Maryland Vehicle History — Rebuilt Salvage, Flood Damaged and X–Salvage Notations (Reports from $4.99)

Maryland draws its salvage line at 75% of pre-damage fair market value, and the insurer's statement on the salvage certificate decides what the next title says: rebuilt salvage, Flood Damaged, X–Salvage, or no title at all for a parts-only vehicle.

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US-MD
Maryland

Official vehicle-registry authority: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)

Why Maryland is different

Maryland defines salvage in Transportation Article §11-152. A vehicle qualifies if collision, fire, flood, accident, trespass or another occurrence damaged it so that repairs for legal highway use would cost more than 75 percent of its fair market value before the damage, or if an insurance company acquired it through a claim settlement. Under §13-506, an insurer licensed in Maryland that acquires a vehicle through a settlement must apply for a salvage certificate within 10 days. Towing, storage, rental cars and cosmetic repairs are not counted toward the 75 percent figure.

The insurer's application must state which of five situations applies: repairs above 75 percent but the car is repairable; not rebuildable and for parts only; stolen; flood damage; or acquired through a claim with repairs of 75 percent or less. That statement is printed conspicuously on the salvage certificate, and §13-507 turns it into the later title notation: "rebuilt salvage" for the first, no title at all for the second, "Flood Damaged" for flood, and "X–Salvage" for the lower-damage claim. Retitling also needs an inspection certificate from a county police department or the State Police, plus a Title 23 inspection certificate.

Buyers in Maryland should read the notation literally. X–Salvage can look minor, yet it means an insurer acquired the car through a claim. Cosmetic damage is outside the 75 percent calculation, so a car with extensive body damage may never reach rebuilt salvage. For cars arriving from Virginia, the District, Pennsylvania or Delaware, Maryland carries over another state's notation only when it is substantially similar to its own rebuilt salvage. Compare the title with a CARFAX or AutoCheck report and any Copart or IAAI record.

Title rules in Maryland at a glance

Title agency
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)
Salvage trigger
Repairs over 75% of pre-damage fair market value, or acquisition by an insurer through a claim settlement (Transp. §11-152).
Title brands
Rebuilt salvage; Flood Damaged; X–Salvage. Parts-only salvage certificates cannot be titled.
Rebuilt inspection
Certificate of inspection from a county police department or the Maryland State Police, plus a Title 23 inspection certificate (Transp. §13-507).
Flood vehicles
An insurer's flood-damage statement on the salvage certificate becomes a conspicuous "Flood Damaged" notation on the title.

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Title brands in Maryland

Salvage certificate
Issued by the MVA for a salvage vehicle. It conspicuously shows the insurer's statement about the damage, and the vehicle may not be titled or registered for operation in Maryland except under §§13-506.1 and 13-507.
Rebuilt salvage
Conspicuous title notation for a vehicle whose salvage certificate said repairs exceeded 75% of fair market value but the vehicle was repairable, after it passes the required inspections.
Flood Damaged
Conspicuous title notation required when the salvage certificate states that the vehicle has flood damage.
X–Salvage
Conspicuous title notation when an insurer acquired the vehicle through a claim and repairs were 75% or less of fair market value, or when the salvage certificate was issued to an automotive dismantler and recycler.
Not rebuildable / parts only
When the salvage certificate states the vehicle is not rebuildable and will be used for parts only, the MVA may not issue a title for it.

Red flags specific to Maryland

⚠ Reading X–Salvage as harmless
X–Salvage marks a vehicle that an insurer acquired through a claim settlement even though repairs were estimated at 75% or less of its value. Ask for the repair records and look at any auction photos before treating it like a clean title.
⚠ Cosmetic damage outside the 75% test
Maryland excludes cosmetic repairs, towing, storage and rental costs from the 75% calculation. A car with heavy body or hail damage can stay below the rebuilt salvage line, so judge the bodywork yourself.
⚠ Owner-retained totals
The 10-day application duty in §13-506 falls on insurers that acquire the vehicle; §11-152(b) says an insurer has not acquired a car the owner keeps after settlement. Ask any seller of a once-totaled car for the salvage certificate history.
⚠ Cross-border titles in the I-95 corridor
Maryland carries over another state's notation only when it is substantially similar to its rebuilt salvage. Cars titled in neighbouring Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania or the District can arrive with brands that read differently, so check the prior titles.

Frequently asked questions

Under Transportation Article §11-152, a vehicle is salvage when damage from collision, fire, flood, accident, trespass or another occurrence would cost more than 75% of its pre-damage fair market value to repair for legal highway use, or when an insurer acquires it through a claim settlement. Towing, storage, rental and cosmetic repairs are not counted.

It is a conspicuous notation required by §13-507 when the salvage certificate showed that an insurer acquired the vehicle through a claim and repairs were 75% or less of its fair market value, or when the salvage certificate was issued to an automotive dismantler and recycler.

The owner submits the salvage certificate, a certificate of inspection issued by a county police department or the Department of State Police, and a separate inspection certificate required under Title 23. If the salvage certificate said repairs exceeded 75% but the car was repairable, the title carries the rebuilt salvage notation.

Yes. When the insurer's statement on the salvage certificate says the vehicle has flood damage, §13-507 requires the title to carry a conspicuous "Flood Damaged" notation.

An insurer licensed in Maryland that acquires a vehicle through a claim settlement must apply within 10 days after the settlement, with the title or an affidavit of ownership, proof of final payment and the fee.

If another state's ownership document notes that the vehicle is substantially similar to a Maryland rebuilt salvage vehicle, §13-507(d) requires the Maryland title to carry a similar notation. Check the earlier out-of-state titles, because brand wording differs from state to state.

Sources

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

Other regions of USA

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