I am an RV enthusiast. Being on my second travel trailer, I hesitate to call myself an expert, but with a few thousand miles and a few bumps and bruises under my belt, I know more than the average bear.
We recently bought a new-to-us camper and while we went through the listings, I couldn’t help noticing listing after listing stating that it had a salvage title. Now, these units were generally quite a lot less expensive than a comparable unit with a clean title, but I wasn’t really looking for a fixer-upper that was still twenty grand.
Of course, if you can get a camper for twenty Gs that retails for $45k, then you might still come out ahead. But what happens when it comes time to title it? Are you going to get stuck with an albatross that you can’t title? Let’s take a look and see what I learned experiencing this firsthand.
Does that RV have a salvage title? Can’t tell by looking!
Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Can You Register a Camper with A Salvage Title?
Alight, so first and foremost, a little lesson in title branding is in order. We explain it in great detail here.
So, a junk title means that the vehicle is not only not roadworthy but is also not repairable. A Junk Title cannot be registered for road use ever again. There is no redemption with a Junk title; the vehicle must be scrapped. The Texas DMV states their case very clearly regarding Junk title brands (emphasis added):
“A junk vehicle is not safe to operate on U.S. roads and highways. It should never be titled or registered. The vehicle should only be sold as parts or scraps.”
Since a Junk titled RV is bound for the scrap yard, there are a few things you can do with it. The first thing you can do is sell it for scrap. But you can also strip it of useful parts to have as spares for your next RV, or to sell.
Another lesser-known option is to strip the trailer down to the frame and use it as an Ag-only trailer. Many states have exceptions for trailers used in an agriculture-only capacity when it comes to titling and registering them. Here is an excerpt from the Kansas Highway Patrol:
“Kansas law exempts trailers from registration if the total weight of the trailer and load being carried does not exceed 2,000 pounds. Farm trailers are exempt from registration, unless the load being carried on the trailer exceeds 6,000 pounds.”
A junk RV trailer is a common way for farmers to cheaply build a hay or feed trailer, since there are no titling or registration requirements. But of course, it’s not really an RV anymore, is it? So while this exception does allow new life to be given to otherwise forlorn trailers, it doesn’t help me get a repaired RV trailer back on the road.
RV salvage titles can come from just about anything. Do you know the source?
Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
RV Salvage Titles Are Different
However, a Salvage title is a little different. Yes, the insurance agency is considering the RV unsafe for road use, but they are also saying that it can be repaired. With this in mind, scooping up a trailer with a salvage title could be a great deal.
Now, here’s the catch (there’s always a catch): the RV must be retitled to get rid of the salvage brand on the title.
How Much Does a Salvage Title Devalue a Camper?
It’s really tough to say because there is no formula that covers all situations. Sometimes it is a small but irreparable crack in the frame. Or it could be serious body damage that totals it. Obviously, every situation will have different results in the value of the camper.
The best estimates are somewhere in the ballpark of 25%-50% of the retail value of an RV or trailer is lost when it has a salvage brand title. Again, every case will be different. If the damage is relatively minor but enough to total it, then the devaluation will be less.
Why Would a Camper Have a Rebuilt Title?
A camper would have a rebuilt title if it had already gone through the process of being rebuilt. In most states, the vehicle must be thoroughly inspected for roadworthiness to issue a rebuilt title, so you have some assurance it is in good working order.
If you have an RV with a salvage title, you will need to get it to a rebuilt status, which we can help you with here at Dirt Legal. Oh, and did we mention no inspections? No inspection ever when you work with us.
Our Motorhome Registration Service will get you on the road with less hassle and a longer-term solution than other options. Even with an existing salvage title, we have ways to get your RV or trailer back on the road without inspections or reassessment testing that can be burdensome and costly to succeed at. Click here to learn more about how Dirt Legal can help you.
Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Is It Worth Buying a Camper with a Salvage Title?
Alright, so bottom line up front: is it worth it to buy a salvage titled RV?
This is a really tough question to answer. How handy are you? How much work are you willing to do? Do you have the budget to have a shop do it? You have to budget very closely with this or else you can quickly outpace the cost of a comparable used RV with a clean title. If you can do a lot of the work (or all of the work) yourself and don’t get in over your head, you can probably save a lot of money.
How Much Damage Before an RV Is Considered Totaled?
Again, this is completely dependent on the individual unit, the damage it received, and even the adjustor. Adjustors use standardized internal SOPs and metrics from their company, so it’s tough for us to say for sure.
Most states have some provisions for taking a salvaged title branded vehicle and making it rebuilt. However, they also usually require a vehicle inspection to change the title status. If you would rather not deal with an inspection, then check out our salvage title program. We are your best option for taking a salvage brand title and making it a road-legal rebuilt title with no inspections.
Looks great, might not be. Be thorough in your search.
Flickr: j2davis2005, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Parting Thoughts
First off, you need to remember that junk branded titles cannot ever be titled as roadworthy. Once they are deemed junk, that is all they are. You can scrap them, part them out, or potentially make a farm trailer with no title out of it.
But assuming you want to have a roadworthy RV, you need to make sure it has a salvage title. Our title service is designed to get you titled, registered, and on the road fast so you can enjoy all that savings you have from rehabilitating a salvaged RV, instead of taking trips to your DMV and inspection office. Get your RV or trailer back on the road today with the help of Dirt Legal’s RV & Motorhome Registration Service, and we’ll see you at the campsite!
Cover image via Wikimedia Commons: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
RVs and trailers can get salvage titles from just about anything. From heavy rain to road debris, it’s important to know what you’re getting into - and if that title says “junk” you’ve likely bought exactly that.