Can You Drive a Salvage Title Car in Minnesota?

No—under Minnesota law, a vehicle with an active salvage title cannot be driven on public roads until it’s repaired, passes a state salvage inspection, is retitled as Prior Salvage (often called “rebuilt”), and is properly registered and insured. Limited, permit-only movements for inspection or transport may be allowed; otherwise, the vehicle must be towed or trailered.

What “Salvage” Means in Minnesota

In Minnesota, a vehicle is branded salvage when it has been declared a total loss by an insurer or otherwise meets state criteria for significant damage or loss. A salvage title indicates the vehicle is not road-legal. To return it to service, it must go through a state inspection and be retitled as Prior Salvage, reflecting that it was repaired after being declared a total loss.

Can You Drive a Salvage Title Car? The Legal Bottom Line

A vehicle that currently holds a Minnesota salvage title is not legal to operate on public roads. You cannot register it for regular use, and you cannot lawfully drive it until it passes inspection and is retitled. This restriction applies whether the salvage title originated in Minnesota or was brought in from another state.

Limited Exceptions: Moving the Vehicle

There are narrow circumstances in which you may move a salvage vehicle without full registration, typically to a scheduled inspection or for repair, using a permit obtained through Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) or a deputy registrar. If you do not have a valid permit, the vehicle must be towed or trailered. Permit rules can vary, so contact DVS in advance to confirm the correct permit for your situation.

How to Make a Salvage Vehicle Road-Legal in Minnesota

The state requires a documented repair and verification process before a salvage vehicle can legally return to the road. The steps ensure the vehicle’s history is transparent and that parts used in repairs are properly accounted for.

1. Repair the vehicle to roadworthy condition, following manufacturer specifications and applicable safety standards.
2. Document the rebuild thoroughly: take photos before, during, and after repairs.
3. Keep all receipts and proof of ownership for major component parts used (for example, engines, transmissions, airbags, and body panels).
4. Apply for a Minnesota salvage inspection with DVS and pay the required inspection fee; you’ll be assigned an inspection appointment/location.
5. Transport the vehicle to inspection (with an appropriate permit or by towing/trailering) and present all documentation.
6. If the vehicle passes, DVS will process a title branded “Prior Salvage.”
7. Register the vehicle, obtain plates, and secure insurance (at minimum, liability coverage as required by state law).

Once the title is updated to Prior Salvage and registration/insurance are in place, you may legally drive the vehicle on public roads in Minnesota.

What You Cannot Do With a Salvage Title Vehicle

Until the vehicle is inspected, retitled, and registered, several activities are prohibited under Minnesota law to protect road safety and combat fraud.

• Drive it on public roads for everyday use or testing.
• Register it for regular operation or obtain standard plates.
• Sell it for on-road use without proper disclosure and required branding.
• Move it on public roads without a valid DVS permit (it must be towed or trailered otherwise).

These restrictions remain in place until the vehicle completes the state’s rebuild and inspection process and is retitled as Prior Salvage.

Insurance and Disclosure Considerations

After inspection and retitling, you must obtain insurance to drive the vehicle. Many insurers will provide liability coverage for Prior Salvage vehicles, but collision and comprehensive may be limited or priced differently. Minnesota requires clear branding and disclosure of Prior Salvage status, and that brand remains on the title permanently, which can affect resale value and insurability.

Out-of-State Salvage Titles

If your vehicle carries an out-of-state salvage title, Minnesota will still require inspection and retitling before you can register and drive it here. Plan for the same documentation: repair records, photos, and parts receipts.

Where to Confirm Requirements

Policies, forms, fees, and permit availability can change. Before transporting a salvage vehicle or booking an inspection, contact Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) or a local deputy registrar office to confirm current procedures, fees, and permit options.

Summary

In Minnesota, you cannot legally drive a vehicle with an active salvage title on public roads. To make it road-legal, repair it, document the work and parts, schedule and pass a DVS salvage inspection, then retitle it as Prior Salvage, register it, and insure it. Limited permit-based movement to inspection or repair may be allowed; otherwise, it must be towed or trailered.

Can you drive a salvage title car in Minnesota?

No, you cannot legally drive a car with a salvage title in Minnesota. To drive a salvage vehicle on public roads, it must first be repaired, then pass a state-certified salvage inspection to become roadworthy, and be issued a rebuilt title. You will also need minimum liability insurance and valid registration. 
Steps to Drive a Salvage Title Car in Minnesota:

1. Repair the Vehicle: Opens in new tabThe vehicle must be properly repaired, with documentation of all repairs provided. 
2. Get a Salvage Inspection: Opens in new tabSchedule and pass a Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DVS) salvage inspection. This inspection verifies that the vehicle’s major component parts are original. 
3. Get a Rebuilt Title: Opens in new tabAfter passing the inspection, the DVS will issue a rebuilt title for the vehicle. 
4. Get Insurance: Opens in new tabSecure the minimum required liability insurance coverage for the rebuilt vehicle. 
5. Register the Vehicle: Opens in new tabObtain proper registration and license plates for the vehicle. 

Once these steps are completed, you will have a rebuilt title and can then legally drive the car on Minnesota roads.

Can you insure a car with a salvage title in Minnesota?

No, you can’t get insurance for salvage cars. Once a car is declared a total loss, it’s destined for the scrapyard — unless it’s sufficiently repaired and rebuilt.

What is the Minnesota salvage title loophole?

The “Minnesota salvage title loophole” referred to an issue where cars with significant damage were not being given a salvage designation on their titles if they were from out of state and had a clean Minnesota title, but a 2023 law changed this. The law requires sellers to disclose damage that costs more than 80% of the vehicle’s value, or that led an insurance company to declare it a total loss, even for less expensive vehicles. This new law was designed to provide buyers with more transparency about a vehicle’s prior damage and prevent “title washing,” where damaged vehicles entered the used car market with clean titles.
 
What the Loopholes Was:

• Out-of-State Origin: The loophole primarily affected cars coming from other states that had sustained severe damage. 
• Low-Value Vehicles: It specifically applied to less expensive vehicles with clean Minnesota titles, despite the damage they had incurred. 
• Lack of Disclosure: The issue was that the damage wasn’t always disclosed or branded on the title, allowing these “totaled” cars to be sold as if they were undamaged. 

The 2023 Law and Its Purpose:

• Increased Disclosure: The law mandates that sellers must provide more detailed information about significant prior damage, even if the car was from another state and has a clean title. 
• Consumer Protection: The goal is to offer buyers more protection by letting them know if a vehicle has a history of major damage that could affect its safety or future reliability. 
• Targeting Major Damage: The law focuses on damage that exceeds 80% of the vehicle’s value or results in an insurance company totaling the vehicle. 

How It Prevents “Title Washing”:

• By requiring this disclosure, the law prevents sellers from easily hiding a car’s damaging history by simply bringing it into Minnesota from another state. 
• This ensures that buyers in Minnesota are better informed when purchasing used vehicles. 

What happens if I get pulled over with a salvage title?

Depending on the laws where you live, you could receive a ticket or face more serious legal trouble, such as the loss of driving privileges. Salvage vehicles usually cannot be registered for use on the road, so the risk of being pulled over by police and receiving a citation is high.