A salvage motor vehicle means the vehicle was damaged to the extent that the cost for repair, which includes materials and labor, was more than the vehicle was worth before it was damaged. Insurance companies usually make this determination.
A vehicle with any of the NMVTIS brands listed below is considered a salvage vehicle in Texas. In order for this vehicle to be operated on a road again, it must first be rebuilt and inspected. Otherwise, the vehicle is only eligible for a salvage title, nonrepairable title, or for authority to dispose of the vehicle.
| NMVTIS Brand | Description |
| Fire Damage | Vehicle was damaged by fire. |
| Owner Retained | Vehicle was declared by the insurance company to be a total loss but the owner maintains possession and ownership of the vehicle. |
| Salvage - Damage or Not Specified | Any vehicle which has been wrecked, destroyed or damaged, to the extent that the total estimated or actual cost of parts and labor to rebuild or reconstruct the vehicle to its pre-accident condition and for legal operation on roads or highways exceeds a jurisdiction-defined percentage of the retail value of the vehicle. Also includes any vehicle to which an insurance company acquires ownership pursuant to a damage settlement, or any vehicle that the vehicle's owner may wish to designate as a salvage vehicle by obtaining a salvage title, without regard to extent of the vehicles damage and repairs. |
| Salvage - Reasons Other Than Damage or Stolen | Any vehicle the reporting jurisdiction considers salvage for a reason other than it was damaged or stolen. For example, this brand could be applied if an abandoned motor vehicle was towed away at the request of law enforcement, and an owner never claimed the vehicle. |
| Salvage Retention | Vehicle is branded salvage and kept by the owner |
| Salvage - Stolen | This vehicle was previously reported as stolen. An insurance claim was paid out on this vehicle, and the reporting jurisdiction therefore reported this vehicle as salvage. You should contact the reporting jurisdiction to ensure the vehicle is no longer considered stolen. |
- Learn the exact damage to the vehicle.
- Consider the vehicle's insurability and resale value.
- Have the vehicle inspected by a reputable mechanic.
- Get a vehicle title history report and a history of the vehicle's maintenance records.