How to Buy a Salvage Car Online

(Photo : Benhur Emmanuel)

Once upon a time, the only way to purchase a salvage car was in person at a local auto auction. These days, buying a salvage car online can be an excellent way to save money and find a greater variety of cars for sale.

With hundreds of thousands of vehicles and nationwide shipping, A Better Bid offers the ability to do just that: buy a salvage car through the internet. It's easier than ever to buy a car online, from the initial shopping to finalizing the deal. Buying online offers lower prices and a much larger stock than any local auction can compete with.

If you're wondering, "how exactly do I buy a salvage car online?", keep reading!

What does a salvage title mean?

First off, what exactly is a salvage title? Vehicles with a salvage title are illegal to drive and operate. In order to ever legally operate a salvage title vehicle, it would have to be fully repaired and obtain a rebuilt title. 

Should a vehicle sustain damage severe enough to be declared a total loss, meaning the insurance company deems it not worthy to repair based on cost of repairs, it will receive a salvage title. In some states, if the anticipated cost of repairs is as low as 65% of fair market value, it's assigned a salvage title. In some states, that damage must reach 100% of the value.

However, it's very important to note that just because an insurance company declares a car as a total loss doesn't mean it can't be repaired. Typically, the insurer will get quotes from body shops, dealerships, etc., and determine the cost of repairs based on that data. They don't, however, consider that independent mechanics or personal owners can do repairs for a much lower price.

As an example, a dealership may charge $15,000 to repair a certain car that is worth $10,000. The insurance company would deem it a total loss. However, an independent mechanic may be able to fix it for substantially less, and that's where the strength of buying a salvage car online comes into play.

As another example, consider stolen cars. If a car goes missing, most insurance companies will eventually pay out the customer and consider the car as a total loss (since it is, after all, lost). However, the car may turn up at some point in the future. If the car is found, the original owner doesn't get it back, and it ends up going automatically to auction as a salvage title even if it is free of any sort of damage.

It's important to note that a salvage title does not equal a junk title. A junk title means a car is entirely beyond saving and only being sold for parts. A salvage title means the car is inoperable or illegal to drive but can be rebuilt and driven again.

Figure Out Which Salvage Car You Want to Purchase

The first step in buying a salvage car online is figuring out exactly what kind of vehicle you're looking to purchase. A Better Bid offers simple yet in-depth ways to find the perfect car.

After registering and getting your account set up, use the vehicle finder feature to search by make, model, vehicle condition, location and much more. Using the save or watchlist features, bookmark cars that pique your interest.

Next, consider setting up an in-person inspection of the vehicle. With A Better Bid, premium and pro members can preview any vehicle in person up to an hour before the (online) live auction begins. You can not, however, test-drive the vehicle as cars with salvage titles are not registered and cannot be operated on public roads.

Although vehicles are located all around the country, you may have an auction facility within close driving distance. To enter the auction facility, ensure you have an ID, auction bidding number, and the entry fee.

Finally, make sure to purchase a vehicle history report. The listing page will show basic information, but ordering the report will show you an extensive history of the vehicle's services, previous owners,damage and other essential information.

Buy the Salvage Car

After you've found the perfect car to purchase, it's time to bid on it against other buyers. When you buy a salvage car online through A Better Bid, there's a variety of different ways to purchase.

Preliminary Bidding

The first method is preliminary bidding, also known as pre-bidding. One hour before the auction begins, you can place a "maximum" price pre-bid that you're willing to pay for that vehicle. When the auction starts, the highest pre-bid amount will be the starting price of the vehicle.

When the auction begins, the system will automatically bid for you as needed, using a reserve price as a cap. This can be a great way to bid if you're unable to attend the live auction.

Live Bidding

The next method is live bidding during an auction. Before an auction begins, you may access it via the vehicle's listing page or your account's auction dashboard.

Once the vehicle is up for sale, place a bid and continue bidding up to your maximum desired price.

Buy it Now

Finally, many vehicles offer a "Buy It Now" option. This allows you to skip the entire bidding process and purchase the vehicle flat-out.

This is a quick and convenient option that only takes a few minutes. No bidding is required.

Ship the Salvage Car

Finally, it's time to receive the car. When you purchase a vehicle, A Better Bid offers affordable shipping to anywhere in the US or even any port in the world. To get an approximate quote, use the shipping estimator on the vehicle page. For an exact quote, inquire via email or live chat.

After the car is shipped, ownership documents will be processed and sent. From there, you can begin the process of repairing the car and obtaining a rebuilt title.

Buying a Salvage Car Online Is Easy

As you can see, buying a salvage car online is easy, safe, and a great way to save a lot of money. With an extensive inventory, smooth bidding process, and nationwide shipping, A Better Bid is a great way to save money on your next vehicle.

Get started by registering, and start exploring tens of thousands of live online auctions!