A salvage vehicle is a vehicle that has been wrecked, destroyed or damaged to such extent that the insurance company considers it uneconomical to repair it.
These vehicles can be repaired and re-sold in certain circumstances. If you have a salvage vehicle, you will need to title it. Salvage titles usually display the word "Salvage" across the title to distinguish them from a regular title.
AUTO AUCTIONS: An original “Power of Attorney” (POA) is required to remain on file with the Motor Vehicle Agency with whom you choose to manage your business. Download POA guidelines [pdf]
AUTO AUCTIONS:
An original “Power of Attorney” (POA) is required to remain on file with the Motor Vehicle Agency with whom you choose to manage your business. Download POA guidelines [pdf]
To request a salvage title, you must have the following items:
- New Jersey title assigned to an insurance company with the company’s New Jersey sales tax satisfied stamp
- $60 title fee and $25 penalty fee, if applicable
- Insurance listing sheet (BA-28) and statement from insurance company as to how the vehicle was acquired. The Insurance sheet must also include:
- Actual cash value
- Type of loss
- Damage estimate
- Year, make and serial number
- If there is a lien on the face of the title, it must be properly satisfied prior to issuance of salvage title
Agency locations where salvage titles are issued:
- Requests for Salvage Titles can only be processed at select motor vehicle agencies. Download the complete list of salvage title agency locations [pdf]:
- EATONTOWN
- FLEMINGTON
- MANAHAWKIN
- NORTH BERGEN
- RUNNEMEDE
- SALEM
- SOMERVILLE
- WASHINGTON
- TRENTON (*mail only)
A SALVAGE TITLE WITH A "STOLEN" STOP
For the MVC to process a salvage title with a stolen stop on it, the following documentation must be submitted:
- An insurance listing sheet or letter, on insurance company letterhead, explaining that the vehicle for which a salvage titled is requested is an un-recovered theft and that a salvage title must be issued in order for the insurance company to close the claim associated with the loss.
- The insurance listing sheet or letter must be signed by an authorized representative of the insurance company and must include: the type of loss (unrecovered theft), the vehicle owner's name, and the year, make, make, and serial number of the vehicle reported as being stolen.
- Actual cash value of the vehicle on the insurance listing sheet.
- A copy of the police report issued by the police department listed on the stolen stop.
- An original NJ title, with all areas properly filled out.
- A properly completed Power of Attorney; if applicable.
To request a salvage title, insurance company (by mail only):
Follow the step-by-step guide [pdf] to salvage title applications by insurance companies when a vehicle owner fails to remit an original title:
- Claim was paid to the owner
- Official request for title was sent
- Vehicle is a total loss (salvage)
- Lien satisfied, if applicable
- Owner has not complied with official request to send title to insurance company
To request a salvage or junk title, in the salvage processor’s name (by mail only):
Follow the step-by-step guide [pdf] to obtain a salvage or junk title by the salvage processor:
- Claim was paid to the owner
- Vehicle is a total loss (salvage)
- Lien satisfied, if applicable
- Certified lien search, if applicable
- Insurer has not taken ownership of the vehicle
- Insurer has authorized the salvage processor to release the vehicle to the owner or lienholder
- Notice sent to owner and any lienholder that the insurer has authorized the salvage processor to release the vehicle
- Owner or lienholder has not claimed the vehicle with 60 days from the date of notification by the salvage processor
Hurricane Sandy
*Follow the modified step-by-step guide [pdf] to salvage title applications by insurance companies when a vehicle owner fails to remit an original title:
Mail required documentation to:
NJ Motor Vehicle Commission
Special Title/Salvage Unit
225 E State Street
PO Box 017
Trenton, New Jersey 08666-0017
To request a salvage title submitted by an insurance company* for an out-of-state vehicle, you must have the following:
- Out-of-state title properly assigned to the insurance company
- $60 title fee – no penalty fee on out-of-state title. If there is a New Jersey Dealer Reassignment with a late date, the fee is $25
- Completed ISM/SS-61 form, with New Jersey Sales Tax Satisfied stamp
- Insurance listing sheet (BA-28), statement from insurance company as to how the vehicle was acquired
- If there is a lien on the face of the title, it must be properly satisfied prior to issuance of salvage title
- Letter on official letterhead from out-of-state insurance company for each vehicle, stating that they are licensed to do business and write policies in New Jersey. Letter must also include:
- Year, make and model
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- An explanation as to why you are requesting a salvage New Jersey title
* Salvage titles will only be issued to out-of-state insurance companies if they are authorized to do business in New Jersey.
To convert a salvage title to a standard title on a vehicle eight years or older that does not need an inspection, you must have the following:
- Salvage Title
- $60 title fee
- Before and after photos of the vehicle – all sides
- Receipts for parts with full vehicle description, year, make and VIN
- Work order
- Damage report from insurance company
You must submit all of the required documents to:
NJVMC Special Title Unit
PO Box 017
Trenton, NJ 08666-0017
(609) 292-6500 ext. 5063
Transactions will not be done while customer waits. Processing time for these transactions will take a minimum of three weeks.
Possible reasons your title may be rejected:
- Incomplete assignment
- Improper fees, penalties
- Alterations, erasures, etc.
- Improper signatures – power of attorney
- Incorrect or missing supporting documents (police reports, statements, estimates, etc.)
- NOTE: We do not issue titles to out-of-state residents