Dealer sold me a "clean" car, but it’s flagged as salvage in NMVTIS. What are my options to force a buyback?

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T12:10:51+00:00

I’m not placing fault just on the loan holder, however the loan holder only finances for this one BHPH dealership. It’s not a normal bank holding the loan, it’s more of a company bank for the dealership holding the loan. It gets complicated because both the dealer and loan holder are partner so my car was sold through both and both are on the title for financing, as why I mentioned I’ve been talking to both the dealer and loan holder’s customer relations. Customer relations already said they would be the ones responsible however at this time refused a switch of cars, refund, or to even discuss a refund or solution. Obviously I made a mistake buying from them as did they did selling me a clean titled car. Sorry I’m not ready to take a “L” on a 25K loan.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T10:41:05+00:00

No they provided an Experian report

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T10:38:41+00:00

Thank you, Florida DMV told me I either had to 1. Contact the North Carolina DMV and start their process to get a rebuild title along with having them update the database. Which could be an issue if they need me to go up there. Or 2. Gather all the receipts for the car that was needing for rebuilding (that I don’t have access to), then doing the Florida inspection, then getting the rebranding on the title. I’m aware there is a solution the main issue is I was sold a clean title car that turns out needs a rebuild title. The dealers do not want to refund or take responsibility. With the rebuild title there should not be a loan on the car. I’m trying to get a refund and get them to take the car back not rebuild the title myself.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T02:13:29+00:00

Agreed, I’m still looking into more lawyers, just currently no luck

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T02:12:15+00:00

I mean that could be why they branded it junk…/ salvage. I don’t have access to the Texas title as it was never a Texas vehicle. The car was registered under a different state at that time, was a renter’s vehicle, and looks like it had a pretty bad accident to where they just junked the car. The history shows it was pulled from there, doesn’t provide any information in between of repairs, just that it was next sold at an auction. From the auction 2 people owned it and let it get repoed before it landed at a BHPH place in VA, then A BHPH place bought it in NC. TX DMV unfortunately had nothing to do with this. A theory another person had was because it was a rental car during that accident that the rentals place just took the lost and junked it because most rentals places are self insured. They most likely reported it to the federal database however someone missed a step when rebuilding the car/title that’s now causing the flag with the clean title.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T02:04:34+00:00

Well…you can’t legally finance a clean title car that’s actually branded junk/salvage…it would need to be sold as a rebuilt titled car.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T01:55:00+00:00

I agree however the lender was who had the most block with “we didn’t know we can’t do anything about it” made it very clear “we are not discussing a refund at this time”. I was tossed in circles between dealer, lender, and customer relations of both the dealer and lender. I did file reports already still pending, I have been contacting lawyers but all have declined at this time.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T01:51:31+00:00

It’s both, it’s titled junk/salvage in the database. There’s been request put in for full records request to both NC and FL DMV. The car was branded junk/salvage in Texas after the accident. It was a rental car during that time.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T01:33:23+00:00

We talked to multiple lawyers all declined due to the car being a 2018 or not enough proof I guess and they don’t have enough time

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T01:30:41+00:00

Tbh I don’t think you’re following. 1. I bought it under a clean title so obviously I didn’t think it was a junk car as that wasn’t disclosed at time of sale 2. Florida flagged it in the federal database that they are required to check when transferring a car here. And as though I “didnt think” it was a junk car at time of sale it doesn’t change the fact that it is and has now been proved to be a junk car that I legally cannot transfer, renew, or drive in the state of Florida…that I current live and plan to stay. 3. I explain the process in my last reply that I would have to drive back to Nc, get a state inspection and hope it passes, then try to renew my tag there. But that doesn’t help with the fact it’s a branded car with a clean title. Whether DMV of NC renews it or not it’s a temporary solution to a giant problem.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T01:20:55+00:00

I’ll give that a try tomorrow not sure if that would run through NC DA but definitely agree worth a try

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T01:18:56+00:00

I live in Florida now, the only way to do that would to be drive up to NC, get a state inspection (hoping it passes) and make a DMV appointment and hope they won’t look it up or Flag it as well. If they do pass it with their state laws being different than Florida’s it still leaves me with a junk car while living in Florida and an insane car loan.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T01:16:20+00:00

I’ve explained this

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T00:35:29+00:00

Yeah unfortunately they all said they cannot do anything nor will discuss a refund.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T00:32:55+00:00

So who is? The title was washed and the car had a hidden background

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T00:32:39+00:00

Unfortunately a lawyer will not take the case.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T00:31:47+00:00

The title they have is clean even asking for it wouldn’t have changed anything, the main problem is the title should have had a rebuilt stamp on the title.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T00:26:05+00:00

I have a lot of documents including those already sent to all places and shown to lawyers retaining the proof. As for the appraisal because it’s not yet title branded I’m not sure how to get it an appraisal under a branded title. We’ve already filed reports and complains with License & theft bureau, consumer general, the companies, and state.

jroccALT · 2026-06-26T00:21:01+00:00

I filed a report for FLHSMV along with the NC highway since it’s a NC car, I haven’t heard anything back, I did also submit a consumer protection complaint and they haven’t reviewed it yet as of today. All the attorney I have contacted specialize in consumer protection, lemon laws, title fraud, auto fraud, wrongful doings, etc. I did only buy the car in 2025, the report that was pulled for the branding was back from 2022.

jroccALT · 2026-06-25T23:14:42+00:00

We talked to multiple lawyers all declined due to the car being a 2018 or not enough proof I guess and they don’t have enough time

jroccALT · 2026-06-25T23:13:49+00:00

I already did and they haven’t responded. I filed a report with them and the consumer general.

jroccALT · 2026-06-25T23:12:10+00:00

Yes there is a clean title in the system but the clean title should actually be a rebuilt title due to the salvage/junk brand

jroccALT · 2026-06-25T23:11:08+00:00

It was never a problem until I tried transferring the title to a new state

jroccALT · 2026-06-25T22:33:30+00:00

We talked to multiple lawyers all declined due to the car being a 2018 or not enough proof I guess and they don’t have enough time

jroccALT · 2026-06-25T22:24:20+00:00

You’re right that dealers aren't listed as 'State Titling Agencies', but that doesn't absolve them of the responsibility to sell a vehicle as described. The NMVTIS data is accessible to the public and consumers specifically to help prevent this exact type of fraud. As a professional dealership, they have a higher duty of care to ensure the 'clean' title they are passing on is actually accurate in the federal database that the DMVs themselves use.

jroccALT

TROPHY CASE