Insurance companies brand vehicles with a "Salvage Title" when they are badly damaged. In these cases, returning the vehicle to a safe operating condition would either require spending more on the repair than the vehicle is worth, or it would be impossible to make it roadworthy again.
When an incident leaves an insured vehicle beyond repair, or beyond a reasonable cost of repair, the insurance agency may decide to brand the title as a salvage title, also known as a total loss or insurance write-off. These incidents can include a collision, vandalism, flooding or something else that leaves the vehicle in a state of major disrepair. A salvage title essentially means the vehicle is no longer roadworthy and is fit only for a salvage yard. It has been deemed unsafe to drive, and is not insurable unless repaired and inspected extensively to ensure it is safe to operate.
