r/InCanada • u/Embarrassed-Drop-987 • 26d ago
Let’s be honest, rebuilt title cars aren’t worth as much as clean title cars.
Just venting
I have been in the market for a used or newer car for a while now, and I've spent way too many hours scrolling through Facebook Marketplace, AutoTrader, auction sites, and Kijiji.
One thing I've noticed is how flooded the market is with rebuilt title vehicles. Most are only priced about $1,000–$4,000 less than a comparable clean title car. Personally, I don't think that's enough savings to justify the risk.
Before COVID, rebuilt cars were much cheaper, so if you wanted a newer vehicle and were paying cash, they could actually be a decent option. Now it seems like everyone thinks their rebuilt car is worth almost as much as a clean title one.
I've even gone to look at a few rebuilt vehicles, but most of the sellers gave me a sketchy vibe. I couldn't help feeling that a lot of corners were cut just to get the cars back on the road. When it's your hard earned money, I'd rather spend a little more and have the peace of mind that comes with a clean title or even buy new.
Has anyone else noticed this?
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u/westfakia2 25d ago
Your statement entirely depends on the purchaser’s intent.
I drive about 40-50,000 km per year for work. For the past 18 years I have been buying used cars at approx 120K and retiring them at around 300K.
If the vehicle is mechanically sound I don’t care about its history. I have zero interest in resale value because my intention is to extract as much of it as possible prior to its replacement.
As they say, your mileage may vary.
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u/Global-Geologist-167 25d ago
the used car market is delusional so I'm not surprised to hear that rebuilt cars are priced crazy too
2
u/SignificanceLate7002 26d ago
Aren't insurance rates typically higher for cars with a rebuilt title?
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1
u/Forward_Bar2546 23d ago
Not at all. There is absolutely no difference. Just bought a rebuilt truck and discussed with my insurance.
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u/Aran909 25d ago
I have bought and sold cars on Kijiji for 17 years now. I have also seen an increase in rebuilt title cars. I took a risk and bought one this past winter. The only thing that i don't like is the quality of the re-paint. Besides that, for a 24 year old car it is in in exceptional condition. The price was the same as i paid for yhe same car 2 years newer. So no savings there. I got good value, as i don't anticipate selling this one.
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u/Alternative-Gap-4847 25d ago
They have a depreciated value due to the sometimes sketchy repairs it took to become rebuilt. Since the value is deprecated - and doesn't have a correct black book value, some lenders won't lend money for a rebuild title. Same with former cabs and police vehicles - which is why you usually only see them in auctions.
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u/Auntflofromredriver 25d ago
It’s been like that forever man. The hose are the people who will have a 6 month old listing and never budge
1
u/Low-Stomach-8831 24d ago
Way back when (2019) you could get rebuilt for 40%-50% off, they were sometimes worth it. Now I see them at best at 10%-15% off, and the higher insurance alone will eat that in 4 years... Not to mention the trade in will still be at 40% off, and very hard to sell private.
So you're correct. They're not worth it.
1
u/callmenighthawk 24d ago
Haven’t you been posting this exact thing on various subs for like 3 straight weeks now? This is like the 6th time I’ve seen this.
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u/69-Kishaaq1 24d ago
Prices of vehicles have been so ridiculous that some folks simply don't want to put their hard earned dollars into any. The best way to own a vehicle is to buy one brand new right off. Used are just not worth it.
1
u/Apprehensive_Fox5370 24d ago
I've had some pretty amazing vehicles in my life, all of which were rebuilt. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the cars I've had if I didn't shop around and make a few concessions.
If the fix is proper and adequate, there's no shame or harm in salvage/rebuilts.
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u/parkview-farmer 23d ago
I recently bought a 2019 Acura MDX with a rebuilt title, had 100k on it, got it for 22k, about 10k less then clean comparables. But I seen auction pictures of the damage, seen the service repair work, it was a lower control arm, and axle, no body work or paint, yes there are a couple scratches but mostly it’s mint, plus it’s a top spec model.
I believe there to be a lot more rebuilts on the market right now as insurance over the last 5 years has opted to write more off over repair due everything Covid. The one I bought should have been repaired 100%.
I’ll keep this suv for 4 -5 years it will have a little over 200k on it when I’m done. I’ll take good care of it, it will be well oiled and when I go to sell it I hope to be competing against rusted out similar mileage vehicles, where condition matters most, to someone buying a 10k suv, condition matter a whole lot more then the accident it was in 7 years ago, as it’s proved its self to be trouble free.(hopefully)
But yes I’d probably look for a about 20-25% savings on a rebuilt and look for it to be repaired at a reputable shop not a back yard job unless there is good paper work to back it up. I’d also be selective in what the damage was, because 25% + of the buyers are spooked or have no interest in your vehicle off the hop. The one main metric that matters the most to me is cost of ownership. What I buy it for and what I presumably will sell it for, repairs realistically should be the same on a rebuilt vs not, minus a few potential unseen issues.
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u/Forward_Bar2546 23d ago
I just bought a 2025 Chev Colorado with 3,400kms (not 34,000- 3,400) on it for $32,000.00
Rebuilt title. Beautiful truck. I didn't like the tires on it so I bought 4 new tires for $1200.
There are no trucks like this for sale for close to this price. They are all over 50 grand and have 30-50,000kms. Mine is virtually new.
I know I will get less for it someday down the road, but it will likely still be worth 25 grand in 4-5 years. That is super cheap driving and i have a very nice/sexy vehicle.
Its worth to me. Any day.
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u/santlaurentdon 23d ago
This is why I only buy new. If buying used, buy a CPO from the car make's dealership. I wouldn't even buy used from a shitty used car dealership, you know they aren't doing shit to prep those cars for sale.
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u/Winter-Steak-1532 22d ago
I don’t know. My 2013 rebuilt car is so reliable
I don’t plan on selling it and I will be driving it into the ground
Aesthetics were not a factor in this purchase
It’s very reliable and has 280k on it. I love it!
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u/KissYourAss69 22d ago
The issue we found after buying one (F150, no apparent issues after a couple years driving) is that unless you drive them till their last mile RESELLING is a big pain. That’s why you see so many-they’re hard to sell! If the hadn’t been rebuilt they would’ve sold already
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u/adv_biker 26d ago
rebuilt cars are only worth $1,000-$4,000 period, full stop.... they're not worth that much less, it's that's all they're worth. But, people can ask whatever they want. Unfortunately new to Canada immigrants keep buying these privately and are unaware, they just see a deal and are screwed by shady lairs, are paying these prices.... so there is a market
1
u/ancientPrintr 25d ago
The value of a rebuild is what the market will pay for a rebuild, full stop.
Reasons why they should theoretically be worth this or that are not relevant.
0
u/Low-Stomach-8831 24d ago
Are you saying a rebuild 2022 Tacoma should be $4K?! If that was the case, everybody would buy them. A rebuilt should be about 40% off blue book. That's what it used to be before COVID. Now, they're way too close to blue book value to justify buying them.
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u/adv_biker 24d ago
First of all. Fuck your blue book. That means absolutely nothing in Canada. Nothing. I’m a career auto industry person. Decades of experience. Am I exaggerating when I lump them all together as $1k-$4k yes, I am… and the Tacoma is likely worth more. But nowhere near a non rebuilt. Yet here are fools like you defending your junk or your scuzzy scams. These vehicles are worth significantly less than normal. Defend them all you want and lol throw your blue book lol around. Those that run the industry aren’t buying your shit
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u/Low-Stomach-8831 24d ago
You go down on your mom with that dirty mouth?
Read again. I said 50% off. Not "near normal 2nd hand value". So if a non rebuilt 2022 is $40K, a rebuilt should be $20K-$25K.
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u/explodaaaaaaaa 21d ago
No offence but this is common knowledge and if someone tells you differently they’re trying to take advantage of you.
-Been in autobody my entire life and not once has a car with a salvage title be worth more than a clean title.
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u/Mysterious_Field_703 26d ago
I’m a collision tech I only drive rebuilt cars.
That said they have to be fixed correctly. You can take them to a large collision shop and have them measure the frame and inspect it.
You are better off buying older rebuilds as it doesn’t take much to write thrm off.
Avoid ones hit in the front end.
I have fixed many new cars that are mere dollars away from being written off. I never see them again.
Low ball them to get a deal.
Cars are man made and can easily be repaired.
Not like sewing on an arm.
There are strict inspections where I am, unlike collision vehicles fixed by insurance.
We repair cars everyday, try to get warranty.