you cannot transfer a salvage certificate from PA to VA.


you can apply for a salvage rebuild, which it sounds like you have been doing, but you have to have it done correctly, which sounds like your problem.

When you purchased it, you should have purchased it with a title, not a salvage certificate. it would be a branded title, which is a pain to deal with but is easier than what you are doing.

according to the MVDB book I have in front of me, a PA title (light blue with dark border) will have a brand code of R on it if it is a reconstruct.

Sounds to me that they bought it as a salvage certificate, not title, which is the same as it is in VA for a salvage certificate. Which cannot be titled with the same VIN number ever again, has to go through a reconstruct process.

Here is where it gets tricky: VA has several title brands. Rebuilt, repaired, non-repairable, reconstructed, and now a flood brand after Katrena. Rebuilt is a salvage vehicle whose damage exceeds 75% value, reconstructed is less than 75%, non-repairable is listed as above 90%, reconstructed is a vehicle that has been extensively altered (kit cars usually) and flood is one with water damage that exceeds 1000 clams.

That is the tricky part (I run into it every now and then with rebuilds from NC). Since PA has a much different titling process, you will run into some problems.


They likely bought it through Manheim, but where they bought it really doesnt matter. you have a bike with a salvage certificate, which basically means it is useable for parts only. You rebuilt the vehicle, but it was not titled in VA initially so it really screws with the process.

To title this vehicle and have it road worthy you will need the help of a licensed rebuilder in the commonwealth of VA. I see no other way of doing it and having it work with the DMV.

Basically, they will need to file the forms, and have the inspector come out and approve the repairs/vehicle and paperwork. They then issue a rebuilt VIN number for the vehicle, and a branded title of a rebuilt motorcycle.

There is no way a private individual will be able to make it work with the paperwork trail you have going for you right now.

Unless the seller of the bike in PA is willing to apply for a rebuilt title in PA, then transfer it to you in PA, then you transfer the title from PA to a VA title.

Either way its gonna cost you 200-500 bucks most likely.

I will check with my DMV man on the salvage side later on this week when I go out there, the one for this area is Jason in the Christiansburg service center.

send the info I requested in PM to the email I sent you, and I will see what I can do to help you out.