COPART On 7/5/2023, I bought a vehicle from Copart auction in Michigan. 2022 AUDI Q5 PREMIUM for $29,634.00. The vehicle was advertised as a clean title and sold to me as a Clean Title with minor front-end damage only. CARFAX reported the vehicle as a total loss salvage title. Dallas, Texas
I bought a CLEAN TITLE vehicle from Copart in Michigan and I was issued a Michigan clean title certificate. A few months later, I discovered that CARFAX REPORTED the car as a total loss. I contacted CARFAX, they gave me a reference number for Copart to contact them with the support documents so that they can correct the total loss history on the car. I contacted Copart but they refused to send Carfax the proof.
Here is my reference CASE# 15949065 from CARFAX. TO ATTN BIANCA: RESOLUTION MANAGE. Email: consumerresearch@carfax.com
Please note, that a vehicle can not be branded as Clean Title and Total Loss at the time.
Michigan law, has what are known as "title branding laws." These are laws that require vehicle titles to be branded "salvage," "scrap," "rebuilt" and the like, depending on the age of the vehicle and the extent of the damage. The purpose of this branding law is to protect the public from unscrupulous dealers who purchase total loss vehicles, fix them up, and then sell them at full market price without disclosing the vehicle's total loss history. It is not uncommon for insurance companies and Copart to find ways to evade these laws so that they can obtain higher resale prices for total loss vehicles.
Generally, under Michigan law, if the vehicle is 5 model years old or newer at the time of the loss, and the estimated cost of repair is at least 75% or more of the vehicle's pre-crash fair market value, then the title must be branded "salvage." If the repair-to-value ratio is 91% or more, then the title must be branded "scrap" and the vehicle cannot be resold at retail.
I asked Copart to send Carfax the supporting documents so that Carfax would update and delete the inaccurate CARFAX REPORT. I PAID $29,685 for the car as a clean title. I would have bought the car less if it was advertised as a Total Loss vehicle.
What is the Michigan law on this false advertisement and deceitful posting?
Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.
Sincerely,
Obie
818-324-6136
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Flint
Rolla,Missouri,
United States
I'm still confused
#5General Comment
Mon, May 20, 2024
Whether the title is salvage is determined by what's on the title, not by Carfax. Does your certificate of title say "salvage" on it?
You seem to be extremely confused about the role an auto auction plays. The previous owner of the car got in a crash and had the insurance company repair the car. They then either traded it in to a dealership, or the insurance company paid out the car and took possession of it. They then sent the car to the auction. Copart's role in this is administering the auction, not anything else. They may have no idea who owned the car before and what insurance company they used.
If the title says "salvage" and they claimed it was clean, then they committed fraud and you should be able to either reverse the transaction or get them to compensate you (subject to whatever waivers you may have signed). If the title is clean and Carfax reports that it's not, then it's between you and Carfax. They should be able to tell you who reported that status, and you would have to sort it out with that entity.
Obie
Bakersfield,California,
United States
My vehicle is a Clean Title but Total Loss history on Carfax report
#5Author of original report
Sun, May 19, 2024
I filed a complaint with Carfax requesting an explanation of why my Clean Title car was reported as a Total Loss vehicle. Carfax instructed me to have Copart/Insurance company send copies of the document used in selling the car, they gave me a reference number as shown. consumerresearch@carfax.com . REFERENCE CASE# XXXXX65 TOTAL LOSS TO: ATTN: Bianca Resolution Manager CARFAX, INC. Carfax wants Copart/insurance company to send them copies of the initial documents for the car. I do not understand why Copart refuses to send the requested documentation to Carfax. I wrote to Copart more than 5 times on this request, but still no resolution. Please note, that a vehicle can not be branded as Clean Title and Total Loss at the time.
Flint
Rolla,Missouri,
United States
What does Copart have to do with it?
#5General Comment
Sat, May 18, 2024
If your car has a clean title, it has a clean title. If it doesn't, the title will say "SALVAGE" on it. It's possible someone committed fraud at some point and washed the title, or perhaps the damage didn't meet Michigan's thresholds for declaring the car a total loss. Unless Copart is the entity that reported the car as a total loss to Carfax, I don't really see how you could argue that they owe you anything. But I'm pretty sure they didn't, they are just an auto auction. Usually this type of history gets reported by insurance companies.
Obie
Bakersfield,California,
United States
Copart refused to send proof of the documents requested from Carfax
#5Author of original report
Fri, May 17, 2024
I wrote to Carfax regarding the total loss report on the car. Carfax told me to have Copart/ insurance company send them copies of the documents for the car. I contacted Coparts to work with the insurance company to send Carfax the documents REQUEST but Coparts refused, they also refused to give me the contact information for the insurance company, stating that it was against their company policy.
Generally, under Michigan law, if the vehicle is 5 model years old or newer at the time of the loss, and the estimated cost of repair is at least 75% or more of the vehicle's pre-crash fair market value, then the title must be branded "salvage." Michigan, has what is known as "title branding laws." These are laws that require vehicle titles to be branded "salvage," "scrap," "Total Loss," "rebuilt" and the like, depending on the age of the vehicle and the extent of the damage.