Who Issues Title Brands by State

Vehicle titles and title brands (salvage, rebuilt, flood, lemon, junk, and others) are issued by each state's motor vehicle agency. Use the table below to find the official issuer and website for every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.

50 states & D.C.

StateIssuing agency
ALAlabama
Alabama Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division
AKAlaska
Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
AZArizona
Arizona Department of Transportation – Motor Vehicle Division
ARArkansas
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration – Office of Motor Vehicles
CACalifornia
California Department of Motor Vehicles
COColorado
Colorado Department of Revenue – Division of Motor Vehicles
CTConnecticut
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
DEDelaware
Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
DCDistrict of Columbia
District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles
FLFlorida
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
GAGeorgia
Georgia Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division
HIHawaii
Hawaii Department of Transportation – Motor Vehicle Division
IDIdaho
Idaho Transportation Department – Division of Motor Vehicles
ILIllinois
Illinois Secretary of State – Vehicle Services
INIndiana
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
IAIowa
Iowa Department of Transportation – Motor Vehicle Division
KSKansas
Kansas Department of Revenue – Division of Vehicles
KYKentucky
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet – Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing
LALouisiana
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
MEMaine
Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles
MDMaryland
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
MAMassachusetts
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
MIMichigan
Michigan Department of State – Secretary of State
MNMinnesota
Minnesota Department of Public Safety – Driver and Vehicle Services
MSMississippi
Mississippi Department of Public Safety – Motor Vehicle Division
MOMissouri
Missouri Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Titling & Registration
MTMontana
Montana Department of Justice – Motor Vehicle Division
NENebraska
Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
NVNevada
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
NHNew Hampshire
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles
NJNew Jersey
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
NMNew Mexico
New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division
NYNew York
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
NCNorth Carolina
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
NDNorth Dakota
North Dakota Department of Transportation – Driver License
OHOhio
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
OKOklahoma
Oklahoma Tax Commission – Motor Vehicle Services
OROregon
Oregon Department of Transportation – Driver & Motor Vehicle Services
PAPennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation – Driver and Vehicle Services
RIRhode Island
Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
SCSouth Carolina
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
SDSouth Dakota
South Dakota Department of Public Safety – Motor Vehicles
TNTennessee
Tennessee Department of Revenue – Vehicle Services Division
TXTexas
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
UTUtah
Utah Division of Motor Vehicles
VTVermont
Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
VAVirginia
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
WAWashington
Washington State Department of Licensing
WVWest Virginia
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
WIWisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Transportation – Division of Motor Vehicles
WYWyoming
Wyoming Department of Transportation – Driver Services

What kind of Title Brands exist?

A title brand is a permanent label added to a vehicle's title by a state agency to flag serious issues in the car's history—such as major accident damage, flooding, theft recovery, or being declared a total loss. Below are the most common types of branded titles you may encounter.

Salvage Title

A salvage title means the vehicle was significantly damaged, often from a crash, and declared uneconomical to repair.

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Rebuilt Title

A rebuilt title applies when a previously salvaged vehicle has been repaired and inspected to be roadworthy again.

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Flood Damage Title

A flood title means the vehicle has been submerged in water, often damaging its mechanical and electrical systems.

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Lemon Title

A lemon title is used for vehicles with chronic mechanical issues that could not be repaired under warranty.

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Total Loss Title

A total loss title is given when the cost to repair the vehicle exceeds its market value, making it uneconomical to fix.

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Junk Title

A junk title is issued when a vehicle is considered only valuable for parts or scrap, with no road use allowed.

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Fire Title

A fire title indicates the vehicle suffered damage from flames or extreme heat.

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Reconstructed Title

A reconstructed title means the vehicle was previously damaged and later repaired and re-titled after inspection, depending on state rules.

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Stolen Title

A stolen title shows the vehicle has been reported stolen and may not have been recovered in usable condition.

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View all title brands →