Title in the USA and Canada – What Is It?
A Title is simply a legal ownership document for a vehicle, issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). For a brand-new vehicle, the document carries the status Clean Title. If a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle has been involved in an accident or sustained damage, the document’s status will change to reflect its history and inform any future owner about its past.
A Title usually contains information such as:
VIN number, make, model, and year of manufacture
license plate number
owner’s details
vehicle specifications
mileage
The most common types of ownership documents recognized in Poland:
Clean Title – the vehicle has not been damaged or had an incident reported to the insurer.
Salvage – the vehicle has sustained damage (without additional notations).
⚠️ Keep in mind: Regulations vary by state, so it’s always recommended to carefully check the vehicle’s history before purchase. In many cases, states add extra notations regarding the type of damage – these are often the reason for registration issues in Poland.
Title notations that generally allow registration in Poland:
MV-907A
Rebuildable
Collision
Non Registerable
Salvage Registration Not to Be Issued
Repossession
Partial/Incomplete Repair
Theft
Vandalism
Mechanical
All Over
Salvage – Greater than 75%
Rollover
Hail
⚠️ Note: In some states, “Salvage” titles may include statements such as Non-Registerable, Cannot Be Registered, or Not for Highway Use. In these cases, the vehicle must be repaired and undergo an additional inspection to receive a Rebuilt Title, which allows registration.
Also important: If a certified appraiser determines that the repair cost exceeds 70% of the vehicle’s undamaged value, the car may be classified as scrap.
Title notations that prevent registration in Poland:
Acquisition Bill of Sale
Lien Transfer
Fire / Burn Damage
Clean Title – No VIN
Clean Title w/ Unsatisfied Lien
Certificate of Destruction
Export Bill of Sale
For Junk
For Parts Only
Irreparable
MV-51B / Statement of Ownership
No Title – Dismantle / Scrap
Non-Rebuildable
Non-Repairable
Parts Only
Bill of Sale
Salvage Title Damage Water / Flood