""Retired" <@
home.com> wrote
That Connecticut process _does_ look even worse than California!
But what does it mean when they said "salvages cannot be rebuilt".
In Connecticut you need before and after photos and descriptions of how th3e
repairs were made and receipts and they can even inspect the undercoating by
scraping it away for the DMV inspection process to be completed.
Also in Connecticut you apparently need the airbags inspected by licensed
technicians.
I'm amazed they check the hood latches, the hinges, the bumpers and energy
absorbers, even the height and length, the windshield and window tinting,
the adhesives used, the visibility of the VIN from outside, the windows, and
even the interior seats, seat position locks, seat back locks, seat belts,
defroster, heater fan, trunk, and even trunk seals and underbody rust.
They check the alignment it says in the PDF (how can they do that at a DMV?)
> includes things like before and after photos of repairs, receipts for
> all part used, car has to be *towed* to and from the inspection site,
> etc etc
Wow. Towing. Mandatory. With no wheels on the road.
Luckily for me I drove mine to the smog and brake and light inspection
shops, and then to the DMV office but I've also been driving it for months
where in Connecticut, based on your pdf, they "cancel" your registration the
instant the DMV gets the notice from the insurance company so that would
have made it illegal to drive on the public roads.
> My 2008 Ford Fusion with *only* 43,000 miles was totaled re $5000 repair
> estimate. I could have done it myself for about $1500, all cosmetic,
> nothing mechanical, right front end scrape.
This has only about 250K miles but it's still going strong. The damage is
cosmetic, but as you noted, almost anything will total a twenty-five year
old vehicle even if the engine and drive train are still running strong.
One difference is California keeps the "salvage" title while Connecticut
apparently changes the title from salvage to "rebuilt" if that matters.
> I saw where ins. co sold it at auction for $1200 to a body shop/used car
> lot who will probably either repair and sell it, or use as a part out.
> Rest of car was showroom clean.
I saw in the DMV a sign saying you need a special license just to dismantle
your car or to sell the parts off your own car!
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-industry-services/occupational-licensing/occupational-licenses/dismantler-license/
There seem to be tons of rules for just taking a fender off and selling it
as a used part.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/dismantlers-handbook-of-registration-procedures/dismantlers-license/
Maybe they only apply to dealers but the sign in the DMV said nobody can
dismantle a car or sell the parts without a license.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/dismantlers-handbook-of-registration-procedures/acquiring-and-dismantling-vehicles/