Salvage Vehicles

A salvage vehicle has been damaged and is considered uneconomical to repair. Damage may result from a crash, theft recovery, flood, fire, or similar events. In Arizona, a salvage designation helps inform buyers and reduce vehicle fraud by clearly identifying vehicles that are not road-ready.

A salvage title is issued when a vehicle is damaged to the point that the cost to repair it is more than the vehicle is worth. Once issued, the salvage brand stays with the vehicle’s history.

A vehicle with a salvage title is not safe or legal to drive until it has been fully repaired, inspected, and approved by the state.

Options for a salvage vehicle

If your vehicle has a salvage title, you may:

Keep it for parts or scrap
Sell it as salvage (the salvage status must be disclosed)
Repair or rebuild it and apply for a restored salvage title

Driving a salvage vehicle

A vehicle with a salvage title is not eligible for regular registration. You may only drive it:

Using a temporary three-day permit, or
After it has passed Level III inspection, been issued a restored salvage title, and been registered for road use.

Applying for a restored salvage title

To legally register and drive a salvage vehicle in Arizona, the vehicle must first be repaired to road-worthy condition. Once road-worthy, you can apply for a restored salvage title and registration by completing all of the following steps:

Make an appointment for a Level III vehicle inspection ($50.00)
Obtain an emissions compliance certificate, if applicable
Complete a Title and Registration Application
Surrender the salvage title with your application
Pay the title fee ($4.00), plus registration fees