[emoore924]

In PA a salvage title is the first of two steps to get a car back on the road. It brands the car as a total loss which cannot be driven on the road again. Then, if you repair the vehicle (assuming that can be done) AND you have a "special" inspection of that vehicle to be sure all the damage/loss has been corrected, you can have a "reconstructed" or "R" title issued for the vehicle. With insurance, tagging, titling and inspections, you may drive that vehicle on the road again.

The inspection is stringent. And the devaluation (and repair) follows the vehicle because of the branded title.

As was mentioned, getting insurance for an R title car can be a challenge. Insurance companies don't like them because there can be compromised structural integrity and that can mean risk to passenger safety.

I have heard that some states don't continue the "brand" if the vehicle title passes through their state. I would be interested in hearing whether someone knows that indeed is the case.

This Salvage to Reconstructed title may not work the same way in all states.