I was bored and googled my vin this morning, and one of the links took me to this:

http://www.mercedessalvagecars.info/...E33435TD90932/

That's not my vin (just feels weird posting mine on a forum) but that's exactly what mine looks like, shows color, model, and a mileage from about 35k ago. Did I buy a salvage car? Nothing has showed up until now....

 

The title on your car would tell you if its a salvage car. Also if you run a carfax it will tell you if its been wrecked or not.

 

Title is clear. I'm hoping that site is just a troll site showing vin numbers they mined at some point.

 

yeah I wouldn't worry about it then. The site seems suspicious anyway.

 

I never did a Carfax though, I got MINI fever and bought the dang thing....

 

There are ways to launder salvage titles, but I would not jump to the conclusion that that's what happened to yours.

Pull title history via CarFax, and if you see 2-3 owners, you are probably in the clear. If many more than that (and some of them were in the South), I would look further.

The site you sited seams sketchy, but then again, VINs aren't easy to harvest in bulk, so a bit more research seams to be warranted.

a

 

I see no credibility to that web site. Looks to me it is just a way to scam money.

 

Not trying to scare you any more then you already are but just because you have a clean car fax does not mean it hasn't been wrecked.. Just means it wasn't reported..

 

If you have had your car for several months....and its fine...no worries...you could car fax it...but heck...you like your car right...
I might be inclined to think it is a scam site, using vin#'s taken from other sale sites...the fact they elude to "the cars are in various locations" they specialize in "Mercedes" and they list most any Vin around....makes me think its just a jerk of a geek owner trying to drive clicks and searches....by listing thousands on vin"'s on a serch page, hoping folks will go to him....
Some states as noted do not have salvage titles, so a car, on paper can be transfered there, regerstered, then transfered out of that state to clear a title, or an owner can buy the car from his own insurance company to avoid the "salvage" branding in some states....

 

I'd have to push back on this a little, Zippy: if the car were in a big enough wreck to total it, there may be underlying safety issues even if it drives correctly.

That being said, I wouldn't trust that site. Carfax will give you the best window. Lots of state-to-state transfers could be a tell-tale.

 

http://www.autocheck.com/consumers/c...eck-compare.do is a better choice for info, just doesn't get the love that Carfax gets. Probably those dumb commercials and the fact that dealers love less info on the used cars they sell.

 

In Alaska, a recovered stolen vehicle would get a reconstruct aka salvage title.

Essentially, if insurance pays out on a big enough loss, it is reported.

 

Thanks everyone. Much of what I've read here mirrors my own feelings. I think I'm in the clear.

 

If your car is a Mercedes-Benz Cooper, that site may hold valid information. Is it?

I'm pretty sure it's something where they have found a way to supply every possible permutation of VIN to Google so a search will turn them up Much like those "find out who owns this phone number" sites do.