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If a vehicle has been involved in an accident and declared to be a total loss by the owner or the insurance company, the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will brand it with a salvage title. 

Generally, a salvage title car cannot be driven on public roads in West Virginia until it has been adequately repaired, inspected, rebranded as “rebuilt” or “revived”, registered, and insured. 

This page will cover the salvage title process in West Virginia, and provide you with tips on how to get a salvage vehicle back on the road. 

For official information or questions about your specific situation, please contact your local West Virginia DMV office or visit the official DMV website:

What is a Salvage Title in West Virginia?

Like many other states, a salvage title in West Virginia means that the vehicle has been reported to the DMV to be a total loss, wrecked, or damaged to the point where it is no longer roadworthy. 

To get a salvage certificate of title, you’ll need to submit the following to the WV DMV:

  • The current title assigned to you. 
  • A completed Salvage Certificate Application (Form DMV-SV-1). 
  • A completed odometer disclosure statement, if applicable. 
  • Payment for the $22.50 fee. 

Submit copies of these items to the DMV for processing. 

West Virginia salvage title cars cannot be driven until they have been repaired and inspected. 

Vehicles that have been branded as junk or non-repairable cannot be re-registered. 

How to Get a Salvage Title Cleared in West Virginia

Once you’ve received a salvage title, you’ll need to take the following steps to get it re-branded as a reconstructed title:

  1. Take before photos of the vehicle showing the front, rear, left, and right sides. 
  2. Keep all receipts and bills of sale for parts, equipment, materials, and labor used in the rebuild. 
  3. Transport the vehicle to a WV State Police inspection station to pass a safety inspection. 
  4. Take the vehicle to a WV DMV reconstructed vehicle inspector. 

After the inspections have been passed, you’ll need to submit the following items to the DMV to apply for a rebuilt title:

  • Your salvage title. 
  • The Reconstructed Vehicle Examination Report (Form DMV-SV-3). 
  • The Certificate of Inspection (Form DMV-202-TR). 
  • Payment for the $35 inspection fee and any other fees that may apply. 

For more details and inspection schedules, check out WV DMV’s Salvage Vehicle Pamphlet: https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/DMVFormSearch/How-to-Title-a-Reconstructed-Vehicle.pdf 

Register a Salvage Title Car in West Virginia

Once a reconstructed title has been issued, you’ll be able to register the vehicle again. 

Visit your local WV DMV office and:

  • Complete a license plate application. 
  • Provide proof of ownership. 
  • Provide proof of car insurance. 
  • Pay your registration fees and taxes. 

Related Pages:

Next Steps

If you’re in the market to buy, sell, or register a salvage title vehicle in West Virginia, VINvaquero.com has the free resources you need to get back on the road. 

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