Understand the DMV’s process for salvaged, totaled vehicles

Salvage overview

If your insurance company has determined that your vehicle is a "total loss" or the word "salvage" has been stamped on the title, it is illegal to operate this vehicle anywhere in Connecticut.

The registration on this vehicle has been cancelled, and the insurance company has sent the DMV a copy of the title stamped “salvage.” You should remove the plates from your vehicle.

However, the registration and plates on the salvaged vehicle can be transferred to another vehicle.

If you rebuild the salvaged vehicle, you should re-title it. Before you re-titled it, it needs to first pass a salvage inspection.

Note:
If the title is branded "salvage parts only" or "salvage unrebuildable" or "salvage unrepairable", the vehicle can’t be registered or re-titled under any circumstances.

Additional information

If the licensee’s vehicle has a questionable repair, the undercoating, sealer or parts may have to be removed at the request of the Inspector.

The owner of a vehicle that has been declared "salvage" cannot transfer ownership on an Application for Replacement of Title (Form H-6B). The owner must first obtain a duplicate title from the title section which will bear the legend "Salvage".

The owner may then assign the reverse side of the duplicate title to the purchaser.

Note:
A New York State salvage certificate (Form MV907A) isn’t accepted by the Connecticut DMV. MV907A isn’t a title document. In NY the insurance companies issue this form. The customer then needs to bring that form to the inspection facility in NY. Once it passes inspection in NY, the state will issue a new NY title.

Direct your salvage questions to Agent Supervisor Mark Brown in CVSD at 860.263.5079

Call Mark Brown

Salvage inspections

Bring the vehicle in for inspection

A private individual can't drive a salvaged vehicle to the DMV office.

Vehicles may only be brought in on a flatbed trailer (i.e., no wheel of the vehicle may touch the ground).

Wethersfield DMV
Salvage inspections – Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Customers must arrive by 11 a.m.
The salvage inspection fee can be paid at the inspection lane if it wasn’t paid in advance. Customers should provide a phone number and credit card number at the time of inspection.

Licensed Dealer or Repairer

Alternatively, licensed dealers or repairers are authorized, but not obligated, to perform salvage inspections and may only charge $88 for the service. They must retain your completed Form B-256 packet to conduct inspection. Please contact them beforehand to confirm availability. Licensed dealer or repairers must retain completed Form B-256 packet for 2 years.

A passing Salvage Inspection by Licensed Dealer or Repairer, form B-270, will be required to be presented to DMV during registration process.

Fees

$88 for a regular salvage inspection. Form B-256 explains the process for paying this fee if inspection is to be performed by DMV.

Required documents

Receipts for major component parts used in the rebuilding. If a part was taken from a used vehicle, the receipt should specify the serial number (VIN) of that vehicle. The major component parts are:
- Engines
- Cowls
- Transmission
- Frames
- Doors
- Trunk lids
- Front and rear fenders
- Quarter panels
Present a copy of the original insurance appraisal that caused the vehicle title to be stamped “salvage.”
A completed salvaged vehicle repair report (Form K-186)
Attach clear photographs of the repaired/replaced areas of the vehicle to the salvaged vehicle repair report. The photographs must clearly show:
- The entire vehicle by four photos, one from each vehicle corner i.e., left front, right front, left rear, right rear
- The damaged area(s) prior to repairs
- The repaired areas with the new parts/panels installed prior to any seam sealing, painting, or rust proofing
- How the new parts were attached (welding)
- The area prior to painting and corrosion proofing (if the area is no longer visible).
If the vehicle is equipped with an air bag, complete a separate Air Bag Certification Statement (Form B-303).

Fees

$88 for a regular salvage inspection. Form B-256 explains the process for paying this fee.

Next steps

Once the vehicle passes the salvage inspection, you can re-register the vehicle with the old plates or get new plates. You will be issued a new title (without the "salvage" stamp on it) with the words "Rebuilt" printed on it. Once the salvage inspection is performed, the inspection slip does not expire.

Salvaged totaled vehicles