Can you get insurance on a salvage title in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, you generally cannot get standard auto insurance to drive a vehicle that has a salvage title; the car must be repaired, pass a state inspection, and be retitled as “rebuilt” (often branded “salvage rebuilt”) before most insurers will offer road-use coverage. After it’s retitled as rebuilt, liability insurance is widely available, while comprehensive and collision coverage may be limited or costlier depending on the insurer and the vehicle’s history.

What a salvage title means in South Carolina

Under South Carolina law, a “salvage” title indicates the vehicle is not roadworthy and cannot be registered or legally driven. Salvage vehicles are typically those deemed a total loss by an insurer due to damage, theft recovery, flood, or other severe events. Because they are not legally operable, mainstream personal auto policies for on-road use are not issued for vehicles that still hold a salvage title.

When and how you can insure a formerly salvage vehicle

To get conventional auto insurance for driving in South Carolina, the salvage vehicle must be repaired and inspected by the state and then retitled as a rebuilt vehicle. Once the title brand is “rebuilt/salvage rebuilt,” many insurers will offer at least liability coverage. Full coverage (comprehensive and collision) may be available from some carriers, but with stricter conditions, higher premiums, and lower claim valuations reflecting the branded title.

Insurance on a salvage title (before rebuilding)

For a vehicle that still has a salvage title, insurance options are very limited. Standard liability coverage for road use is not available because the car cannot be legally driven or registered. Some specialty markets may offer non-road “storage” or “comprehensive-only” coverage to protect against fire, theft, or vandalism while the vehicle is being repaired, but this is not common in personal lines and varies by insurer.

Insurance on a rebuilt (salvage rebuilt) title

Once the car is retitled as rebuilt after state inspection, you can shop for liability insurance and, in some cases, full coverage. South Carolina requires at least 25/50/25 liability limits and also requires uninsured motorist coverage; many insurers will write these coverages for rebuilt vehicles, though physical damage coverages may be restricted or carry higher deductibles and lower payouts based on the vehicle’s diminished value.

The path from salvage to rebuilt in South Carolina

If you plan to drive and insure a former salvage vehicle, you must complete the state’s rebuilt process. The following steps outline the typical path from salvage to rebuilt title in South Carolina so you can register the vehicle and purchase road-legal insurance.

1. Repair the vehicle to safe, operable condition, following manufacturer standards and using appropriate parts.
2. Keep detailed documentation, including bills of sale and receipts for all major components, photographs of repairs, and any prior damage reports.
3. Apply for a rebuilt vehicle inspection with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV), following the agency’s instructions for paperwork, fees, and proof of parts ownership.
4. Present the vehicle for inspection at an approved SCDMV inspection site; bring your salvage title, repair documentation, receipts, and identification as required.
5. After passing inspection, obtain the rebuilt (salvage rebuilt) title from SCDMV.
6. Obtain insurance that meets South Carolina’s minimum requirements (at least 25/50/25 liability plus required uninsured motorist coverage) and any additional coverages you want and qualify for.
7. Register the vehicle and obtain plates so it can be legally driven on public roads.

Completing these steps transitions the car from a non-operable salvage status to a legally drivable rebuilt status, opening access to standard liability insurance and, where available, optional physical damage coverages.

What insurers typically require for rebuilt-title vehicles

Because rebuilt-title vehicles carry higher risk and uncertain value, insurers often apply extra underwriting scrutiny. Expect the following considerations and possible requirements when you seek coverage for a rebuilt car in South Carolina.

• Pre-insurance inspection and photographs to document current condition and verify safety-related repairs (e.g., airbags, structural components).
• Vehicle history review and disclosure of the prior loss type (collision, flood, theft recovery) and any remaining issues.
• Restrictions on coverage, such as liability-only policies, higher deductibles, or exclusions/limitations for comprehensive and collision.
• Adjusted claim valuation based on diminished value for branded titles, which can reduce payouts compared with comparable clean-title vehicles.
• Potential premium surcharges reflecting the vehicle’s prior total loss status and increased risk profile.

These practices vary by company, so shopping multiple insurers and providing thorough documentation can improve your chances of securing broader coverage at a competitive price.

Key legal and practical points in South Carolina

South Carolina requires drivers to carry minimum liability limits of $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage (25/50/25), plus uninsured motorist coverage at least equal to those limits, including a $200 deductible on UM property damage. You cannot register or drive a vehicle with a salvage title; it must be retitled as rebuilt after passing inspection. Financing can be more difficult for rebuilt-title cars, and some lenders require full coverage—which not all insurers will offer on a rebuilt title—so confirm availability before you buy.

Practical options if you currently have a salvage vehicle

If you own a salvage-title car that you’re repairing or holding, you have a few insurance-adjacent options to consider while it’s off the road.

• Specialty “storage” or “comprehensive-only” coverage, if available, to protect against non-driving risks while the car is parked and being repaired.
• Non-owner auto insurance for yourself if you need to maintain continuous liability coverage as a driver but don’t currently have an insurable vehicle.
• Transport and towing coverage through a shop or transporter’s policy while moving the vehicle for repairs or inspection (not a substitute for road-use insurance).

These options won’t make a salvage car street legal, but they can help manage risk and maintain personal coverage continuity until the vehicle is rebuilt and insurable for road use.

Bottom line

You generally cannot insure and drive a salvage-title vehicle in South Carolina. Repair the vehicle, pass the SCDMV rebuilt inspection, obtain a rebuilt title, and then shop for insurance—starting with liability coverage required by state law, with the possibility of comprehensive and collision if an insurer is willing and terms are acceptable. Check SCDMV requirements and compare multiple insurers, as underwriting standards and coverage availability for rebuilt titles vary widely.

Summary

In South Carolina, a salvage-title car is not road-legal and typically cannot get standard auto insurance. After repairs and a successful SCDMV inspection, the vehicle can be retitled as rebuilt, at which point many insurers will offer at least liability coverage; some may also provide comprehensive and collision with restrictions and adjusted valuations. Keep detailed repair documentation, expect extra underwriting scrutiny, and verify both DMV and insurer requirements before you commit to purchasing or rebuilding a salvage vehicle.

Can you get full coverage on a salvage title car in SC?

No, you can’t get insurance for salvage cars.

Can you register a car with a salvage title in South Carolina?

No, you cannot directly register a vehicle with a salvage title in South Carolina; the vehicle must first be repaired and converted to a rebuilt title by passing a state-authorized inspection by a representative of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). Once the repairs are completed and the vehicle passes this inspection, it can then be titled and registered under a rebuilt title, making it roadworthy. 
Steps to Register a Salvage Title Vehicle in South Carolina

1. Repair the vehicle: Opens in new tabPerform the necessary repairs to restore the vehicle to a roadworthy condition. 
2. Get an authorized inspection: Opens in new tabHave the vehicle inspected by an authorized SCDMV agent or inspector to confirm it meets roadworthiness standards. 
3. Apply for a rebuilt title: Opens in new tabAfter passing the inspection, you can apply for a rebuilt title. 
4. Register the vehicle: Opens in new tabOnce you have the rebuilt title, you can register the vehicle with the SCDMV. 

What is the salvage law in South Carolina?

Vehicles declared a total loss will be marked as “salvage” unless at least one of the following is true: The vehicle is marked “junk.” The vehicle has been damaged less than 75% and has not sustained water or fire damage. The value of the vehicle is less than $2,000.

Should you avoid buying a car with a salvage title?

Perhaps the biggest risk of buying a car with a salvage title is safety. These vehicles have often sustained severe structural damage in an accident, the extent of which you may never know. The repair shop may have taken shortcuts or used cheaper parts to fix the vehicle. Also, some damage may not be immediately known.