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Titles to avoid
Titles that block registration or make repair cost more than the car.
Do not buy lots with the titles below. The issue is not price: either the car cannot be registered, or restoring it costs more than the car is worth.
Risk categories
- Abandonment — abandoned-vehicle paperwork, notices and procedures
- Junk title — officially declared scrap
- Non-repairable certificate — cannot legally be rebuilt in that state
- Bill of sale — parts only, no VIN, flood damage: sold for parts
- Lien papers and repossession — incomplete paperwork
- Government and court-ordered titles — court restrictions on registration
The rule of thumb
If the title says parts only, junk or non-repairable, or there is no VIN, the lot is off the table no matter how attractive the price.
We check the title of every lot before bidding — it is part of the free selection service.