8.5.1

TITLE BRANDS

(Dismantled/ flood/ non-repairable/ reconstructed/ refurbished/restored salvage/ retrofit/ salvage/ stolen)

Effective Date: July 30, 2026 Review Due: July 30, 2028

Summary of Changes

No changes needed per the two year review.

Purpose

To provide guidelines for applying and interpreting brands for a vehicle or mobile home Certificate of Title.

Authority

Two Year Review, A.R.S. §§ 28-2091, 28-2092 through 28-2097, 28-2162, 28-2165, 28-2484.

Policy

  1. Each branded title shall display the brand on the face of the title and remain on each subsequent title.

  1. The Arizona title may display previous brand information from other jurisdictions.  These brands are obtained from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) Brand Pointer File records and may not be removed (or prevented from printing) on the Arizona title.

  1. In cases where a vehicle or mobile home carries more than 6 brands, the title will display the 6 most recent brands and a statement that other brands exist.

  2. Brands that are not recognized by Arizona will not display.

  1. A brand may be removed if one of the following applies:

  1. The brand was placed in error (no inspection required).

  2. An inspection indicated that the vehicle was not damaged, dismantled, scrapped, destroyed, or otherwise should not have been branded, and all original essential parts are present.

  1. Brands that are applied/carried forward by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division include:

  1. Dismantled

  1. Prior to dismantling a vehicle, the owner must apply for a Dismantled brand title.

  1. Not required for vehicles branded Non-repairable.

  2. Not required for automotive recyclers for vehicles branded Dismantled, Salvage or Non-repairable.

  1. Late title transfer penalty fees do not apply to an automotive recycler.

  2. The Division shall not issue a Dismantled brand title for a vehicle/mobile home that:

  1. Has a valid lien filed

    • A lien release is required prior to adding the Dismantled brand.

  2. Has delinquent taxes due.

    • A tax clearance document is required prior to adding the Dismantled brand.

  3. Has already been dismantled, scrapped or destroyed.

  1. Upon meeting specific criteria, the Dismantled brand may be replaced by the following brands:

  1. Non-repairable

  2. Reconstructed

  3. Salvage

  4. Restored Salvage

  1. Flood Damage

  1. An owner of a flood damage vehicle/mobile home shall apply for a Flood Damage brand title.

  1. The owner of record may retain possession of the flood damage vehicle/mobile home.

  2. The owner of record shall retain the license plate.

  3. Upon the issuance of a Flood Damage brand title, the registration is canceled.

  1. The Division shall not issue a Flood Damage brand title for a vehicle/mobile home that:

  1. Has a valid lien filed

  1. Has delinquent taxes due

  1. An insurance company shall apply for a Flood Damage brand title within 30 days after acquiring the vehicle/mobile home.

  2. Upon meeting specific criteria, the Flood Damage brand may be replaced by the following brands:

  1. Non-repairable

  2. Salvage

  3. Restored Salvage

  4. Dismantled

  1. Non-Repairable

  1. An owner/insurer may apply for a Non-repairable brand title.  Only the owner or insurer can designate the vehicle as non-repairable.

  2. The Division shall not issue a Non-repairable brand title for a vehicle/mobile home that:

  1. Has a valid lien filed

  1. Has delinquent taxes due

  1. Upon the issuance of a Non-repairable brand title:

  1. The owner may retain possession of the vehicle/mobile home.

  2. The registration is canceled.

  3. The Non-repairable brand title may be reassigned no more than two times.

  1. A vehicle that is branded “Non-repairable” shall never become roadworthy and shall not be replaced by any other brand or issued any other type of title.

  2. Out-of-state titles branded Non-repairable are ineligible for an Arizona title.

  3. An insurance company shall apply for a Non-repairable brand title within 30 days after acquiring the vehicle/mobile home.

  1. Reconstructed

  1. The owner of a vehicle that is repaired, rebuilt, or restored to operation using component parts from another vehicle shall apply for a Reconstructed brand title.

  2. Satisfactory proof of ownership for component parts used in the reconstruction process is required.

  3. Requires a Level II or Level III Physical Inspection.

  4. A serial number that is assigned by another state may be recorded on the Arizona record.

  1. The out-of-state serial number must display on the vehicle and the out-of-state title.

  2. If the out-of-state title displays the manufacturer’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), an Arizona Serial Number must be assigned.

  1. Upon meeting specific criteria, the Reconstructed brand may be replaced by the following brands:

  1. Dismantled

  2. Non-repairable

  3. Salvage

  1. Refurbished

  1. The Refurbished brand is applied to a motor home when a refurbished coach or body component is remounted to a new motor home cab and chassis power unit.

  2. A level I Vehicle Verification Inspection is required in order to determine the model year.

  3. Upon meeting specific criteria, the Refurbished brand may be replaced by the following brands:

  1. Dismantled

  2. Non-repairable

  3. Salvage

  4. Stolen

  1. Restored Salvage

  1. The Division may issue a Restored Salvage brand title to a vehicle/mobile home that was previously branded “Salvage, Dismantled, or Flood Damage” once the vehicle/mobile home is rebuilt or restored.

  2. Prior to issuing a Restored Salvage brand title, a Level II or III inspection is required.  A mobile home requires a Level I inspection.

  3. Upon meeting specific criteria, the Restored Salvage brand may be replaced by the following brands:

  1. Dismantled

  2. Non-repairable

  3. Reconstructed

  4. Salvage

  5. Stolen

  6. Flood Damage

  1. Retrofit

  1. The Retrofit brand is applied to the record of a vehicle that has been retrofitted to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.

  2. The customer must present proof that the vehicle has been retrofitted. The following are examples of acceptable proof:

  1. U.S. Customs Entry form.

  2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Bond Release Letter.

  3. Letter from the vehicle manufacturer

  1. Salvage

  1. An owner of a salvage vehicle/mobile home shall apply for a Salvage brand title.

  1. The owner of record may retain possession of the salvaged vehicle/mobile home.

  2. The owner of record shall retain the license plate.

  3. Upon the issuance of a Salvage brand title, the registration is canceled.

  1. The Division shall not issue a Salvage brand title for a vehicle/mobile home that:

  1. Has a valid lien filed

    • A lien release is required prior to adding the Salvage brand.

    • An insurance company may submit an Insurance Settlement Certificate, form #96-0567, in place of the lien release when unable to obtain proper vehicle ownership documents from the lien holder or owner, see Policy 8.6.2 Title Transfer.

  2. Has delinquent taxes due

    • A tax clearance document is required prior to adding the Salvage brand.

  1. An insurance company shall apply for a Salvage brand title within 30 days after acquiring the vehicle/mobile home.

  2. A vehicle/mobile home that is branded Salvage may be restored to its previous status when the Salvage brand title was issued to an insurance company as a result of a total loss settlement by reason of theft.

  3. Upon meeting specific criteria, the Salvage brand may be replaced by the following brands:

  1. Non-repairable

  2. Restored Salvage

  3. Stolen

  1. Stolen

  1. An insurance company shall apply for a Stolen brand title within 30 days after acquiring the vehicle/mobile home.

  2. A Stolen brand title will not be issued with a recorded lien or when delinquent taxes are due.

    • A lien release and/or tax clearance document is required prior to adding the Stolen brand.

    • An insurance company may submit an Insurance Settlement Certificate, form #96-0567, in place of the lien release when unable to obtain proper vehicle ownership documents from the lien holder or owner, see Policy 8.6.2 Title Transfer.

  3. Insurance companies must remove the Stolen brand and re-title before transferring interest to someone else.

  4. A vehicle branded Stolen that is recovered in damaged condition may be replaced by the following title brands:

  1. Salvage

  2. Non-repairable

  3. Dismantled

  1. A vehicle branded Stolen that is recovered in undamaged condition may be restored to its previous title status.