A salvage inspection in New York is required to get a new title for your rebuilt or salvaged vehicle. An application, fee, proof of ownership, receipts for all replacement parts used in the rebuild and other documentation are required for an inspection examination.
The first step is to set up an examination date and time with the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. You’ll need to transport your vehicle to the inspection site as without a title it is illegal to drive the vehicle to the inspection, without a temporary transport permit. If your vehicle passes the salvage inspection, you should receive a salvage title in three to five weeks.
- A salvage vehicle examination is required in New York to get a new title certificate and registration for a salvaged vehicle. This inspection must be done before the vehicle will be street legal.
- The fee for the inspection is $200.
- The inspection, which is administered through the state’s DMV Division of Field Investigations Auto Theft Unit is an additional inspection that ensures the vehicle is not stolen and no stolen parts were used in rebuilding it.
What is a salvage vehicle exam in New York?
You can only get a new title certificate and registration for a rebuilt salvage vehicle in New York once the car passes a salvage vehicle examination. This inspection is also required for rebuilt salvage vehicles coming from other states. The inspection is conducted by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and requires an application, a fee, proof of ownership and additional documentation regarding the rebuild.
According to the New York DMV, the salvage vehicle examination is not a safety inspection, emissions inspection or insurance examination. Instead, it is a separate and additional examination conducted by DMV investigators and administered through the state’s DMV Division of Field Investigations Auto Theft Unit. The salvage vehicle examination is done to determine if a rebuilt salvage vehicle is stolen or if stolen parts were used during the rebuild.
The salvage vehicle examination program also does the following:
- Protects consumers
- Locates stolen items
- Prevents the theft of vehicles and vehicle parts
Applying for a salvage vehicle inspection
Before setting up a salvage title inspection, you will need to prepare your vehicle for inspection and gather all of the documents and the proof of ownership required on form MV-83SAL (Application for Salvage Vehicle Examination).
You will also need to make sure that your vehicle is safe for use on the road. If the DMV investigator determines that the vehicle is not roadworthy, they will cancel the inspection. All repairs must be done and all replacement parts installed before the inspection. For example, you need to install a new airbag to replace an activated airbag or an airbag that was removed from the salvage vehicle. A used airbag from another vehicle cannot be installed.
You must also show a sales receipt for each of the replaced parts or your proof of ownership for other vehicles that you used to supply replacement parts. These proofs must show the complete VIN of the vehicle and must match the correct parts included in the rebuilt vehicle.
You can only apply for a salvage vehicle examination by mail. Follow the instructions below:
- Download and complete form MV-83SAL (Salvage Application/Title Application). This form replaces forms MV-899 (Application for Salvage Vehicle Examination) and MV-82, which were previously used by the DMV.
- Carefully read the instructions on form MV-83. Make sure that you provide all the information that is requested on the forms.
- Fill out the form online, print it and submit it with the required documents and payment to the Albany, New York address provided on the form. The required documents include the original proof of ownership for the vehicle and the sales tax receipt (FS-6T) you received at a DMV office.
- Make your personal check or money order payable to “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.” The fee is $200 if you send form MV-907A (NYS Salvage Certificate) as proof of ownership. If you do not send form MV907A as proof of ownership, the fee is $205.
Transporting your vehicle to a salvage inspection in New York
Once you have applied for the salvage inspection, the New York DMV will send a letter with the date, location and time of your examination appointment. The letter also includes a mailing address and a telephone number if you must contact the DMV before your examination. You can also include an email in your application, which allows for an appointment to be set up more quickly.
Once your appointment is set, you will need to legally transport your vehicle to the examination facility for your salvage inspection. In order to legally drive your vehicle to the examination facility, you must have a driver’s license, a valid registration, liability insurance and a temporary transport permit.
Other legal methods for transporting your vehicle to the examination include:
- Towing the vehicle
- Transporting the vehicle on a flatbed truck
- Using a dealer plate or transporter plate that complies with the laws that regulate them
If your vehicle arrives at the examination facility and has illegal vehicle plates or an illegal vehicle registration, you can receive a ticket, and the DMV will hold the vehicle until you can transport it legally. Do not arrive more than 30 minutes late or your appointment may be rescheduled.
Read more: How much does car insurance cost in New York?
Typically, if your salvage vehicle passes the examination, you will receive the title in three to five weeks. A New York state title certificate issued for a rebuilt salvage vehicle is branded “Rebuilt Salvage.”
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive a car with a salvage title in NY?
Sure, as long as you have had the vehicle properly rebuilt and it has passed all of the required inspections. Once the New York DMV has inspected the vehicle and issued a salvage title you should be able to register and license the vehicle to legally drive in New York. In addition to a title, registration and plates you will need to provide proof of insurance to legally drive. According to the New York DMV, drivers must carry:
- $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident
- $10,000 for property damage for a single accident
- $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident
How long does a New York salvage inspection take?
According to the New York DMV, the inspection should only take 30 minutes. It is important to arrive on time, if you are more than 30 minutes late, the inspection will be cancelled, and you will need to schedule another one and pay another inspection fee.
Can you sell a car with a salvage title in NY?
Absolutely, but you must provide the new owner with a disclosure statement regardless of the vehicle’s age according to the New York DMV. The disclosure statement is on the back of the vehicle’s title certificate.
There are penalties if you fail to fill out the disclosure, which include a maximum fine of $2,000, and any additional penalties described in the New York State Penal Law.
While you are legally able to sell a salvage title vehicle, they are typically more difficult to sell than a vehicle with a standard title as potential buyers may have concerns about a rebuilt vehicle.
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. “Prepare for a Salvage Vehicle Examination.” Accessed August 2024.
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. “Transport a Vehicle to a Salvage Vehicle Examination.” Accessed August 2024.
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. “Salvage Examination Application.” Accessed August 2024.
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