Last updated: November 24th, 2022
Reviewed by
Grant Desselle
Licensed Insurance Agent
Table of Contents
You can absolutely get auto insurance on a car with a rebuilt title, but it’s not as simple as writing a check for your first month’s premium. Additionally, out of the insurers that do write policies on these types of vehicles, not all of them offer the same types of coverage or the same limits.
When a car has been in an accident and sustained enough damage, it’s cheaper for the insurance company to replace the vehicle and declare it to be a total loss. If that same car is later repaired back to the point that it can be reliably driven and pass the required safety inspections, it’s eligible for a rebuilt title.
To get insurance for a car with a rebuilt title, most states require that the vehicle passes an official inspection to certify it’s in good running condition. Many states also require that a certified mechanic complete the repair work.
The exact process and requirements for insuring a vehicle with a rebuilt title vary between states. Check with your local DMV for the most accurate guidance.
A salvage title is typically given to a vehicle with damages that will cost more to fix than the vehicle is worth, so the insurance company declares it a total loss. It also applies to some stolen vehicles that are later recovered.
Before becoming roadworthy again, cars with rebuilt titles have salvage titles.
Because cars with salvage titles aren’t considered safe to operate on public roads, you can’t insure them for that usage. The closest you may find to coverage on a salvage vehicle would be spare parts coverage offered by some collector and classic vehicle insurers.
Generally, the best way to get a vehicle with a salvage title on the road again is to have it repaired by a licensed mechanic and inspected by the state so that you can obtain a rebuilt title.
Because the requirements to insure a car with a rebuilt title vary between states, the risk for an insurer usually varies too. Here’s a list of popular auto insurers known for covering vehicles with rebuilt titles:
Looking at the monthly premiums from the previously mentioned insurance companies, the average rebuilt title insurance rate is $2422 for full coverage and $1244 for a liability-only policy.
The following table provides a closer look at how those averages break down across the companies.
| Company | Full Coverage | Liability Only |
| Allstate | $310 |
$168 |
| American Family | $220 | $115 |
| Farmers | $285 | $145 |
| Geico | $180 | $92 |
| Nationwide | $230 | $115 |
| Progressive | $280 | $145 |
| State Farm | $235 | $125 |
If you were buying the same vehicle but with a clean title, you could expect the insurance to be a little cheaper for a few reasons.
From the insurer’s perspective, they’re taking on a higher risk that some issues may not have been fixed, increasing the chance of an accident in the future.
In the event of an accident, it’s hard to tell what existed before when the car was salvaged and what is new damage. This is part of the reason why some companies only offer partial coverage.
Ultimately, the best auto insurance for a rebuilt title will depend on your budget and your coverage concerns. If you’re not worried about damage to your vehicle, a liability-only policy is probably all you need.
However, depending on the state and the car in question, some insurers won’t offer comprehensive or collision coverage at all for cars with rebuilt titles. When possible, it’s best to confirm what rate and coverage you can get on a prospective car with a rebuilt title before purchasing it.
Brian is the founder and CEO of Insurist and carries Life, Health, and Property & Casualty licenses in all 50 U.S. states. Since 2013, Brian has been a member of Million Dollar Round Table, a designation for the top 1% of financial advisors worldwide. Brian has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, Money.com, Entrepreneur.com, Life Happens, Forbes, MSN, and Good Financial Cents. Brian’s goal is to show customers the best products, the quickest answers to their questions, and provide expert advice.
Grant's past experience includes work as a licensed sales agent for Hagerty Insurance. He has reviewed thousands of existing auto policies across the nation and issued hundreds of new ones on everything ranging from classic cars undergoing restoration to modern exotics and motorcycles.
