At least for CA. it is either salvage or good, even for a rental it is a requirement for the seller to disclose it is a rental but the title shows nothing different.
Ray, Cheryl, Cory & of course Miss Molly the four-legged child
There was a TV report on 20/20 or some TV show like it, that showed how a car branded as "Salvage" in California can go from one state to another, then to a state back east, get a "Clean" title with no salvage on it anymore. Still a Carfax Report will show that it was a salvage vehicle in California at some point in it's life.
Some states do not report that the salvage title was on the title when they change a title into their state. So in other words if the title in their state was salvage, that is fine, but one brought in from out of state with a salvage title might not get that put onto the newly issued title for one reason or another.
Anyway Ford can lease these dented vehicles, and then dispose of them the same way they sell off hundreds of company owned vehicles each year. Auction them, or sell them to dealerships as parts running cars, or use them as rental cars at a dealership while your car is being worked on. It is not like a damaged vehicle that was flooded, or some other damage that will effect the transmission or engine reliability.
Of course there is one state that they can be washed in and be sold as new.
Never let it be said that this fish won't take the bait:
Which of the 50 states would commit such a Dastardly Deed?
Let's just say it is east of the Mississippi, west of the Atlantic, south of the Mason/Dixon line and north of the Gulf. I guess folks have forgotten how to do their own research and expect someone else to do it for them.....sorry, I am NOT your personal research assistant. However, if I put it in print, I have researched it myself and know I can back up my statement, IF needed.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever" '05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins-Pulling our '11 Silverado LT, Ex Cab 6.2L NHT 4x4, w/2010 Rzr or 01 V Star in back. Where the wheels are stopped today
So you make a statement that is confusing and refuse to exlain why you made the statement in the first place. Remind me not to take a 100 mile trip with you.
I think you are trying to confuse a salvage title with diminished value. A salvage title usually applies to a vehicle that has been deemed totaled, repaired, and made roadworthy. Diminished value is the amount of value loss to a vehicle that has been damaged. I would think diminished value would pertain to these vehicles since they were not deemed totaled.
A coworker bought a new "hailed" Dodge 1500 a few years back. The truck had 15 miles on it along with golf ball size dents on the hood, roof and one side. He got thousands $$ off the price, full warranty, including rust protection as any other new vehicle. He was, and still is a happy camper. By the way, the trucks name is Dimples.
peaches&cream wrote: I think you are trying to confuse a salvage title with diminished value. A salvage title usually applies to a vehicle that has been deemed totaled, repaired, and made roadworthy. Diminished value is the amount of value loss to a vehicle that has been damaged. I would think diminished value would pertain to these vehicles since they were not deemed totaled.
Nope, I drive a vehicle that we leased first then purchased. The title has "Lease Vehicle" branded on it. Prior to that we bought a rental SUV and it had "Rental Vehicle" branded on the title. Every state is different, but many brand their vehicle titles for the smallest thing.
1.has damage to or is missing a major component part to the extent that the cost of repairs, including parts and labor other than the cost of materials and labor for repainting the motor vehicle and excluding sales tax on the total cost of repairs, exceeds the actual cash value of the motor vehicle immediately before the damage; or
2.is damaged and that comes into this state under an out-of-state salvage motor vehicle certificate of title or similar out-of-state ownership document that states on its face "accident damage," "flood damage," "inoperable," "rebuildable," "salvageable," or similar notation
So where would your rant regarding the hail damaged vehicles that Ford said will be repaired, fully disclosed and not sold as new fall into the Texas law? If Ford has stated it will comply with full disclosure, then why would we need to "look out" for same quote you?
Here is just one statement from a quick search, that should wake folks up....
Experian Automotive recently reported that in just the first six months of 2008 there were more than 185,000 titles that were initially branded in one state, and then transferred and re-titled in a second state in a way that resulted in issuance of a purportedly clean title.
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Which of the 50 states would commit such a Dastardly Deed? 
