Looking at an 08 F-250 crew with the 6.4, Lariat with 3" lift, tires/wheels and cat/DPF delete. Guy bought it at 27k miles with a salvaged title, it was in a rear end collsion and the shop he took it to said they couldnt tell it had been in an accident. Its got 70k now and he has had no problems with it, asking $24k. I did a KBB private party value at "fair" and it came back at $31k. Does $24k sound like a good price with a salvage title? Is there a rule of thumb as to value w a salvage title over something that hasnt been in an accident?
Whats a vehicle with a salvaged title worth?
- Thread starter zach477
- Start date
Well first of with it being a newer vehicle that isn't cheap, it would have had to been in a pretty nasty collision. I would be very leary of the frame being bent, and other issues. The reason is salvaged is because it was totaled by an insurance company and someone bought it and fixed it. Now as far as value, I have always been told they are worth about half of what something with a clear title is worth. I was told this by a few dealers, because I had owned a car that I totaled and rebuilt, it was a pain to sell. Also if your not paying for it in cash I would check with your financial institution. In Washington state you can not finance a vehicle with a salvaged title, not sure if thats nation wide or not?
Thanks for the reply. I have found similar trucks in the area for $28-29k so I think his asking price of $24k is too high. You make a good point i overlooked that it was a $50k truck new and to be totaled at 27k miles it had to be a pretty nasty wreck. I will be paying with cash so financing isnt a problem. I might take a look and drive and go from there, if i like it, offer him $16 or 17k take it or leave it.
Theres a lot of hacks out there that do repairables and ive seen the worst of the worst as they usually come to me after the hack repair has been done. Ive been doing repairables all for 15 years from Frame work to paint, start to finish. Dont usually make a lot on them because Im far too fussy and get a lot of time into them. Ive had a lot of people call and ask what ive done as far as work because they cant tell and being hand fit every panel fits better than factory. In my opinion theres nothing wrong with repairables when done right by a reputable shop. It would be pretty easy to total out a truck like that when a box assy is 7k and a complete frame is 6k, not even getting into the labor and materials part. Id be insulted if you offered me half on something I put that much time and $$ into. 
That is not enough.
I just sold a 06 CC LT with 70k and a salvage for 20k and had my phone ring off the hook. You should save $ but be realistic. The value on a non salvage 25k...percent of discount 21% in this trucks case.
sold a 1997 CC pwrstroke with 111k on it and a salvage title sold it at 11,000 and NADA on this truck is 10575 clean clean top shelf price. My truck was nice but had a salvage title...hmmmmm this one sold for more than a clean title????
Heres the deal they are worth what the market will pay. If you can buy it for 25k never wrecked well its worth 20k IMO..but if the book says you can buy it for 25k and you cant find one of those anywhere....well you willl get a bit more even with a salvage.
You need to evaluate EVERY one and its utility to value a salvage title and you better find out if you can even get the money before you go thinking you are a buyer. CASH buyers rule this market and banks dont like salvage unless you are a solid borrower and or can link to other assets.
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Verify everything.
Carfax etc.
Have it checked by a reputable shop (offer to compensate them for a thorough inspection)
Stay away from water damage.
If you like, I could give you a guys # who can likely find the vehicle you want at a fair price. I'm only 2 hours away from you.
Carfax etc.
Have it checked by a reputable shop (offer to compensate them for a thorough inspection)
Stay away from water damage.
If you like, I could give you a guys # who can likely find the vehicle you want at a fair price. I'm only 2 hours away from you.
KBB/Bluebook is not a great source to price vehicles. NADA is better but I personally like Edmunds.com and use their fair market value based on vehicle options, condition and location.
How many people buy a used totalled rig to resell? I have no problem with totalled titles if the rig is right. Just drive it and check it out and you should be able to determine if the rig is worth it. I bought my wife a Subaru forester last year with totalled title and it is a great vehicle. It had 87,000 on it and I got it for 3,300.00. The nearest similar vehicles had 200,000 miles and were going for over 5,000 dollars. We have put over 20,000 miles on it and it runs great and the few little things I have found not exactly right were little problem to fix. When I decide to sell it it will be salvage. Swampy
Salvage titles are worth nothing to me, always a question mark when selling,
I would say the one thing you want to check on a salvaged vehicle is the straightness of the frame. If it is tweeked, you will never get it aligned and you will destroy tires like no tomorrow.
Its pretty easy to total a truck like what was mentioned above, sometimes insurance companies will total them because they carry a good salvage price and its cheaper than fixing. Seen trucks totaled sell for over 20k and I mean f'd up trucks.
I have seen others rebuild with bent frames get aligned and not wear tires, you would be surprised wait some do and get away with. I've been doing this kind of thing since I was 13 years old with a little help and buy the time I was 18 I was doing it all, I would say I've done well over 100 rebuilds, some clean titles and some rebuilt titles, all I know of are still holding up 17 years later.
But because of other shops around the rep has been ruined, saw one eliminating abs because the didn't want to spend the money to replace or riveting a roof panel on and throwing bondo in it to cover it up. Most of theres loose paint in 1-3 years. The good thing about a $40k truck is they plan on spending money to do it right.
The good thing about this one is its been on the road for a while and already proven, I would still give a shop an hourly rate and ask them to find something wrong or if they can find where the paint lines are, rough paint, the little things will show if they are any good. (find a shop that has turned a couple classics and they will find it)
You will never be able to trade it, dealers wont give much if any. I say 30% off, but when you break the $20k mark you can find nice trucks already marked down 2-4k from book. I think 24k is a little high for more than one reason, I think 21-22k is closer to market value. But around here the powerstroke 6.0L and 6.4L aren't worth half of book unless under warranty and with a rebuilt title its void.
resale is a real killer, but sometimes not so bad just depends, keep it clean and do not add performance mods, just another reason to turn away buyers.
We sell them all though and never lost money so there is a market, the local banks pretty much want it to be sold 30% back of book and then the buyer to come up with 20% of book, so they are only in it for half. Around here everyone uses NADA for retail values, so check both to see whats up. Or test drive it to a dealer and act like its yours and ask them what you think they could get you on trade or consignment, that should give a good idea on value.
I have seen others rebuild with bent frames get aligned and not wear tires, you would be surprised wait some do and get away with. I've been doing this kind of thing since I was 13 years old with a little help and buy the time I was 18 I was doing it all, I would say I've done well over 100 rebuilds, some clean titles and some rebuilt titles, all I know of are still holding up 17 years later.
But because of other shops around the rep has been ruined, saw one eliminating abs because the didn't want to spend the money to replace or riveting a roof panel on and throwing bondo in it to cover it up. Most of theres loose paint in 1-3 years. The good thing about a $40k truck is they plan on spending money to do it right.
The good thing about this one is its been on the road for a while and already proven, I would still give a shop an hourly rate and ask them to find something wrong or if they can find where the paint lines are, rough paint, the little things will show if they are any good. (find a shop that has turned a couple classics and they will find it)
You will never be able to trade it, dealers wont give much if any. I say 30% off, but when you break the $20k mark you can find nice trucks already marked down 2-4k from book. I think 24k is a little high for more than one reason, I think 21-22k is closer to market value. But around here the powerstroke 6.0L and 6.4L aren't worth half of book unless under warranty and with a rebuilt title its void.
resale is a real killer, but sometimes not so bad just depends, keep it clean and do not add performance mods, just another reason to turn away buyers.
We sell them all though and never lost money so there is a market, the local banks pretty much want it to be sold 30% back of book and then the buyer to come up with 20% of book, so they are only in it for half. Around here everyone uses NADA for retail values, so check both to see whats up. Or test drive it to a dealer and act like its yours and ask them what you think they could get you on trade or consignment, that should give a good idea on value.
Thanks for all the help guys. I need to pay cash so 20-21k is all i can afford. To be honest the price of 24k didnt seem to bad, but I didnt know what % of market value a salvaged title goes for. I spoke with a buddy who is sales manager for a huge dealership in SE SD and he said in the last 10 years they have taken 2 trucks on trade with salvage titles and it was basically to make the sale of a new truck (w/o salvage title the trade in truck was worth less than $6k). It does have 20" rims with tires and he said its got about 50% tread and he has the recepts from when he bought the tires so I will know how many miles are one the tires and see how they are wearing. Now the only thing I'm wondering is if i want a 6.4 at all. This doesnt have a chip but it does have cold air intake, sounds like the 6.4 is a lot like the 6.o, love it or hate it.
hate a 6.4 if your a tard. obviously no waranty so get rid of ALL the emissions stuff and your gonna be rock solid. keep it on and watch the motor die a slow death. they hold up 10x better without all that garbage... and let the tuning begin!
FWIW, I bought an 06 Dakota Quad 4x4 with 9k mikes and a salvage title. Shop I bought it from said I could be his inspector for cars due to my fine tooth comb inspection.
That was almost 5 years ago and the truck now has 90k. Not an issue @ all.
I knew I would drive it till the wheels fell off and did not expect it to be of any resale value.
In 06, I paid the same for it as the going price for 4 year old trucks exactly like it. Same truck non-salvage, with similar miles was about about 60% more $.
Buyer beware, but there are deals to be had if you are careful.
That was almost 5 years ago and the truck now has 90k. Not an issue @ all.
I knew I would drive it till the wheels fell off and did not expect it to be of any resale value.
In 06, I paid the same for it as the going price for 4 year old trucks exactly like it. Same truck non-salvage, with similar miles was about about 60% more $.
Buyer beware, but there are deals to be had if you are careful.
The 6.0 and 6.4 is basically the same engine just slightly different and the 6.4 has more electronics and a extra turbo, they are junk in my opinion but I have seen a few hold up. If you leave it alone the only thing you can get away with is a cold air intake and exhaust, if you go farther than that you want to remove all the bs emissions stuff like mentioned above. If I had to run one the first thing I would do is a egr delete, if it fails it will most likely take out the rest. When comparing to the others there is nothing about the 6.0-6.4 that is better, other than its in a truck with a heavier suspension and axles ( rides like a tank) but holds up the best to abuse. There are ways to make it last, but 9 of 10 that I have seen don't make it trouble free very long, some minor some major. In reality the newer the truck the worse they get, no matter the name, still hoping the new ford diesel holds up like some think it will.
I bought a '98 Ranger 2wd 4 banger in '99 for $6,500 from my uncle on a salvage title. He bought it wrecked at auction and fixed it up. It had 4,500 miles at the time. It's my daily driver to this day and it now has over 234,000 miles on it. I'll never own another vehicle that's so reliable. It's worth next to nothing, but I love that little truck and I'm gonna drive it till the wheels fall off. 
M
mulestar
Well-known member
Bought a salvaged 2000 F-350 in 2002, from a guy in my town who had a reputation. I told him I was looking and that the dealer in town told me that he could pick out a salvage truck from a mile away. We were walking across his yard, he stops, turns and says, "I will put any of my rebuilds up against any of his brand new ones, as far as fit and finish goes, he doesn't have a chance." So I bought it, it had 45,000 when I bought it, sold it to my brother at 111,000. The only thing that I ever had to work on was a rear end sensor that went bad. $30 and 15 minutes laying in the parking lot of a dealer in Miles City, MT and gone again. The bro has 145,000 on it now. Best truck I ever owned, wished to hell I would have never sold it.
I agree it has to come from someone reputable, financing was a snap, at least in MT. Resale will not be as bad as you think, at least with that truck, mainly because it was the 7.3. If the 6.4's have a bad reputation, you might take a butt-kicking, but in my case the lines came together and the truck's value was the same as a clean title, after a few years of course.
The old man has a 2002 with 200,000 on it now, regular oil changes and some front end work at around the 200,000 mark. Not bad.
I agree it has to come from someone reputable, financing was a snap, at least in MT. Resale will not be as bad as you think, at least with that truck, mainly because it was the 7.3. If the 6.4's have a bad reputation, you might take a butt-kicking, but in my case the lines came together and the truck's value was the same as a clean title, after a few years of course.
The old man has a 2002 with 200,000 on it now, regular oil changes and some front end work at around the 200,000 mark. Not bad.
C
Clarke673
Somewhere between too dumb to quit and flat earth
x2, i HATE fords. HATE them. up untill 08. the 6.4 is a great truck and if you knew me you would know that my bowtie shaped blood cells are angry at me for say that.
I would sy offer him $22,000.
C
Clarke673
Somewhere between too dumb to quit and flat earth
Are you compairing the ford to a chevy ifs? I agree that their suspension set up is WAY better than dodge and probubly is stronger to overall abuse than a chevy ( i used to break tie rods in my 06 duramax all the time). BUT, i will bet the title to my truck and a case of beer that if two equally set up 2011 ford and chevys going down the same dirt road every day until you wore out a drivetrain part...the ford would be the first to loose with ball joints going out. Especialy if they were lifted and or running over size tires. Same as a dodge.
