MVD | Salvage Vehicle Retained by the Insurance Company

**MVD Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday excluding state holidays **

When an Insurance Company Retains the Wrecked/Salvaged Vehicle in Settlement of a Total Loss Claim - What is Required?

When an insurance company retains the salvaged/wrecked vehicle in settlement of a "total loss" claim, the insurance company must apply for a Salvage title in their name within thirty- (30) days of the date of the insurance settlement when the vehicle requires a Georgia title. Click here to see if the vehicle requires a title. To apply for a salvage title, the insurance company should submit the following to this Department's Salvage Unit together:

1. A completed Application for a Salvage Title, Form MV-1S. This application must be typed, completed on-line and printed or printed legibly by-hand in blue or black ink in the Insurance Company's name. An authorized representative of the insurance company must sign this completed application and enter his position with the company beside his signature. Most tag and title forms may be completed on-line for printing, signing and submission from this Department's web site. To do so, just click on the applicable form name/number on this page.

2. The original valid title properly assigned to the insurance company with all recorded liens or security interests properly released.

3. A check or money order for the $18 title fee payable to the Department of Revenue.

Submit the above items together to the following address:

Attention: Salvage Unit
Motor Vehicle Division
P O Box 740384
Atlanta, GA 30374-00384

Rules to Remember:

If the insurance company takes possession of the vehicle, the owner retains the license plate. The valid Georgia license plate may be transferred to another vehicle the owner may purchase or acquire when both vehicles require the same type and price license plate. Click here to view a list of the different type license plates and there fee.

If the owner retains the salvage vehicle, the license plate is surrendered to this Department or their County Tax Commissioner's Office for cancellation. Exemption: Special tags and out-of-state license plates should not be surrendered; but should be removed from the vehicle. The vehicle should not be driven until it has been restored/rebuilt and has passed an inspection by this Department's Inspection Unit. Any valid special tag (Georgia) that was issued for the salvage vehicle in the owner's name may again be affixed to the vehicle once the vehicle has been restored/rebuilt and the vehicle has passed an inspection by this Department's Inspection Unit.

If the vehicle owner retains the salvage vehicle in settlement of a "total loss" claim, click here for instructions.

Click here for more information regarding salvage vehicles that are scrapped, dismantled, i.e. sold for parts only, or demolished.