A certificate of salvage is a document issued by the MVA that establishes the ownership of a vehicle. However, unlike a certificate of title, which is also an ownership document, a vehicle with a certificate of salvage may not be operated on public roads.

A certificate of salvage is needed in the following five situations:

• Case 1 - an insurance company wants to sell a damaged vehicle at a public auction
• Case 2 - an insurance company receives a report that their customer’s vehicle was stolen
• Case 3 - an individual or company buys an abandoned vehicle at a police auction;
• Case 4 - an automotive dismantler or recycler or scrap processor wants to dismantle or scrap a vehicle
• Case 5 - an individual elects to keep their damaged vehicle.

What is the process for obtaining a certificate of salvage?

A request for the Certificate of Salvage can be made in-person to the Glen Burnie Salvage Unit Counter 104, or by mail or delivery service to the MVA Salvage Unit.  Submit an Application for a Salvage Certificate for each case below - Be sure to include the type of business (insurance Company), indicate the vehicle's damage, status and the signature of the company's representative.  The application form and other documents required vary by case, as explained below.

Case 1 – When an insurance company wants to sell a damaged vehicle at a public auction, the following documents are required:

• Proof of ownership – Properly assign the vehicle’s certificate of title to the insurance company.
• Lien release – A release is required only when the certificate of title indicates that a lien exists.

The resulting certificate of salvage will be marked with a statement indicating the extent of the vehicle’s damage.

Case 2 – When an insurance company receives a report of a stolen vehicle by one of its customers, the following documents are required:

• Proof of ownership – Properly assign the vehicle’s certificate of title to the insurance company. If the insurance company does not have the title, a duplicate certificate of title must first be obtained.
• Lien release – a release is required only when the certificate of title indicates that a lien exists.

Note: 

• No salvage certificate will be printed until the vehicle is recovered.  MVA will record in its database the information related to the stolen vehicle salvage transaction.
• When the vehicle is recovered, the insurance company must request another certificate of salvage, which will be marked with a statement indicating the extent of the vehicle's damage.  If a vehicle is recovered with 75% or less damage, the insurance company has an option to apply either for a salvage certificate or an unbranded title.

Case 3 – When an individual or company buys an abandoned vehicle at a police auction, the following documents are required:

• Auctioneer’s Sales Receipt for Police Sales of Abandoned Vehicles Only – Provided to the buyer by the police. This form is the ownership document for the vehicle. It must be complete and include the vehicle’s odometer reading and the signatures of a representative of the police department, a representative of the governmental sub-division, and the auctioneer. The form must also be notarized.
• Proof of identity – Required only when the application is presented in person. The customer must present a driver’s license or other proof of identity acceptable to the MVA.

The Certificate of Salvage will be marked with a message indicating that the vehicle has been abandoned.

Note: If the vehicle purchased at an auction is marked "for parts only," the MVA can never issue either a certificate of salvage or a certificate of title for the vehicle.

Case 4 – When an authorized automotive dismantler and recycler or scrap processor wants to dismantle or scrap a vehicle, one of the following documents are required:

• Assumption of Ownership by Automotive Dismantler/Scrap Processor – Must be completed by an automotive dismantler and recycler or scrap processor for a vehicle in its possession, if the vehicle's certificate of title is not available. The form certifies that the company has attempted to notify the vehicle owner of the company’s intention to dispose of the vehicle OR;
• Certificate of Authority – This form is provided to an automotive dismantler and recycler or scrap processor by a police department that originally took custody of an abandoned vehicle. It serves as the ownership document for the vehicle since no certificate of title is available.

The resulting certificate of salvage will be marked with a message indicating that the vehicle has been abandoned.  

Case 5 - When an individual elects to keep their damaged vehicle and if the insurance company permits the owner of a damaged vehicle to keep the vehicle, the insurance company must notify the MVA unless the damage to the vehicle is 75% or less of the fair market value (see note below).  The following documents are required:

• Proof of Ownership - The vehicle's certificate of title must be submitted.
• Lien Release - A lien release is required only when the certificate of title indicates that a lien exists.
• Maryland Safety Inspection - The customer has to have the vehicle inspected within 90 days of receiving a notice from MVA or the registration will be suspended.

When the damage is greater than 75% of the vehicle's fair market value and repairable or has sustained flood damage, the new Maryland title will be branded "rebuilt salvage" or "flood damage" respectively.  The vehicle must pass a Maryland State Safety Inspection within 90 days of receiving notice from the MVA or the registration will be suspended.  The customer may return their registration plates to avoid the suspension being placed against the vehicle.

Note Effective October 1, 2010:

• The cosmetic brand will no longer be used on salvage certificates issued by the MVA, except in the case of corrected or duplicate salvage certificates.  Titles produced from a salvage certificate with the cosmetic brand will not be branded.
• For owner retention of vehicles with damage 75% of less of the fair market value, a Maryland Safety Inspection is not needed, the insurance company will not be required to obtain the certificate of title, and no correction will be needed to the vehicle record.  The vehicle record will not be branded.

Fees:

• There is a fee for a Maryland Certificate of Salvage. 

Contact Information:

MVA
Salvage Unit
6601 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

For telephone questions:

MVA Customer Service Center:	1-800-950-1MVA(1682)
TTY/Hearing Impaired:	1-800-492-4575
Out-of-State:	1-301-729-4550