they cannot be revoked to the best of my knowledge. It's possible that the vehicle was in a minor fender bender, even driven from the scene, but if the insurance company sees that the actual cost to repair is more than the value, or a percentage of the value, they can choose to call it a total wreck and pay off the actual cash value. This process allows the owner to buy the vehicle back for salvage value and affect the repairs themselves which, for the insured, may result in a vehicle that is perfectly safe and capable but was simply not financially feasible for the insurance company to fix.

TXiceman · 09-25-2008, 03:07 AM

I guess by a MARKED title you mean what we call a salvage title. I don't think you can ever get this removed from the title.

Ken

Rick & Hope · 09-25-2008, 03:21 AM

Don't know what a marked title is. If it has a salvage title it can be rebuilt, but if it has a Certificate of Destruction (CD) it can only be used for parts. CD's are usually put on by insurance companies on vehicles that are totaled by fire or flood.

Gary RVRoamer · 09-25-2008, 06:44 AM

One caveat to readers: the laws and rules with respect to vehicle titles vary by state. The Washington laws cited here apply only to vehicles titled in Washington. However, most states have a procedure so that you can apply for and get a Rebuilt or Salvage Title (terminology varies by state as well)

Certificates of Destruction are issued in many states but the details of when and why vary. Check with your state DMV for rules that apply in your state.

Peabody · 09-25-2008, 07:50 AM

Fact is I myself haven't seen the title.It was told to me by the owner who has the bus registered in Oregon where he originally lived.Says the title is stamped "marked Washington" Don't have a clue if that means rebuilt or not. Hugs Peabody

John90XJ · 09-25-2008, 08:05 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Peabody:
Fact is I myself haven't seen the title.It was told to me by the owner who has the bus registered in Oregon where he originally lived.Says the title is stamped "marked Washington" Don't have a clue if that means rebuilt or not. Hugs Peabody </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Then I would recommend running the Carfax. It is likely to show the date, mileage and location when the title was branded. You can also try calling the WSP and giving them the VIN. Hopefully that helps you.