Certificate of Destruction to Clear Title???

[Pyrice4]

I bought a 1991 Eclipse GS turbo for $550. I had some minor front end damage so now it has a Certificate of Destruction. Does anyone know how I can get this changed to a clear title? The only damage was the hood and headlights which I already replaced so its completely street legal, I just need to clear the title. Any ideas?

 

[DSMunknown]

Clear title = no notable automotive damage.




Therefore, it wouldn't matter if you waxed the crap out of the car and made it shine like the sun. The car's VIN numbers will always have the collision statement with it. There is no legal way you can ever get the car's history wiped clean if it has had a dirty past.

 

[Pyrice4]

I dont mind if its not a clear title. I just want to get a title, whether its a rebuild title or whatever, that I can use to get it registered so I can drive it.

 

[n00btalon]

Call your local DMV, are you sure the certificate of destruction isn't another name for a Rebuilt Title in your state?

 

[jinxltd]

Not sure how your state works but when cars in MN have titles that are rebuildable or distruction or Salvage I believe they have to pass an inspection of some sort that deems them to be safely driven again & it not a real big deal but obviously the re-sale wont be as good. sounds like a few more hoops & you ll be driving in no time.

 

[dsmdreamin]

you might have to take it to get checked out by state patrol or something like that, and if it is deemed drivable then you can be able to license it, thats how it works in wa. anyway, but call the dmv or dol and they should be able to help you out

 

[Defiant]

You'll have to ask Florida. It's different everywhere.
It sounds like a "Certificate of Destruction" means you can't put it back on the road. Ever.

 

[c4uldr0n]

It probably sounds much worse than it is... after reading some more, it appears that you should be able to get a salvaged title for it

 

[Pyrice4]

Ive hear two thing that "Certificate of Destruction" means..
1. The vehicle MUST be dissasembled, parted out, or crushed.
2. You can get a Rebuild or Salvage Title after inspection.
Im going to the DMV today to see what the truth is.

 

[oneyedfatguy]

http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/salvaged-vehicles.php
PH (850)922-9000
Sure hope this helps.

 

[Pyrice4]

Ok, I talked to the DMV people, they said I cannot get the title changed even if I get it inspected. The only way to change it is to contact the insurance company and see if they made a mistake while filing the "COD". So, thats what im going to do now. It will really suck if I cant get it titled because there is pretty much Nothing wrong with the car and I see cars that are way more messed up on the road every day.

 

[2alpha]

how much actual damage was done? i was in an accident where i have to replace my hood front bumper passenger lights and bend out the front a little ### it got pushed back in.....and i never got anythig put on my record. hell my insurance didn't even go up . but anyways i'm just wondering how much was done to kind of compare the damages.

 

[Pyrice4]

The hood had some small dents in the front, I just got a new hood with no dents or anything for $20. It just needs new paint. The driving lights and the corner lights were broken, replaced them with new ones for $50. The front big metal thing that holds the radiator and stuff is bent in less than an inch, maybe 1/2 an inch. I pulled it out some and put everthing together. You cant even tell it was damaged. The interior is perfect, the body is great too, no dents at all. I see cars held together with bungie cords that are still on the road.....this one is great and they wont let it. . The only other problems are that is need a new clutch, power antenna makes noise, and one headlight doesnt come up but those problems are not crash related. Ill post some pictures asap. btw, it was only a fender bender, hit a trailer hitch on a truck at maybe 5-10mph

 

[2alpha]

that is SO bull!!! i would be pissed at your insurance. thats the exact same thing i did with my DSM. of course i am pissed. but i haven't had my fixed yet. i just bought another car and i plan on taking parts and everything good like that. but nothing happened to my title and my insurance hasn't even gone up....yet haha. so i am really confused about that...possibly its the state. OH and uhave never seen ghetto rigged cars like your talking about till u have lived in Alaska. i am trying to get some pictures put on here soon and u can see the damage that occured to my car. maybe u should deffinetly check with your insurance company. maybe it had something to do with what u hit....i hit a mini van in a parking lot bcuz the stupid moron of a driver figured he had the right of way....

 

[Pyrice4]

Ok, I have completely fixed everything on the car. The ONLY thing it needs is the hood painted. Thats it. I went to the DMV today and they said that it cant be titled no matter what. I wanted to tell the stupid lady that it probably looks and runs better than her car which is allowed on the road. Im going to try again some other time. I hope its come complicated thing and their just to lazy to help me. If not it looks like im going to be parting out a perfectly good Turbo DSM!! !

 

[Defiant]

Refer to Post #7. Apparently Florida agrees.

 

[Pyrice4]

I have a 1991 Eclipse GS-T that has a Florida Certificate of Destruction. I need to get a rebuilt title to be able to put it on the road. However, you cant just reapply for a title. My options are either A) find an eclipse that has a clean title but has either a broken engine or no engine at all and a nasty interior so I can get it for under 400$ and transfer all the nice things on my car to it and still have its title. B) Find a way to get rid of the Certificate of Destruction that I dont know about.(Ive been researching it for months) or C) Dismantle and crush a perfectly good DSM!! The car has nothing wrong with it. Ive posted here before with to no avail. Any help would be much appriciated!.

 

[SlickGSX]

I'm not 100% sure with Florida laws but I can tell you what I've done here in Illinois in the past is: If you buy a junk 1G with a good title and switch dashboards so your good car will show a vin number from the junk car. I know off hand that a 2G has the vin tag riveted to the dash but I'd have to check tonight on my 1G if its on the dash or not, either way just gotta get the vin tag over to your car with out mangling it up so it does not look suspicious to anyone inspecting it.

 

[oimirageio]

Well, Lucky for you I have tons of experiences here in FL with COD titles and titles that even say they cant be titles here in FL.

This is my advice and I am telling you this from experience, A tow truck company can tow cars and then re-title them if the person does not come to pick them up legally in the state of fl.

Well with that said you might want to befriend a towtruck driver and see what they can do to help you out. If you cant find one I know a guy who did my motorcycle for me and it took about a month because you have to leave it with him etc etc, but its legal and he then will sign it back over to you with a clear title. If thats not an option from what I understand car dealerships can do the same so find someone with a dealer license and see if they can help you out.

Hope this helps some....

 

[DarthBulk]

It was quite a few years ago, but I used to live in Daytona Beach, and looked into buying a non-titled Fiat X1/9 from a junk yard there. The car was actually fine, it just needed some engine work and would have been driveable. I went to the DMV office in Daytona Beach, and asked them how I could get a title for the car. There was a method for it. You basically have to make the car road-worthy again, which involves having ALL of the safety equipment on the car and functional, and then you have to have the car inspected by the state. If they approve of it, then you can get a special plate riveted to the car that says "REBUILT" on it, and apply for a title. They had a publication that they gave me, giving guidelines on what the inspection involves.

Have you asked at the DMV what needs to be done? They are the governing authority in these matters.

 

[Pyrice4]

I talked to the DMV. IF i had a Salvage title, i could have it inspected and retitled with a rebuilt title. However with a CoD, thats doesnt work. It cannot be titled ever again no matter what. UNLESS, as i found out and as oimirageio said, if i can get a tow company to take it then i might be able to get it titled. Im going to see what the tow companies around here can do for me. Ill update everyone asap. It would be a shame if i cant get it titled, i would be out of the DSM game for good.

 

[Defiant]

I have a 1991 Eclipse GS-T that has a Florida Certificate of Destruction.

Then you no longer have a car. Period. You have a pile of scrap.

 

[Nors]

Make into into a track car and trailor it to the track. Otherwise, part it out/send it to the wrecker. They are your only options.

 

[Pyrice4]

, wow you last two guys are really helpful. Your doing a great job of keeping people interested in DSMs. There are ways to get around a Certificate of Destruction. You have to WANT to and you have to work hard to do it, its not going to be quick or easy but it is possible. To everyone else thanks for your advice, im going to keep trying.

 

[SlickGSX]

When an insurance company issues a CoD it is most likely because they have paid out a total loss claim on a car over 10yrs old. The best way to handle this issue in my opinion is to get any junk 1G with a good title and switch vin tags since you cannot re-title a CoD and you dont want to ditch the car.