I'm looking into buying a used Cobalt with 50-70k miles and in the price range of 7K for my teenage son to get around town to school and work. A lot of these vehicles here in the metro Detroit area have salvage titles. Why is that? Do I need to stay away from the salvage titled cars? Thanks.<O</O

 

They are usually vehicles that have been written off by the insurance company as totaled. The company then auctions them off to recoup a few hundred each. Whoever buys them fixes them up and obtains salvage titles. I just looked up and Michigan has a laughable vehicle inspection program. "The inspection fee of up to $100," come on, a half hour job? Just what gets inspected? I myself wouldn't want one of those if it were free (think deathtrap).

 

They can be if you don't know who repairs them. I have bought several over the last 10 years. I know who repairs them and what damage was repaired. I also see them being repaired. At the cost of repairs, it doesn't take a major hit to wipe out a vehicle.

The biggest thing you must remember is you buy it you marry it. Difficult to resell