Who’s Your Daddy?

Salvage Daddy is a vehicle auction and listings site created and run by car experts. What sets us apart is in the name; our platform is exclusively dedicated to salvage and rebuilt title cars.

A rebuilt title reflects that a vehicle has been rehabilitated after being issued a salvage title, which would have resulted from extensive collision damage, fire, flood or even a manufacturer buyback following a successful lemon-law claim.

Despite their prevalence in the used car market these are often misunderstood by the uninitiated and stigmatized out of the view of the general public. Rather than adding to that confusion we're here to demystify the topic. The reality is you can find the car you're looking for at a below-market-price because of its title status. Our hope is to build trust, through education and resources, giving you the ability to purchase salvage and rebuilt title cars with the same confidence you would any other vehicle.  Along with widening the general audience, Salvage Daddy is a place for folks who know exactly what they’re looking for and what they’re getting into. From enthusiasts to resellers Salvage Daddy is purpose built to serve up salvage/rebuilt title cars and nothing else.

As car enthusiasts ourselves we genuinely understand the value of detailed descriptions and records. Rather than automating the listing process we choose to pair each auction and listing with a dedicated Listing Engineer to make sure the sellers don't miss a thing and the buyers get complete transparency.

A salvage title is issued to a vehicle that has been severely damaged, often due to accidents, floods, or other events. When the cost of repairing the vehicle exceeds its actual value, insurance companies may declare it a total loss. Subsequently, the title is branded as salvage to indicate its compromised condition.

Rebuilt Title

A rebuilt title is assigned to a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and deemed roadworthy by a licensed mechanic or a designated authority. After undergoing thorough inspection and meeting specific safety standards, the vehicle can be re-titled as "rebuilt."

Why choose a Rebuilt Title Vehicle?

• Cost Savings with Confidence–Enjoy the benefits of owning a quality vehicle at a fraction of the cost. Rebuilt title cars offer an affordable option without compromising on performance or style.
• Expert Restoration: Our curated selection of rebuilt title vehicles undergoes meticulous inspections and repairs by skilled professionals. These cars are not just rebuilt; they are reborn with precision and care.
• Unique Stories, Unmatched Character: Every rebuilt title vehicle comes with a unique story of triumph over adversity. Owning one is not just about transportation; it's about embracing the journey and celebrating the vehicle's second chance.

Familiarize Yourself with the Site and the Process

We strive to answer every question we possibly can through the many resources we offer on our website. You do need to know what you’re getting into; outside of us providing a platform, you are ultimately selling a car directly to the buyer.

We do not have a listing fee, but we do charge a 4.5% seller fee. This fee is only charged if your vehicle sells. We do not charge a fee for the buyer to bid on your vehicle.

Since we want things to move quickly after the sale, if there's an active car loan, you’ll need to get with your bank to know exactly how to proceed for a smooth sale.

Request Access to the Seller Portal

As a way to increase buyer confidence and reduce risk for all parties involved we manually approve seller accounts. Alongside identity verification we require a phone/video call interview to get to know you and help you get to know us.

When you’ve been given access to the Seller Portal you’ll find all seller and messaging tools on the main dashboard.

Submit Your Car for Auction

Every car’s life on Salvage Daddy starts as an auction. We find that auctions are the best way for sellers to build excitement around their cars while ensuring their desired sale price.

For your vehicle’s auction to be approved we’ll need all basic car data, photos, and history descriptions (damage/repairs/flaws). We ultimately curate based on vehicle condition and authenticity, rather than subjective variables like demand or exclusivity. If we see that your car is in proper condition, and you’re honest about its history and current status, your auction will be approved. Our auctions are exclusive, meaning prior to the start of the auction your car will need to be removed from any other auctions or listing sites.

Unlike other sites if the auction ends without a winning bid you’ll have the ability to instantly turn your auction into a traditional listing for a small fee ($99/month). While our auctions are exclusive our listings aren’t. Once the auction ends and your traditional listing begins you’ll be able to simultaneously list your car anywhere else you’d like.

Build Your Auction

One of our Listing Engineers will be with you every step of the way. Rather than stressing about whether you’ve included all of the details/photos, and used the correct “salesy” language, you’ll have an expert making sure that you leave no stone unturned. Their goal is to make sure your car is sold, because we only make money if your car sells.

You can become a pro by checking out our multiple educational resources for sellers who want to learn how to take effective photos and videos of their vehicles. (link to blogs which will have step by step tutorials and videos).

Your most effective sales tools are photos and videos of your car. On top of all of the standard photo angles and video walkthroughs we’ll recommend going a step further. Things like flaw and quirk highlighting photos and videos of startup, running, gear shifts, etc.  *Don’t worry about remembering all of this now we’ll be there the whole time asking for these things.

You can become a pro by checking out our multiple educational resources for sellers who want to learn how to take effective photos and videos of their vehicles. (link to blogs which will have step by step tutorials and videos).

If you’re hoping to outsource some of the creative work we have a publicly available database of photo/video professionals in your area that you can connect with. We offer our full “white-glove” service in certain areas where we’ll take care of all of the creative work for a $TBD fee.

Actively Follow your Auction

As well as the excitement of seeing bids, especially after your reserve is met, you’ll want to follow your auction page closely to be able to engage with the Salvage Daddy community. The publicly visible comment section is another selling tool for you to make the most of. Potential buyers will be able to ask questions, in good faith, and you’ll be able to answer and even attach photos/videos. Every question you answer is potentially a detail that could push a buyer to bid, and as more people see those answers that possibility grows exponentially.

The last few minutes will be exciting, and what makes things even more exciting is that we add a minute to the auction every time someone places a bid. This is to eliminate the possibility of “snipping” bidders and to maximize your sale price.

After the Auction

If your reserve is met we will put you in touch with your winning bidder, and you both will have 14 days to finalize the sale. Although the transaction still happens between you and the winning bidder we won’t leave you hanging. You’ll be provided with a “Completion Checklist” and your Listing Engineer will be with you throughout the whole process.

We’ll also be working alongside the buyer to make sure they have all of the information and resources they need for a smooth transaction. Along with our educational resources we work with lender, warranty, and logistics partners that buyers can take full advantage of in order to give them peace of mind.

Reserve not Met

In the rare case that your reserve isn’t met we’ll give you the opportunity to review the highest bid as a final chance to positively close out the auction.

If your reserve isn’t met and you decline your highest bid your Salvage Daddy journey doesn’t have to end there. Unlike other auction sites, we encourage you turn your auction into a traditional listing with one-click; using all of the same powerful selling tools you leveraged with your Listing Engineer.

The listing costs $99 for 4 weeks, which is setup just like any other classified listing platform. Since our seller and buyer accounts involve levels of identity verification, you’re a lot less likely to encounter flippant inquiries. Those same verified buyers will be able to browse your listing as well as a much wider audience brought in by our extensive digital advertising campaigns that will be fed directly to potential buyers based on their search and browsing patterns.

Familiarize yourself with the concept, website, and process.

Although we do as much as we possibly can to set you up for success as a buyer, the burden of due diligence does fall on your shoulders. With that being said, Salvage Daddy is the biggest educational database on the internet when it comes to salvage/rebuilt title vehicles. Our blog covers everything from the history of these titles classifications to current event news surrounding the category. Our goal in demystifying salvage/rebuilt title vehicles is to give you peace of mind when browsing for your dream car. When find that dream car, well below market-price, you’ll be able to purchase confidently.

Whatever your planned method of payment is, especially if you’re planning on paying with an auto loan, we recommend having that sorted prior to bidding.

To make sure that buyers and sellers are well equipped and informed we offer state-specific bill of sale templates and state-specific information about the title transfer process.

While people generally assume that salvage/rebuilt title cars are impossible to finance, warranty, insure and transport it is, in most cases, as straightforward as any other vehicle. Along with our educational resources we work with lender, warranty, and logistics partners that buyers can take full advantage of as well as suggested insurance providers.  Create a Buyer Account While you can freely browse auctions and listings you will need to create an account in order to bid and/or contact sellers through the site. Sellers go through a rigorous process to verify their identity in order to create an account, we also want to make sure buyers are verified and make contact with sellers in good faith. Your identity will need to be verified as you will also need to add payment info in order to place bids.  Once your account is verified you’re ready to fully participate on Salvage Daddy. You’ll be able to bid on auctions, save auctions/listings to your watchlist, comment on auctions/listings, and message sellers.  Bidding on Auctions The ideal way to get your dream car within your budget is actively participating in the vehicle auctions. Our auctions are an exciting dynamic process. Along with bidding, the public comment section is the best way to directly engage with the seller. Sellers will be able to answer questions with photo and video attachments, ideally the public comments section will be an informative public forum.  There is no auto-bidding function so the full amount you submit will be set as the highest bid. We suggest personally setting your budget (keeping in mind the 4.5% seller fee) and paying close attention to the auction so you can periodically bid, keeping in mind that the final few minutes will be the most exciting part of the auction. To eliminate “sniping” every new bid adds a minute to the auction so your dream car won’t be swiped out from under you at the last second; you’ll always have a minute to consider submitting a higher bid.  In order to ensure that only serious buyers are bidding on vehicles, we place a hold on your card for the 4.5% fee amount, based on the amount of your bid. If your bid wins the auction, the deposit is kept as the seller fee. If you are outbid then your deposit is refunded back to you. If the reserve isn’t met and you happen to be the highest bidder, your bid will be sent to the seller as a final offer before the auction is closed without a sale. Sellers will also have the option of turning their closed auction into a traditional listing if a reserve isn’t met and an offer isn’t taken.  Winning an Auction Once you’ve won an auction or the buyer has accepted your offer (in the case that the auction ends below the reserve) you and the buyer will have 14 days to finalize the sale. Although the transaction is strictly between you and the seller, we won’t leave you hanging. The seller will continue working with their Listings Engineer and have a checklist to follow, and buyers can always reach out for help.

Create a Buyer Account

While you can freely browse auctions and listings you will need to create an account in order to bid and/or contact sellers through the site. Sellers go through a rigorous process to verify their identity in order to create an account, we also want to make sure buyers are verified and make contact with sellers in good faith. Your identity will need to be verified as you will also need to add payment info in order to place bids.

Once your account is verified you’re ready to fully participate on Salvage Daddy. You’ll be able to bid on auctions, save auctions/listings to your watchlist, comment on auctions/listings, and message sellers.

Bidding on Auctions

The ideal way to get your dream car within your budget is actively participating in the vehicle auctions. Our auctions are an exciting dynamic process. Along with bidding, the public comment section is the best way to directly engage with the seller. Sellers will be able to answer questions with photo and video attachments, ideally the public comments section will be an informative public forum.

There is no auto-bidding function so the full amount you submit will be set as the highest bid. We suggest personally setting your budget (keeping in mind the 4.5% seller fee) and paying close attention to the auction so you can periodically bid, keeping in mind that the final few minutes will be the most exciting part of the auction. To eliminate “sniping” every new bid adds a minute to the auction so your dream car won’t be swiped out from under you at the last second; you’ll always have a minute to consider submitting a higher bid.

In order to ensure that only serious buyers are bidding on vehicles, we place a hold on your card for the 4.5% fee amount, based on the amount of your bid. If your bid wins the auction, the deposit is kept as the seller fee. If you are outbid then your deposit is refunded back to you. If the reserve isn’t met and you happen to be the highest bidder, your bid will be sent to the seller as a final offer before the auction is closed without a sale. Sellers will also have the option of turning their closed auction into a traditional listing if a reserve isn’t met and an offer isn’t taken.

Winning an Auction

Once you’ve won an auction or the buyer has accepted your offer (in the case that the auction ends below the reserve) you and the buyer will have 14 days to finalize the sale. Although the transaction is strictly between you and the seller, we won’t leave you hanging. The seller will continue working with their Listings Engineer and have a checklist to follow, and buyers can always reach out for help.

Creating high-quality DIY car photos is crucial for making a positive impression on potential buyers when selling your vehicle. Here are 10 tips for capturing the best possible images: