Titles
Title terms and mileage records
Title brands and odometer readings are some of the most important entries in a history report.
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Title terminology
Brands like salvage, rebuilt, flood, and lemon law buyback, and what each one generally signals.
- A clean title means no brand was recorded by the issuing state. It is not a condition rating.
- Salvage generally indicates a vehicle was declared a total loss at some point.
- Rebuilt or reconstructed usually follows a salvage brand after repairs and a state inspection.
- Brand definitions vary by state, so check the issuing state's motor vehicle agency for exact meaning.
Mileage records
Odometer readings captured at inspections, title transfers, and service visits over time.
- Readings should generally rise over time. A lower later reading is worth a closer look.
- Terms like not actual mileage or exceeds mechanical limits are odometer brands recorded on a title.
- Compare readings with the vehicle's age to see whether use looks typical or heavy.
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