Texas Vehicle History — TxDMV Records & Auction Photos (Reports from $4.99)

In Texas a car is salvage only when repairs would cost more than its actual cash value, and a rebuilt car's title says "REBUILT SALVAGE" for good. Vehicles sold "For Export Only" must leave the US and may never be titled again — so check the VIN before you buy.

🇺🇸
US-TX
Texas

Official vehicle-registry authority: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV)

Why Texas is different

Texas sets a high bar for the salvage brand. Since 2005 a salvage motor vehicle is one with damage to, or a missing, major component part where the cost of repairs exceeds the vehicle's actual cash value immediately before the damage — more than 100%. Repainting and sales tax do not count toward that cost, and a car on which an insurer paid only a hail claim is not salvage. A vehicle worth only parts or scrap is nonrepairable and receives a Nonrepairable Vehicle Title instead.

A Nonrepairable Vehicle Title issued on or after September 1, 2003 ends the car's road life: it may not be rebuilt, retitled or registered. A salvage vehicle can be rebuilt, and the owner then applies at a county tax assessor-collector's office with Form 130-U, the Rebuilt Vehicle Statement (Form VTR-61) and a $65 Rebuilt Salvage Fee. The new regular title is branded "REBUILT SALVAGE" with a qualifier such as "DAMAGED", "LOSS UNKNOWN" or "95% PLUS LOSS" depending on the document surrendered, and a "FLOOD DAMAGE" remark is carried forward when water caused the loss.

Texas dealers and insurers may sell salvage and nonrepairable vehicles to non-US residents "For Export Only". The seller stamps the title, the buyer certifies on Form VTR-901 that the vehicle will leave the United States and will not be titled or registered in any state under its VIN, and TxDMV marks the record "EXPORT ONLY" so it can never be titled or registered in Texas. A car with that history showing up for sale on US roads is a laundering red flag. Compare a CARFAX or AutoCheck history with any Copart or IAAI auction records and photos for the VIN.

Title rules in Texas at a glance

Title agency
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV); applications are filed with county tax assessor-collector offices.
Salvage trigger
Repair cost for damaged or missing major component parts exceeds the pre-damage actual cash value (over 100%), any model year.
Title brands
Salvage Vehicle Title; Nonrepairable Vehicle Title; "REBUILT SALVAGE" (DAMAGED, LOSS UNKNOWN, 95% PLUS LOSS); "FLOOD DAMAGE" remark; "EXPORT ONLY" record remark.
Rebuilt inspection
Rebuilt title application on Form 130-U with the Rebuilt Vehicle Statement (VTR-61), out-of-state VIN certification where needed, and a $65 Rebuilt Salvage Fee.
Flood vehicles
If water exclusively caused the salvage or nonrepairable condition, a "Flood Damage" remark is placed on the title and carried forward.

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Title brands in Texas

Salvage Vehicle Title
Issued when repairs to a vehicle with damaged or missing major component parts would exceed its pre-damage actual cash value. The vehicle may not be registered or driven until it is rebuilt and retitled.
Nonrepairable Vehicle Title
For a vehicle damaged, wrecked or burned so that its only value is as parts or scrap. One issued on or after September 1, 2003 may never be rebuilt, retitled or registered.
REBUILT SALVAGE — DAMAGED / LOSS UNKNOWN / 95% PLUS LOSS
The regular title issued after a salvage vehicle is rebuilt. The qualifier depends on which Texas salvage or older nonrepairable document was surrendered.
FLOOD DAMAGE remark
Added when the salvage or nonrepairable condition was caused exclusively by water, and carried forward on later Texas title documents.
FOR EXPORT ONLY / EXPORT ONLY
Stamped on titles of salvage or nonrepairable vehicles sold to non-US residents; the TxDMV record remark blocks any later Texas title or registration.

Red flags specific to Texas

⚠ "For Export Only" vehicle for sale on US roads
The buyer of an export-only vehicle certifies it will leave the US and never be titled or registered in any state under its VIN. One offered for registration anywhere in the US is outside the rules.
⚠ Heavy damage without a brand
Because Texas salvage requires repairs above 100% of actual cash value, a car repaired at a lower percentage of its value carries no brand. Check accident and auction records, not only the title.
⚠ Hail-damaged cars
A vehicle on which an insurer paid a hail-damage repair claim is excluded from the Texas salvage definition, so hail history is rarely visible on the title. Auction photos can show it.
⚠ Rebuilt from a nonrepairable title
A Nonrepairable Vehicle Title issued on or after September 1, 2003 cannot be surrendered for a rebuilt title. If the history shows one, a later road title means the chain was broken somewhere.

Frequently asked questions

When it has damage to, or is missing, a major component part and the cost of repairs exceeds its actual cash value immediately before the damage. Repainting costs and sales tax are excluded, and an insurer-paid hail claim alone does not make a vehicle salvage.

Not if its Nonrepairable Vehicle Title was issued on or after September 1, 2003 — it may not be rebuilt, retitled or registered. Nonrepairable certificates issued before that date are treated as salvage and can be rebuilt.

The vehicle was a salvage vehicle that has been rebuilt and given a regular Texas title. The qualifier (DAMAGED, LOSS UNKNOWN or 95% PLUS LOSS) shows which salvage or older nonrepairable document was surrendered.

File Form 130-U at a county tax assessor-collector's office with the salvage ownership document, the Rebuilt Vehicle Statement (Form VTR-61), an odometer disclosure, proof of insurance and any out-of-state VIN certification, and pay the $65 Rebuilt Salvage Fee plus the title fee.

The salvage or nonrepairable vehicle was sold to a non-US resident who certified it would leave the United States and not be titled or registered in any state. TxDMV marks the record "EXPORT ONLY" and will never title or register it in Texas.

When flood damage makes a vehicle salvage or nonrepairable, TxDMV adds a "Flood Damage" remark to the title and carries it forward on later title documents. Flood damage below the salvage level does not create a brand.

Yes, when the VIN was sold through Copart or IAAI. VINinfohub shows the auction records available for the VIN, including sale data and photos. No report can prove a vehicle has a clean history.

Sources

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

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