In the first half of 2008 alone, there were nearly 1.3 million cars and trucks totaled as a result of accidents and weather related catastrophes. While these vehicles received branded titles to reflect their totaled status, Experian Automotive recently found that the brand has since been dropped on more than 15 percent or about 185,000 vehicle titles it has tracked.

The Department of Motor Vehicles in most states requires branding of car and truck titles to reflect not only accident damage and insurance total losses due to water, fire and other catastrophes, but to signify when an odometer doesn't reflect the correct mileage. Likewise, brands are placed on the titles of problematic lemon autos manufacturers are forced to buy back when they can't be repaired in an adequate time period.

Getting a total, salvage or lemon brand dropped from a vehicle's title is not difficult. Because states have differing laws as to what constitutes a total loss, and because there is no one-size-fits-all federal title law that supersedes state law, we find a lack of consistency in the paperwork processes from state to state. The lax title laws in some states create a loophole that salvage rebuilders and crooks eagerly exploit. Thus, vehicles with marked titles are often retitled in a neighboring state with more lenient laws so the designation or brand can be removed. Once the title is cleansed and the designation ditched the car can transfer back into the original state where it was branded without fear of the brand returning to the title.

The problem for consumers is that title-washed cars are often among the most shoddily and carelessly repaired. Often, unsuspecting consumers think they are getting a great deal on a used car or truck, only to find sometime later they have purchased a vehicle that isn't safe to be on the road.

Vehicle history retailers such as Experian and Carfax are making an effort to catch vehicles with inconsistent title documentation. Their efforts are to be commended. However, insurance companies - from whom vehicle history retailers obtain a portion of the information they sell - are discouraged from reporting total losses as they should due to the fact that branded titled cars bring less money at auction. Some may recall that State Farm agreed to pay $40 million in compensation to thousands of vehicle owners nationwide in 2005 when an internal audit revealed the company at times failed to follow states laws with regard to branding total loss cars before disposing of them at auction. Other insurers came clean as well to avoid impending litigation as the deception was brought to light.

Consumers considering the purchase of a used car should have a prepurchase inspection performed by a knowledgeable expert to determine that the automobile they are considering is safe and of good value. The databank of information consumers can purchase from companies like Experian and Carfax is growing, but there are still a good number of vehicles being tracked that have missing or incomplete histories. To fill the gap and keep consumers one step ahead of car title crooks there is nothing better than a hands-on car or truck inspection. Residents of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia can inquire about  a prepurchase vehicle inspection today by calling the staff of Safe Collision Repairs using contact information below.

content & design 2002-2008 David Williams and SafeCollisionRepairs.com

About Safe Collision Repairs

For more than ten years, David Williams of Wheelersburg, Ohio's Safe Collision Repairs has worked with consumers and attorneys in the tri-states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to expose unsafe auto repairs and maximize recovery on auto insurance claims. Some of the company's services include Post-Repair Inspections, Prepurchase Inspections, Auto Damage Assessments, Lemon Law Investigations, Expert Court Testimony and Diminished Value Calculations using an advanced version of Network Information Communication's WreckCheck program.

Inquiries can be directed to: Safe Collision Repairs David A. Williams Post Office Box 70 Wheelersburg, Ohio 45694 (740) 456-1111 (740) 355-4056

Disclaimer

The content expressed on this website and in the article above represents the opinions of David A. Williams. Williams is neither an attorney nor public insurance adjuster, but is an expert, consultant, and writer specializing in the field of automotive collision repair and valuations. The information provided herein is not intended to be a substitute for legal or insurance advice. Because collision repair is a continually evolving science, any text, materials or links found herein are provided without claim or guarantee to their accuracy or completeness.