Corner Wrench: How to re-certify a wrecked or salvaged vehicle

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What if you’re relatively handy with mechanical, electrical, and body repairs and want to get a dream car back on the road cheap by restoring an insurance write-off?

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It’s a question that comes up more than you’d think. Some consider this when their own treasured rides are written off in a collision; others are bitten by the bug when they spot a coveted ride while trawling through their favourite auto-recycling yard. But what’s involved in rebuilding a salvaged vehicle to legally return it to the road? A lot more than you might imagine.

First, you must determine the vehicle’s current legal classification. Insurance firms are required to notify regulatory bodies whenever an auto is written off, either due to substantial damage or non-recoverable theft. The provincial authority then applies that status (called a ‘brand’) to the vehicle’s registration/ownership documents. The classifications are: non-repairable, salvage, rebuilt, stolen, and altered. These statuses are printed on ownership slips.

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Non-repairable vehicles cannot be repaired nor re-certified for public road use, no matter what type of rebuilding they undergo. So when you run into this class, it’s the end of the road for that VIN.

The others may be returned to road use, but there’s almost as much paper and detective work as there is body and paint tasks.

A vehicle tagged stolen, for instance, can only have that moniker removed by the original police service involved in the report. Until that’s cleared, it can’t be re-certified for use.

If you find a salvage-branded vehicle and decide it’s worth rebuilding, check it very carefully for the serial numbers. That’s plural, as the manufacturer’s vehicle identification number is stamped or labeled on multiple locations. All of these VIN stamps must match each other as well as the ownership.

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The first thing you’ll need before lifting a tool or sourcing any part is a large, durable file folder. Every single nut, bolt, fuel line, and even trim clips have to be documented indicating the part’s description and where it came from (originals or notarized copies only; no photocopies). The same goes for any repairs you may have performed by someone else, such as welding, frame straightening and repairs, or paint work. Hand-scribbled receipts may not pass muster, and the last thing you’ll want after so many hours and dollars is for some bureaucrat to deny certification because you’re missing a bill for a plastic push-pin (a real experience from a neighbour of mine restoring his own truck after a collision). You’ll need date-stamped colour photographs of the vehicle before any work starts as part of the file, including shots showing the serial numbers as well. If the vehicle requires any alignment work as part of the frame straightening, you’ll also need a picture of the ride on the alignment rack.

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The very next thing to do, before beginning any work (or even purchasing the vehicle), is to locate an inspection facility in your area that’s licensed to complete rebuilt-vehicle structural integrity inspections per provincial regulations. This requires additional certifications above and beyond those needed for standard vehicle safety inspections. A number of Canadian shops that previously held licences gave up on this type of work due to the overwhelming paperwork involved. Your local provincial vehicle licensing office may be able to help point you in the right direction.

No, you can’t legally drive a rebuilt vehicle to an inspection station: it has to be towed. You can also expect the inspection fees to cost much more than just the time spent on the vehicle. Inspection stations must also review the files you’ve kept on the repairs and parts purchases to ensure that they meet standards.

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When the rebuild involves welding (especially on structural components), don’t spray any coating on the welds; they must be visible for the inspection. You should also ask the inspection station if they want any trim panels left off for their check-over as well.

If you’ve never attempted to rebuild a salvage-titled vehicle before, you’re best advice is to grab a box of donuts, some good coffee, a notepad, and visit an inspection station that’s successfully re-certified vehicles before to ask questions. A few minutes of this type of prep can save you thousands of dollars, and possibly countless hours and headaches. You should also check out the Canadian Vehicle Status Management Program at ccmta.ca.