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Can I insure a car with a rebuilt title?

I purchased a car thinking it had a clean title. This was not the case— the only reason it has a rebuilt title is because it was impounded by the city of Cleveland, Ohio. If it was impounded it would have to have a clean title, since there was no damage to the car. Can I still insure the car?

Sep 16, 2021 Garfield, OH

Answer
Author profile picture

Renata Balasco

Senior Content Strategist

Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as licensed insurance professional and content strategist.…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • 5 years of experience in the insurance industry

Thanks for reaching out to The Zebra! Rebuilt, or salvage-titled vehicles, can be a little more tricky to deal with but you can still insure them.

To get insurance on a vehicle with a rebuilt title, you need to find the proper insurer since not every company will offer coverage. It’s important to note that most carriers will only insure vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles for liability coverage. Full coverage insurance, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage, isn't an option for a car with a rebuilt title.

Although in this case, you've already purchased the vehicle, we typically suggest looking into a few things if you're considering buying a rebuilt car (or, really, any used vehicle):

  1. Have the vehicle inspected by a reputable mechanic
  2. Do a VIN inspection (many dealerships will do this)
  3. Get repair information or a loss report from the seller for details
  4. Research the vehicle's value through NADA or Kelley Blue Book
  5. Get insurance quotes before purchasing the vehicle (you can use the VIN for this)

You can get an online auto quote or call us at 1-888-255-4364 to speak to one of our Licensed Insurance Advisors. They can assist in finding you the right carrier that best meets your insurance needs, and talk through any additional questions you might have about your situation.

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