after searching, i couldnt find exactly what i was looking for.
What exactly defines a clear title? Does it just simply mean that the car has had no mechanical problems, such as rebuild, flooding etc etc etc or does this concern body damage as well? My girlfriends car has been in an accident but only had to replace the front bumper, headlights and hood. The engine. radiator or anything else was never damaged and everything was replaced with factory parts. Is the title still clear?

 

i thought
clear title = no money borrowed against the vehicle, no loan, no money owning on the vehicle etc....

 

Some states have different rules regarding titles. Most states have titles and salvage titles. You generally don't receive the title if their is a lien (borrowed money) against the car. As far as I know, the lender holds the title and if you sell the car it has to be paid off first. Other states may be different.

I know at some car auctions in PA, if the bank holds the title they don't want to give the title but the "repossession papers". Which seems very odd to me, they're selling the thing and writing off any loss, why should they keep the title.

 

clear title means that it has no accidents( wrecks, flooding, lemon law, failed inspections etc.. ) reported... it could have still been involvied in an accident, or whatever, so you still have to check the vehicle.

 

so basically not all wrecks or accidents are going to be seen on the title of the car?

 

I live in Virginia and I have never heard of any title notations relating to mechanical issues (accidents, lemon law returns, etc).

The two title notations in Virginia are when someone has a lien on the car (your finance company) or if the odometer reading is not correct (like when the odometer has been replaced).

 

It typically means both being mechanically sound with no accidents AND having no financial liability attached to it from a previous owner, but all the bank cares about when you're financing, it is the latter.

 

In Massachusetts a clear title just means that the car wasn't a declared a total loss from the insurance company. It can have damages, even the ones that is wrecked beyond reconition. If it wasn't declared, it's a clear title.