What is a Branded Title?

When you order a vehicle history report, one of the things that comes back is any title brands on the vehicle. 

A branded title tells you a lot about a vehicle’s past, and can help you to better determine whether you’re getting a good deal or if you should walk away from the sale. 

This page will cover the basics of branded titles so you can be better prepared for shopping for a used car. 

What does branded title mean? 

A certificate of title contains a lot of important information about the car. 

A title brand is something that every state uses to keep track of a vehicle’s history. 

In general, a branded title indicates that a particular car has experienced major damages, problems, or above-average wear.

To be more specific, a branded title means one or more of the following:

• A car has been declared a total loss. 
• There have been major damages due to flood, fire, hail, etc. 
• There are odometer issues with the vehicle. 
• The vehicle was used for commercial purposes such as taxi, police, etc. 

Cars with branded titles tend to be significantly cheaper than the same vehicle with a clean title. 

On the other hand, reselling, financing, insuring, and fixing a branded title vehicle can be much more costly and difficult. 

You can determine whether a vehicle has a branded title by checking on the title status. 

You can typically find any existing title brands in the section labeled “Vehicle History” or “Brands” on the certificate of title. 

Common Types of Branded Titles

Some title brands are more common than others, and are typically found in every state. 

These include:

• Salvage titles. 
• Rebuilt titles. 
• Odometer Flags. 
• Water/Flood Damage. 

Salvage Title

A salvage title brand is applied when a car has been in a collision and has been declared a total loss by the insurance company. 

This happens when the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds that current market value of the vehicle. 

In many cases, these types of vehicles will be sold at auction for parts or repair, but the title will be updated to reflect the salvage brand. 

Learn more: What is a Salvage Title?

Rebuilt Title

A rebuilt title is applied after a vehicle with a salvage title has been repaired, inspected, and certified that it can be registered and driven again. 

While vehicles with rebuilt titles can be registered and driven on public roads, not every insurance company will provide you with a policy. And, if you plan to sell it in the future, finding a buyer may be more difficult.

Learn more: What is a Rebuilt Title?

Odometer Flags

Odometer branded titles indicate that there has been an issue identified with the vehicle’s reported mileage. 

In most cases, this means that the listed mileage is lower than the actual mileage. This can be due to intentional fraud, mechanical errors, rollovers, etc. 

Water/Flood Damage

Flood Damage or Water Damage title brands indicate that the vehicle has sustained significant damage after being submerged, flooded, or otherwise heavily damaged by water. 

Water and flooding can cause serious, long-lasting damage to a car. Things like rust, mold, mildew, and engine damage can be difficult to spot and expensive to fix. 

It’s a good idea to think twice about purchasing a flood damaged vehicle. 

List of Title Brands