Titling a "non-repairable" vehicle

[stevewaclo]

Hello All:

Here's a copy of my post on the Alfa BB seeking advice on re-titling my wrecked, and self-repaired, Nighthawk 750. Read my tale of woe and jump in if you have any advice. And yes, it was titled in VA and registered here in NV and no, NV will not overrule the VA determination. One guy mentioned a "builders title" in MI, which I'm researching.


Hello All:

Once again I seek collective wisdom from the BB to help with an issue, which, while not Alfa related, may have been experienced by someone who suffered a similar situation.

Last fall I crashed my '93 Nighthawk, received a settlement, and was given the bike. I anticipated receiving a salvage title so I could repair and re-title the superficially damaged bike, but, because repair costs greatly exceeded the Actual Cash Value (ACV), VA declared the bike non-repairable, and therefore not able to be re-titled...a very bad determination, as it developes, and something I'm thinking other owners of older cars (motorcycles) may have experienced. Anyway, I'm thinking there must be some way to get around this, but numerous calls, emails and crying on the phone like a little girl have been fruitless. What's the owner of old, but fixable, iron to do?

I can get a new VIN frame sticker and title from "a guy I know", but would prefer not to go there. My Honda dealer will sign off on an inspection certificate, but the problem remains the "non-repairable" determination based on ACV/Repair $$$. BTW, no joy on BB search. .

In the immortal words of Princess Leah, "Help me Obi-Wan, you're my only hope". Actually, I asked Obi-Wan, and he said "You're screwed".

Help!!

[stevewaclo]

Hello:

Just paging through the Forum and realized I never closed out the situation with my "non-repairable" Nighthawk. After a lot of personal research and an admission by my insurance company that "mistakes have been made", the bike now has a clean title and is back on the road (greasy side down!!).

Here's a summary of the gory details as published on the Nighthawk Users Group in late June. There are lessons to be learned for all.

Hello All:

Several months ago I asked for help trying to have my crashed '93NH 750
changed from non-repairable (NR) to salvage status. Briefly, I wrecked
last Fall and walked away, but the bike suffered extensive damage to the
tank, instruments, handlebars, etc. I had collision and comp, and my
insurance company sent me a generous check with the understanding I would keep the bike, get a salvage title and repair the bike myself. The ACV was $1900 and the repair cost, from Honda's parts list, approached $3500 (!).

Because the repair cost was in excess of 80% ACV, the Salvage Department at the company advised VA the bike was non-repairable (not to be re-titled and suitable only as parts bike, scrap or lawn art). Once a vehicle is designated NR, you've got a big problem even when, as in my case, the NH was repairable with about $750 in assorted bits and pieces (thanks Group and salvage yards!). After months of effort, I finally got things turned around by doing lots of detective work and discovering that in VA, any vehicle over 6 years old, with ACV less than $6500 does not fall under the usual NR guidelines...a third party company had submitted forms to VA on an older version of the paperwork that did not make the "over 6 years, etc. situation clear. What a chore.:furious:

Bottom line, if you have Coll&Comp on an older machine (I'm with AARP, so
it was really inexpensive) watch out for the dreaded NR designation. The
$$'s add up fast. If you want to keep the bike (or any older vehicle) and fix it yourself, tell your Claims Rep that salvage parts would be OK for the repair estimate.

If this post help's just one person avoid the grief I've been through, my time documenting my adventure will have been worth it.



On an additional note, I think this also has applicability for someone who has had an older vehicle damaged by another driver and the insurance company declares it a total loss and wants to issue a NR certificate, vs a salvage title (I'm assuming you want to keep the wreck and fix it yourself).

Here's hoping no one ever has to go through what I did, but knowledge is power.

Cheers,

Steve Waclo

[van]

Nice work, now go pop a wheelie!