http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/car/631590200.html

I asked the seller why it had a "salvage" title, and here was his reply:

Hello, the car was lightly damage in the right front corner, by the head
light, but is being fix and shows no damage at all.

Interesting... wonder what sort of "light damage" it has that would total the car?

One damaged light - obveously!

Hey everyone, just to let you know, our 89TC came with a salvage title. There was only damage to the hood, drivers fender, grill and headlights. The guy was just to lazy to look for parts. We now have it fixed and it is in the paint shop as we speak, 24,000 miles on it and we are anxious to start driving it. Does anybody know how to control the weather? If it weren't for rain, snow and cold, we wouldn't have any here in Minnesota. Our body man said there was no way that should have had a salvage title. So, it does happen. Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents.

bmodman,

That is why I'm asking if there was another reason for the salvage title. If you own a vehicle and it gets totalled and you opt to keep the car anyways, the inusrance company will give you 90% of the value (or something like that) vs 100% of the fair market value. It does not affect the title status at all. Vehicles that are stolen, or are considered totaled and have been bought by the insurance company (to be sold for scrap) or have been abandoned and need to be retitled are the ones that get salvage titles.

I don't have a problem with a salvage title, unless the reasons given for it are really sketchy. Then I wonder what the real history is...