Illinois Vehicle History — Junking Certificates, Salvage, Flood & REBUILT Titles (Reports from $4.99)

Illinois brands flood cars even when damage is light, marks every former salvage vehicle "REBUILT", and requires a signed disclosure form when a rebuilt car is sold. Learn the rules, then check the VIN’s history and auction records.

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US-IL
Illinois

Official vehicle-registry authority: Illinois Secretary of State

Why Illinois is different

The Illinois Secretary of State runs three levels of damaged-vehicle paperwork under 625 ILCS 5/3-117.1. A junk vehicle gets a junking certificate within 15 days, after which a certificate of title is never issued again. A salvage certificate applies when an insurer pays a total loss claim, when a self-insured company finds damage above 70% of fair market value, and when repossessed or fleet vehicles exceed 50%. A licensed rebuilder, repairer or dealer who knows a vehicle has more than 50% damage must also apply for a salvage certificate.

Flood is handled separately. A vehicle submerged until water rose over the door sill into the passenger or trunk compartment is a "flood vehicle". If repairs would exceed 50% of its value it becomes salvage marked "flood"; if not, it still gets a title marked "flood", and the word must appear on every later title. Once a salvage vehicle is rebuilt, Section 3-118.1 requires the new title to bear the notation "REBUILT", and Section 5-104.3 requires a signed Disclosure of Rebuilt Vehicle Status form when it is sold.

Two age rules matter. The Secretary of State inspects rebuilt vehicles only when they are 8 model years old or newer (or foreign vehicles that may have been salvage), and an owner may keep a total-loss vehicle 9 model years or older by agreement with the insurer. Older cars therefore get less scrutiny. Before buying in Chicago, Springfield or downstate, read CARFAX or AutoCheck history together with any Copart or IAAI sale records and photos.

Title rules in Illinois at a glance

Title agency
Illinois Secretary of State.
Salvage trigger
Insurer pays a total loss claim; self-insured >70% of fair market value; repossessed, fleet or dealer-known damage >50% (625 ILCS 5/3-117.1).
Title brands
Junking certificate, salvage certificate, "flood", and "REBUILT".
Rebuilt inspection
Secretary of State inspects vehicles 8 model years old or newer: ID numbers, application accuracy, signs of theft (Section 3-308).
Older-vehicle exemption
Owner may keep a total-loss vehicle 9 model years or older by agreement with the insurer; rebuild inspection covers 8 model years or newer.
Seller disclosure
Signed Disclosure of Rebuilt Vehicle Status form; out-of-state rebuilt titles need an Illinois REBUILT title before dealer sale (Section 5-104.3).
Flood vehicles
Water over the door sill into passenger or trunk compartment; "flood" on all titles, salvage if damage >50%.

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Title brands in Illinois

Junking certificate
Issued for a junk vehicle; it allows the holder to possess, transport or, by endorsement, transfer the vehicle, and a certificate of title may not be issued for it again.
Salvage certificate
Required after an insurer pays a total loss claim and in the other cases listed in 625 ILCS 5/3-117.1(b). A salvage vehicle may not be driven on Illinois roads, apart from trips to and from a Section 3-308 inspection with special plates or under a short-term permit.
Flood
Entered on the salvage certificate or title of a vehicle that was submerged with water over the door sill, regardless of whether damage exceeded 50%, and on every subsequent title.
REBUILT
Notation required on any title issued for a vehicle that previously had a salvage certificate. A narrow exception covers some theft-recovery vehicles returned without structural damage.

Red flags specific to Illinois

⚠ Older total losses kept by the owner
An owner may keep a total-loss vehicle that is 9 model years or older, or one with only hail damage that does not affect operational safety, by agreement with the insurer. Ask any seller of an older Illinois car whether it was ever an insurance total loss.
⚠ No state inspection for older rebuilds
Section 3-308 inspections apply to vehicles 8 model years of age or newer. An older rebuilt car may reach the road with no Secretary of State inspection, so an independent mechanic matters more.
⚠ Out-of-state rebuilt titles
Licensed Illinois dealers and rebuilders may not sell a vehicle with another state’s rebuilt title without first obtaining an Illinois title with the "REBUILT" notation. A dealer offering a car on a foreign rebuilt title is a red flag.
⚠ Missing disclosure form
Section 5-104.3 makes it an offense to knowingly sell a rebuilt-title vehicle with intent to defraud unless a signed Disclosure of Rebuilt Vehicle Status form accompanies it. If no form is offered, do not proceed until you see one.

Frequently asked questions

Under 625 ILCS 5/3-117.1(b), when an insurer pays a total loss claim; when a self-insured company finds the vehicle a total loss or repair costs above 70% of fair market value; when a repossessed or fleet vehicle has damage above 50%; and when a licensed rebuilder, repairer or dealer knows damage exceeds 50%.

A vehicle submerged until rising water reached over the door sill and entered the passenger or trunk compartment. It becomes salvage only if repairs would exceed 50% of fair market value, but either way the word "flood" goes on its title and every later title.

No. Section 3-117.1(a) says that once a junking certificate is issued, a certificate of title shall not again be issued for that vehicle.

Under Section 3-308, the Secretary of State examines the vehicle, its parts and the application to confirm identification numbers have not been tampered with, the application is true and correct, and there are no signs the vehicle or its parts are stolen. It applies to vehicles 8 model years old or newer and to foreign vehicles that may have been salvage.

Section 3-118.1 requires the "REBUILT" notation on any title issued after a salvage certificate. The only exception lets insurers and certain licensed dealers obtain a title without it when a theft total loss was recovered without structural damage from collision, fire, flood, theft, rust or corrosion.

Section 5-104.3 requires a properly signed Disclosure of Rebuilt Vehicle Status form delivered to the buyer. Selling a rebuilt-title vehicle without it, knowingly and with intent to defraud, is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense.

No. Section 3-117.1(e) bars driving a salvage or junk vehicle on Illinois roads, except a salvage vehicle with valid special plates going to or from a Section 3-308 inspection, or one covered by a short-term permit.

Sources

Legal facts on this page were checked against these official sources in November 2026.

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