As Texas Endures Flood, Salvage Issues Remain

• By: Jeff Martin
• On: 08/29/2022 13:37:54
• In: Texas Posts
• Comments: 0

Salvage or Nonrepairable Motor Vehicle with a Texas Title

Flood Damage is a title remark used by the TxDMV initially indicated on a Salvage or Nonrepairable Vehicle Title to denote that the damage to the vehicle was caused exclusively by flood. This remark is carried forward on subsequent title documents. All requirements for Salvage or Nonrepairable Vehicle Titles and sale restrictions apply.
 
However, it may take weeks for these remarks to appear on a title, and there may be some instances when the remarks never appear. All dealerships and buyers will be vulnerable during this time. 
 
When a licensed insurance company acquires ownership or possession of a salvage or nonrepairable motor vehicle with a Texas title, it must obtain a Nonrepairable or Salvage Vehicle Title before selling or transferring ownership of the vehicle. Straightforward, right? Ah, if only the world were that easy.

Suppose the insurance company pays a claim on a salvage or nonrepairable motor vehicle, and the owner retains the motor vehicle as a part of the settlement. In that case, the owner must obtain a Nonrepairable or Salvage Motor Vehicle Title before selling or otherwise transferring ownership of the salvage or nonrepairable motor vehicle. In this instance, the insurance company is required to submit an Owner Retained Report (Form VTR 436) to the TxDMV stating that the insurance company paid a claim on the motor vehicle and has not acquired ownership of the motor vehicle.

The insurance company must submit Form VTR-436 before the 31st day after the date of the payment of the claim. Once the form is received by TxDMV, it is typically processed within 10 business days.
 
An individual who retains a salvage or nonrepairable motor vehicle is required to complete Form VTR-441, Application for Salvage or Nonrepairable Vehicle Title.
 
An individual can possess what appears to be a clean title on a vehicle deemed salvage (flood) for over a month before any remarks appear on the title. If the individual doesn't submit VTR-441, the system is dependent on the insurance company to report, which doesn't happen overnight. 

Once the TxDMV receives Form VTR-436, it will mark the motor vehicle record with the appropriate remarks to prevent registration or transfer of ownership of the motor vehicle until the owner applies for the appropriate ownership document.

Until a Salvage or Nonrepairable Vehicle Title is issued for an owner retained vehicle, the owner may not sell or otherwise transfer ownership of the vehicle; or operate or permit operation of the vehicle on a public highway. Unfortunately, enforcement regarding these requirements is unknown.

If the owner of the flooded vehicle does not have comprehensive insurance coverage, there is a good chance the vehicle title will never reflect the fact the vehicle was flooded.
 
As you can see, dealers and consumers face considerable risk of receiving a vehicle determined by an insurance company as a Salvage or Nonrepairable prior to Form VTR-436 being processed by TxDMV for an owner retained nonrepairable/salvage vehicle and the information being recorded. And if there is no insurance involved, the risk is even greater.
 
TxDMV has a flood damage checklist that includes additional resources dealers can use to protect their investment.