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How to Get a “Rebuilt Title” in Pennsylvania

How to Get a Rebuilt Title in Pennsylvania Cover Photo

There are certain laws for selling rebuilt cars, commonly referred to as R title cars,  in Pennsylvania. Those laws begin with obtaining a rebuilt title for the car in question, which has its own set of steps to follow.

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to get a rebuilt title in Pennsylvania, as well as the laws surrounding it. Read on to learn more.

What Exactly is a Rebuilt Title?

Vehicles that have rebuilt titles are vehicles that were once declared totaled due to extensive damage, unrecovered theft or other major incident that caused the owner’s insurance company to declare the vehicle totaled. The vehicle in question is usually considered a salvage car and is associated with a salvage title before being restored (or rebuilt) to safe operating conditions. 

Essentially, the purpose of the rebuilt title is to reflect that the vehicle was reconstructed after being totaled and issued a salvage title.

It should be noted that in the state of Pennsylvania, once a car is declared totaled by an insurance company, it’s up to the vehicle owner to apply for a salvage title. 

mechanic working on salvage car parts

Of course, the only purpose of obtaining a salvage title is if there are plans to sell the car as-is or rebuild it to drive or sell.

Laws and Requirements for Rebuilt Titles

mechanic performing safety inspection

The laws surrounding rebuilt titles in Pennsylvania are pretty straightforward:

  • You must first legally obtain a salvage title 
  • The vehicle must be repaired or reconstructed to conform to the manufacturer’s original specifications
  • The reconstructed vehicle must undergo an enhanced vehicle safety inspection to ensure the vehicle is found compliant with all state equipment and inspection requirements
  • From there, you’ll need to fill out the proper forms and provide the appropriate documentation — which we’ll talk about in just a moment

Ultimately, as long as you follow the official steps to get the rebuilt title, you’ll be in line with the state’s laws.

Steps to Get a Rebuilt Title in Pennsylvania

Once a car with a salvage title has been repaired, you can get a rebuilt or “R” branded title. Of course, to legally get a rebuilt title in Pennsylvania, the vehicle must pass a series of tests to ensure that it’s safe to drive.

These are all the steps at a glance:

  • If you haven’t done so already, get a salvage title using the Application for Nonrepairable or Salvage Certificate (Form MV-6)
  • Make the necessary repairs according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Be sure to keep a thorough record of all repairs — including photos of the process


From there, take the vehicle to the nearest
DMV-approved PennDOT inspection station for an enhanced safety inspection. Be sure to bring all documentation and receipts of the repairs to the inspection station for the inspector to review and verify.

wrenches signifying car repairs
front of fixed vehicle

Once your vehicle passes the inspection, you can apply for the rebuilt title using the following documentation:

  • The vehicle’s original salvage title
  • The completed Application for Reconstructed Vehicle, Specially Constructed Vehicle, Collectible, Modified, Flood, Recovered Theft Vehicles, and Street Rods (Form MV-426B)
  • Clear, color photos of the front, back, and sides of the vehicle


You’ll need to mail these documents to your local
PennDOT address and they’ll send you your rebuilt title.

Let us help you with the sale of your reconstructed car in Pennsylvania. Learn more about how we handle online car selling today and what makes us different from the rest!

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