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Total loss threshold by state: the comparison table
No single official page lines the states up. This table does, using only words each state prints. Sort a column, or filter by name or kind of rule.
This is a reference to quoted official text, not legal, tax, insurance or professional advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency before acting.
Total Loss Threshold is an independent reference. It is not a government site and is not affiliated with any state agency, legislature or insurance company.
| State | Kind of rule | Quoted threshold or definition | Citation as printed | Rebuilt inspection | Fee sentence quoted | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Percentage | damaged greater than or equal to 75 percent of the fair retail value | None printed on the pages we read | Quoted | $90 inspection fee in certified funds (cashier’s check or money order) | revenue.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | No damage definition found | No damage definition or percentage found on the pages we could read | None printed on the pages we read | Quoted | The fee for a Salvage title is $15. | dmv.alaska.gov |
| Arizona | Wording, no sum to do | considers it uneconomical to repair the vehicle | 28-2091 - Salvage certificate of title | Quoted | For a level two inspection, twenty dollars. For a level three inspection, fifty dollars. | azleg.gov |
| Arkansas | Percentage | equal to or exceeding seventy percent (70%) of its average retail value | 27 CAR § 14-101. Definitions | Not found | None found | codeofarrules.arkansas.gov |
| California | Wording, no sum to do | considers it uneconomical to repair | Total Loss Salvage Vehicle (VC §544) | Quoted | All fees due, including the $50 Salvage/Dismantled Vehicles Inspection fee and the Substitute Plate fee. | dmv.ca.gov |
| Colorado | Repair cost against value | exceeds the vehicle's retail fair market value immediately prior to the damage | 42-6-102. Definitions. | Quoted | None found | leg.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | Wording, no sum to do | that has been declared a total loss | Sec. 14-16c. Insurance companies', persons', firms' or corporations' duties re totalled vehicles and certificates of title. | Quoted | The fee for any inspection required by the provisions of this section shall be eighty-eight dollars. | cga.ct.gov |
| Delaware | Wording, no sum to do | transferred as salvage as a result of a total loss insurance settlement | 2512. Transfer for salvage. | Quoted | presented at the time of request in addition to a fee of $15. | delcode.delaware.gov |
| Florida | Percentage | is 80 percent or more of the cost to the owner of replacing | Definitions; dismantling, destruction, change of identity of motor vehicle, vessel, or mobile home; salvage. | Quoted | The customer will be charged an inspection fee of $40. If the vehicle fails inspection, there will be a $20 fee charged for each additional inspection needed. | leg.state.fl.us |
| Georgia | Wording, no sum to do | would require the replacement of two or more component parts | None printed on the pages we read | Quoted | Check, money order, or certified funds made payable to the Department of Revenue in the amount of $118 for the inspection and title fees. The commissioner shall be authorized to charge a fee of $100.00 for each initial inspection of each motor vehicle. | dor.georgia.gov |
| Idaho | Wording, no sum to do | the cost of parts and labor minus the salvage value makes it uneconomical to repair or rebuild | 49-123. Definitions — V. | Not found | None found | legislature.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Wording, no sum to do | makes a payment of damages on a total loss claim | Sec. 3-117.1. When junking certificates or salvage certificates must be obtained. | Quoted | None found | ilga.gov |
| Indiana | Wording, no sum to do | manufactured within the last seven model years that have been wrecked or damaged | None printed on the pages we read | Quoted | $15 title application fee. | in.gov |
| Iowa | Percentage | exceeds seventy percent of the fair market value | 321.52 Out-of-state sales — junked, dismantled, wrecked, or salvage vehicles. | Quoted | The owner shall pay a fee of fifty dollars at the time the examination is scheduled. The $53 exam fee must be paid online by credit card to complete the approval process prior to inspection. | legis.iowa.gov |
| Kansas | Percentage | is 75% or more of the fair market value | 8-197. Definitions. | Quoted | A charge of $20 per hour or part thereof, with a minimum charge of $20, shall be made to the owner of a vehicle requesting check under this subsection, and such charge shall be paid prior to the check under this section. a fee of $5 shall be collected from the owner of such vehicle requesting the inspection for the notice required under this paragraph. | ksrevisor.gov |
| Kentucky | Percentage | exceeds seventy-five percent (75%) of the retail value | 186A.520 Salvage titles -- Conditions for issuance -- Operation of vehicle with salvage title. | Quoted | Fifteen dollars ($15) for an individual person There shall be a fee for this certification, payable to the sheriff's office | apps.legislature.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Percentage | seventy-five percent or more of the market value | §702. Definitions | Quoted | None found | legis.la.gov |
| Maine | Wording, no sum to do | is declared a total loss by an insurer or owner | §602. Definitions | Quoted | None found | legislature.maine.gov |
| Maryland | Percentage | exceeds 75% of the fair market value | §11–152. | Quoted | The inspection fee is $75 | mgaleg.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Wording, no sum to do | considers it uneconomical to repair the vehicle | Chapter 90D Section 1 | Quoted | None found | malegislature.gov |
| Michigan | Percentage | equal to or more than 75% but less than 91% of the predamaged actual cash value equal to or greater than 91% of the predamaged actual cash value | 257.217c Acquisition of salvage, distressed, or older model vehicles; issuance of salvage or scrap certificates of title | Quoted | Each local authority with a police agency shall determine the amount of the fee for inspections by that police agency, that must not exceed $100.00. | legislature.mi.gov |
| Minnesota | Percentage | exceeds 80 percent of its actual cash value | 168A.151 SALVAGE TITLE; JUNKING CERTIFICATE. | Quoted | A fee of $35 must be paid to the department before the department issues a certificate of title for a vehicle that has been inspected and for which a certificate of inspection has been issued pursuant to subdivision 1. | revisor.mn.gov |
| Mississippi | Wording, no sum to do | as a result of paying a total loss claim | Salvage Vehicles Regulations - Title 35 Part VII Subpart 6 Chapter 05 | Quoted | Salvage Inspection Required Documentation: The inspection fee is $125.00. (Certified Check or Money Order) | dor.ms.gov |
| Missouri | Percentage | exceeds eighty percent of the fair market value | 301.010 | Quoted | The fee for the vehicle examination application shall be twenty-five dollars and shall be collected by the director of revenue at the time of the request for the application | revisor.mo.gov |
| Montana | Wording, no sum to do | the cost of parts and labor makes it uneconomical to repair the vehicle | 61-3-210 | Quoted | The department shall collect an inspection fee of $18.50 from the person requesting the inspection for each salvage vehicle inspected. | archive.legmt.gov |
| Nebraska | Percentage | meets or exceeds seventy-five percent of the retail value | Salvage branded certificate of title; terms, defined. | Quoted | For each identification inspection conducted by a county sheriff, the fee shall be ten dollars For each identification inspection conducted by the patrol, the fee shall be ten dollars | nebraskalegislature.gov |
| Nevada | Percentage | is 65 percent or more of the fair market value | NRS 487.790 | Quoted | Payment: A check or money order for the $10 fee. | leg.state.nv.us |
| New Hampshire | Wording, no sum to do | as having been a total loss | 261:22 Destruction of Vehicles; Total Loss, Salvage, and Rebuilt Vehicles. | Quoted | None found | gencourt.state.nh.us |
| New Jersey | Repair cost against value | equals or exceeds the fair market value of the motor vehicle immediately before it was damaged | § 13:21-22.3 Definitions | Quoted | $200.00 ($100.00 Motorcycles ONLY) The inspection fee is non-refundable and expires in one (1) year. | nj.gov |
| New Mexico | Wording, no sum to do | considers it uneconomical to repair the vehicle | meets the definition of a salvage vehicle as defined in Subsection C of Section 66-1-4.16 NMSA 1978 of the Motor Vehicle Code. | Quoted | None found | mvd.newmexico.gov |
| New York | Percentage | more than 75% of the pre-damage retail value | None printed on the pages we read | Quoted | $200 - if you have a NY State Salvage Certificate (MV-907A) as proof of ownership $205 - if your proof of ownership is not a NY State Salvage Certificate (MV-907A) | dmv.ny.gov |
| North Carolina | Percentage | would exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of its fair retail market value | § 20-4.01. Definitions. | Quoted | None found | ncleg.gov |
| North Dakota | Percentage | in excess of seventy-five percent of the vehicle's retail value | 39-05-20.2. Issuance of salvage certificate of title. | Quoted | the salvage certificate of title, and a five dollar fee. | ndlegis.gov |
| Ohio | Wording, no sum to do | declares it economically impractical to repair | Section 4505.11 | Surrender and cancellation of certificate of title - issuance of salvage or rebuilt salvage certificate of title. | Quoted | A fee of fifty dollars shall be assessed by the state highway patrol for each inspection made pursuant to this division Obtain a receipt for the inspection at any Deputy Registrar location for a fee of fifty dollars in addition to the deputy registrar fee. | codes.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | Percentage | exceeds sixty percent (60%) of its fair market value | Section 1105 - Definitions | Quoted | The rebuilt inspection fee is paid only at the time the rebuilt title is issued. | oscn.net |
| Oregon | Percentage | equal to at least 80 percent of the retail market value | 801.527 | Quoted | The VIN inspection fee is $9. The salvage title fee is $27. | oregonlegislature.gov |
| Pennsylvania | Wording, no sum to do | the cost of repairs would exceed the value of the repaired vehicle | None printed on the pages we read | Quoted | None found | pa.gov |
| Rhode Island | Percentage | exceeds seventy-five percent (75%) of the fair market value | § 31-46-3. Salvage by non-insurer. | Quoted | A fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) shall be assessed for each inspection made pursuant to this section. | webserver.rilegislature.gov |
| South Carolina | Percentage | equal or exceed seventy-five percent of the fair market value | SECTION 56-19-480. Transfer and surrender of certificates, license plates, registration cards and manufacturers' serial plates of vehicles sold as salvage, abandoned, scrapped, or destroyed. | Quoted | Title Fee of $15.00 | scstatehouse.gov |
| South Dakota | Wording, no sum to do | determines a total loss | Codified Law 32-3-51.19 - Salvage vehicle defined--Application. | Quoted | Title application fee is $10, and the inspection fee is $25. | sdlegislature.gov |
| Texas | Percentage | exceeds the pre damaged actual cash value of the vehicle (over 100%) | Refer to Transportation Code Sec. 501.091. | Quoted | a $65 Rebuilt Salvage Fee will be due when an applicant applies for a Texas Certificate of Title branded "Rebuilt Salvage". | txdmv.gov |
| Utah | Repair cost against value | exceeds its fair market value | As used in Sections 41-1a-1001 through 41-1a-1008 | Not found | None found | le.utah.gov |
| Vermont | Wording, no sum to do | declared by an insurance company to be a total loss | 23 V.S.A. § 2001 | Quoted | Certificate of Title, New - $42.00 | legislature.vermont.gov |
| Virginia | Formula with salvage value | would exceed its actual cash value less its current salvage value | § 46.2-1600. Definitions | Quoted | The Commissioner may charge a fee of $125 per vehicle, for the examination of rebuilt vehicles. $125 examination fee | law.lis.virginia.gov |
| Washington | Wording, no sum to do | the cost of parts and labor plus the salvage value has made it uneconomical to repair the vehicle | RCW 46.04.514 | Quoted | shall require an applicant to pay a $65 inspection fee if an inspection of the vehicle was completed by the Washington state patrol. | app.leg.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | Percentage | seventy-five percent or more of the market value | §17A-4-10. Salvage certificates for certain wrecked or damaged vehicles; fee; penalty. | Quoted | The division shall collect a fee of $35 per vehicle for inspections of reconstructed vehicles. A $35.00 inspection fee | code.wvlegislature.gov |
| Wisconsin | Percentage | exceeds 70 percent of its fair market value | 340.01(55g) | Quoted | The applicant shall pay a fee of $80 to the department for the examination in sub. | docs.legis.wisconsin.gov |
| Wyoming | Percentage | exceeds seventy-five percent (75%) of the actual retail cash value | As used in W.S. 31-2-106 through 31-2-112: | Quoted | A ten dollar ($10.00) fee shall be collected for each vehicle identification number or rebuilt salvage vehicle decal inspected pursuant to W.S. 31-2-103(a)(vi) or 31-2-108(d). There is no fee for a Rebuilt Salvage Vehicle Decal. | wyoleg.gov |
How to read it: the third column is a word-for-word excerpt of the state’s sentence, and sorting it puts the percentage rules in number order. The fee column shows the first fee sentences we found; some are inspection fees and some are title fees, so read the words, and open the state’s page for the rest. “Not found” means we did not find it on an official page a plain request could read, not that the state has none.
Hawaii and Tennessee are left out because we could not read an official source; their pages say so. The District of Columbia and the territories were not researched.
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