What is a Title Check?

A Title Check is a carVertical report feature that allows you to check the title of a vehicle that was used or previously registered in the United States.

A certificate of title (car title) is like a vehicle’s ID in the US. It proves ownership of the car and contains vital information, such as VIN (vehicle identification number), car make and model, owner’s name, odometer reading, and similar.

The title may receive a brand if the vehicle sustains severe damage or undergoes other significant events, such as mileage rollbacks or warranty claims. To avoid risks associated with such events, you can get a carVertical report to determine whether a car’s title is clean or branded.

What you can learn from the Title Check section

A Title Check section can help you learn:

• Whether the car has a branded title
• The type of brand or brands it has (there can be more than one)

The Title Check section is organized to show common title brand types and their explanations. If the car’s title is branded, a yellow “Record found” warning will appear next to the specific brand, showing the date it was issued.

What does the title brand show?

Car titles receive brands for serious reasons, therefore, they can reveal crucial facts from the vehicle’s history. For example, some common car title brands are:

• A salvage title brand is given to any vehicle that has been damaged to the point where its repair costs exceed, or nearly exceed, its current market value
• The rebuilt brand indicates that the vehicle was once deemed a total loss due to severe damage (had a salvage title) but has been repaired and thoroughly inspected to ensure it meets all safety requirements
• Junk title shows that the vehicle can’t be registered, has no resale value, and is only suitable for scrap and parts

Moreover, a car title check can reveal information that may be difficult to learn otherwise. For example, even if no damage records are available, a report showing a salvage title can prompt an investigation into previous damage.

Similarly, if the odometer readings are incomplete or missing, but the title has an odometer brand (such as Not Actual, Actual, Tampering, etc.), you may suspect that the numbers on the odometer do not reflect reality.

*Not actual indicates that the odometer reading is known to be other than the true mileage of the vehicle.

What if the title information is not available in the report?

In some cases, you may not find the title status in the report. There can be several reasons for this:

• The title status is not relevant to the vehicle you’re checking, as this feature only works for vehicles used or previously registered in the US
• Sometimes, title brand information may be inaccurate or missing due to administrative errors or reporting inconsistencies from data providers
• Information can also be missing due to title status fraud (e.g., title clearing), where previous issues are concealed or manipulated to misrepresent the vehicle's history

If you suspect the latter, refine your research by requesting a title search from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), look for signs of tampering on the title document, such as mismatched VINs, altered information, or inconsistent formatting, and seek professional help.

Why is checking the car’s title essential when buying?

Knowing the car title brand, you can uncover various issues and avoid buying a problematic vehicle. Put simply, you can:

• Spot if the car is road-legal – if the vehicle has a title brand that prevents it from being registered and legally driven, you should reconsider your choice
• Foresee potential challenges – understanding the vehicle’s title history can help you anticipate potential issues, such as difficulty in obtaining insurance, complications with financing, or challenges during resale, ensuring you make a more informed decision
• Avoid unexpected repairs – even if the vehicle has been repaired after sustaining damage, there may still be lingering issues that are not immediately visible, leading to unexpected costs
• Prevent financial loss – knowing that a car has a branded title can help you avoid overpaying for a vehicle, as its value will typically be diminished

Still have questions? If you need more help understanding the Title Check section of your report, feel free to reach out to our support team or check out our blog post on car titles.