When browsing Copart or IAAI auctions, salvage title is one of the first terms you encounter. The critical question: which US vehicle title types can be registered in Poland — and which should you never bid on? The answer depends entirely on the exact wording of the title document.
| Title type | Meaning | Vehicle condition | Registration in Poland | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Clean Title | No total loss history | Roadworthy | YES | Highest market value |
| 🟡 Salvage Title | Total loss per insurer | Needs repair | YES (OSKP) | Check VIN for hidden damage |
| 🔵 Rebuilt / Reconstructed | Repaired salvage, road-approved in USA | Roadworthy | YES | Lower resale value |
| 🧊 Hail Damage | Body damage from hail | Cosmetic only | YES | Easy bodywork repair |
| 🌊 Flood / Water Damage | Flood damage | Electronics risk | DIFFICULT | Electrical failures can appear years later |
| 🍋 Lemon Title | Bought back by manufacturer due to defects | Varies | POSSIBLE | Low market value |
| 🔩 Junk / Parts Only | For parts use only | Not roadworthy | NO | Classified as waste — no customs clearance |
| ⛔ Non-Repairable | Irreparable vehicle (CA, TX, etc.) | Permanent damage | NO | State-level registration ban |
| 🔥 Fire Title | Fire damage | Destroyed | NO | Irreversible structural damage |
| 🚫 Salvage Only / Non-Registerable | Dismantling only (e.g. Illinois) | No road approval | NO | Junk Certificate — unregisterable even in USA |
| 🚷 Certificate of Destruction | Issued to scrapyards for destruction | For disposal | NO | Cannot be registered in EU or USA |
US vehicle title types — overview
The table below shows all common title types and whether the vehicle can be registered in Poland.
ADL Tłumaczenia Przysięgłe · adl-tlumaczenia.pl
Registration process in Poland
A vehicle with a Salvage Title can be registered in Poland, but requires several additional steps: professional repair, a technical inspection at OSKP (the Polish equivalent of a specialist MOT centre), sworn translation of the title and auction invoice, and customs clearance.
Important: vehicles with a Junk Certificate, Certificate of Destruction or Non-Repairable Title cannot be registered in Poland under any circumstances — regardless of the vehicle's actual condition.