Why We Only Sell Clean Title Vehicles

Why Auto Mart Only Sells Clean Title Vehicles

One of the questions we get fairly often is why we don’t sell rebuilt or salvaged title vehicles. On the surface, those cars can look like a good deal. They’re usually cheaper, often freshly painted, and sometimes even look “like new.” But there are some very important reasons why Auto Mart simply will not buy or sell them—and those reasons come down to safety, integrity, and trust.

The Problem With Modern Vehicle Frames

Most vehicles produced today are built on what’s called a unibody frame. Unlike older vehicles that had a separate body bolted onto a heavy steel frame, unibody vehicles are essentially one large, integrated piece of metal. They’re designed to be one solid structure, engineered to crumple and absorb impact in very specific ways during an accident.

When a vehicle with a unibody frame is totaled, it often means that structure has been compromised. In many rebuild situations, the frame is plasma-cut into multiple sections, stretched, or spliced together with additional metal to make the car align properly again. Once that happens, the original structural integrity is gone—and no amount of welding or bodywork can truly restore it to factory condition.

Safety Comes First—Always

The biggest concern with rebuilt or salvaged vehicles is safety. If there’s a bad weld, an improper repair, or hidden structural weakness, that failure may not show up until the next accident—when it matters most. A vehicle that has already had its structural integrity compromised simply will not protect occupants the way it was originally designed to.

I don’t want you putting your family, your kids, or yourself into a vehicle where the safety systems may not perform as intended. That’s not a risk I’m willing to take for our customers.

Insurance Companies Won’t Touch Them (And That Matters)

Another major reason we avoid rebuilt and salvaged titles is insurance. Many insurance companies either won’t insure these vehicles at all, or they severely limit coverage. At Auto Mart, we require full coverage insurance on our vehicles (or enrollment in our CPI program).

If a multi-billion-dollar insurance company—with teams of engineers, actuaries, and risk analysts—decides a vehicle is too risky to insure, that should tell you something.

You Don’t Know Who Rebuilt It

In the state of Tennessee, there is no required certification to rebuild a totaled vehicle. While there may be documentation required for parts and repairs, there’s no guarantee that the person doing the work is trained, qualified, or experienced.

Sure, it could be a highly skilled professional doing the rebuild—but it could also be someone with a welder, a torch, and no formal training at all. There’s simply too much uncertainty, and that uncertainty gets passed on to the buyer.

The Family Rule

And finally—this one’s personal—my dad would absolutely kill me if he found out I was dealing in salvaged or rebuilt vehicles. Auto Mart has been family-owned for decades, and our reputation has been built on doing things the right way. Clean title vehicles only. No shortcuts.

How You Can Protect Yourself When Buying a Car

If you’re shopping for a vehicle anywhere, here are a few simple tips:

• Always ask for the vehicle history report (AutoCheck or CARFAX). We have them available on www.automartcars.com.

• Look closely at panel gaps—between doors, fenders, and body panels. They should be uniform.

  • If you can fit your pinky finger in one gap but barely a fingernail in another, that’s a red flag.

• Ask the dealer where the car came from. They should be able to tell you confidently.

• If the vehicle was purchased at an insurance auction like Copart or IAA, proceed with caution.

At Auto Mart, I’m always happy to tell you exactly where a vehicle came from and why we bought it. Transparency matters.

The Bottom Line

Clean title vehicles aren’t just about resale value—they’re about safety, reliability, and peace of mind. That’s why Auto Mart does not buy or sell salvaged or rebuilt title vehicles. It’s better for our customers, better for their families, and better for our long-term reputation.

If you ever have questions about a vehicle’s history—ours or anyone else’s—just ask. We’re always happy to help you make an informed decision.