Georgia Department of Revenue
1800 Century Blvd, NE Atlanta GA 30345-3245        Tel: 404-417-4477        Toll Free: 1-877-602-8477

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

When the Owner Retains the Salvaged/Damaged Vehicle in Settlement of a Total Loss Claim - What is Required?

Usually there are two (2) situations when a Salvage title is applied for on a vehicle declared a "total loss". These are:

(1) The owner retains the salvage vehicle; or,

(2) The Insurance Company retains the salvage vehicle. Click here to view what is required in this situation.

Listed below are the responsibilities of both the vehicle owner and the Insurance Company when the vehicle owner retains the salvage vehicle in settlement of a "total loss" claim:

Owner's Responsibilities

When the vehicle requires a Georgia title, the vehicle owner must provide the insurance company with the following before receiving payment in settlement of the "total loss" claim: Click here to see if the vehicle requires a Georgia title.

1. A completed Application for a Salvage Title, Form MV-1S. - Except for the signature,this application must be typed, electronically completed and printed or printed legibly by-hand in blue or black ink in the vehicle owner's full legal name. The vehicle owner should sign this completed form. If jointly owned, each owner's full legal name and signature is required. A natural person's full legal name is his or her complete name as it appears on his or her valid Georgia driver's license or Georgia identification card.

2. The vehicle's Georgia license plate, registration certificate, and a completed Report of and/or Surrender of Georgia License Plate, Form T-158. If the vehicle is registered with a Georgia special tag, i.e. prestige, college, etc., or an out-of-state tag, it should be removed from the vehicle but should not be submitted.

3. The vehicle's original valid title, if available.

Important: The vehicle should not be driven until it has been rebuilt/restored, passed an inspection by this Department's Inspection Unit and has a new license plate issued and affixed to it or has the vehicle's valid special license plate (Georgia) placed back on it.

A salvage title must be obtained before the salvage vehicle is sold, disposed of as scrap metal or parts or is scrapped, dismantled or demolished.

Anyone purchasing a salvage vehicle with the intent of rebuilding it must be licensed. For licensing requirements, please contact the Georgia State Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers or click here to connect to their web site.

**Insurer(s)' Responsibilities**

For vehicles requiring a Georgia title, the insurance company must apply for a salvage title in the vehicle owner's name when the owner retains the salvage vehicle by submitting the following to this Department's Salvage Unit. See the information under the heading "Salvage Vehicle - Ten Model Year Old & Older" for instructions pertaining to vehicles ten-model (10) year or older.

  • A completed Application for a Salvage Title, Form MV-1S. - Except for the signature, this application must be typed, electronically completed and printed, or printed legibly by-hand in blue or black ink in the vehicle owner's full legal name and signed. If jointly owned, each owner's full legal name and signature is required. A natural person's full legal name is his or her complete name as it appears on his or her valid Georgia driver's license or Georgia identification card. For unsatisfied liens or security interests, record the lien or security interest holder's name and address on this application in the order their interest was perfected.
  • The vehicle's original valid title, if available, manufacturer's certificate of origin or registration certificate from a non-title state or country issued in the vehicle owner's name or properly assigned to the vehicle owner. If the vehicle is currently titled in Georgia in the applicant's name and the title is not available because it is either missing or being held by the lien or security interest holder, skip this requirement, check the "replacement" box on the Application for a Salvage Title, Form MV-1S, and pay only an $8.00 replacement title fee.
  • A completed Certification of Inspection, Form T-22B, if the vehicle is currently registered in a state or county that does not issue titles for this year or type vehicle. Except for the signature, this form must be typed, electronically completed and printed, or printed legibly by-hand in blue or black ink. A duly constituted Georgia city, county or state law enforcement officer or a Georgia County Tax Commissioner or his or her designated employee must complete and sign this form after making a visual inspection of the vehicle's serial plate.
  • A lien or security interest release, Form T-4, for each satisfied lien or security interest when not released on the title. Omit satisfied lien or security interest information from the Application for a Salvage Title, Form MV-1S. Click here for information on when a lien or security interest release may not be required.
  • A completed Notice to Owner Payment of a Total Loss Claim, Form T-56. - Except for the signatures and the owner's initials, this form must be typed, completed on-line and printed or printed legibly by-hand in blue or blank ink. The vehicle owner must sign and initial each of their responsibilities listed on this form to indicate they understand. The agent for the insurance company must sign this form after informing the vehicle owner of all their responsibilities.
  • The vehicle's Georgia license plate, registration certificate, and a completed Report of and/or Surrender of Georgia License Plate, Form T-158. Any special tag, i.e. prestige, college, etc., or out-of-state tag must be removed from the vehicle but not submitted.
  • Title fee - A check or money order in the amount of $18.00 payable to Georgia Motor Vehicle Division. When the vehicle's Georgia title is missing or being held by the lien or security interest holder, submit only $8.00 and check the "replacement" box on the MV-1S application.

When the Georgia title is being held by the lien or security interest holder, this Department will notify the first lien or security interest holder by mail that the vehicle has been declared a "total loss" and will request the submission of the title. In this situation, a replacement salvage title will be issued and mailed to the title holder. The title holder must submit the original title to this Department within ten- (10) days of receiving the notice. When the vehicle is not financed, the salvage title, when issued, will be mailed to the vehicle owner.

Click here for instructions for applying for a rebuilt title and an inspection.

**Salvage Vehicle - Ten Model Year & Older

For vehicles ten-model (10) years and older, the insurance company is not required to apply for a salvage title before paying a "total loss" claim, when the vehicle's title is not available at the time of settlement. However, the vehicle owner has thirty-days (30) from the date of the settlement to obtain the vehicle's title and apply for a salvage title in their name. In this case, the insurance company must obtain the following items at the time of settlement:

1. The vehicle's Georgia license plate, registration certificate, and a completed and signed Report of and/or Surrender of Georgia License Plate, Form T-158. Out-of-state or special tags, i.e. prestige, college commemorative, etc., should be removed from the vehicle but not submitted.

2. A completed, signed and initialed Notice to Owner - Payment of a "Total Loss" Claim", Form T-56.

The above listed items should be submitted together to the following address: Attention: Salvage Unit, Georgia Motor Vehicle Division, PO Box 740384, Atlanta, GA 30374-0384.