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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55704</law_id><section_number>46.2-1603.2</section_number><catch_line>Owner may declare vehicle nonrepairable; insurance company required to obtain a nonrepairable certificate; applicability of certain other laws to nonrepairable certificates; titling and registration of nonrepairable vehicle prohibited</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-1602.1</reference><reference>46.2-1602.3</reference><reference>46.2-1606</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Dealers and Driver Training Schools</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Salvage, Nonrepairable, and Rebuilt Vehicles</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of any vehicle titled in the Commonwealth may declare such vehicle to be a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable vehicle</span> by applying to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> for a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span>. The application shall be accompanied by the vehicle&#x2019;s title certificate or <span class="dictionary">salvage certificate</span>. <a id="paragraph-204176" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1603.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Every insurance company or its authorized <span class="dictionary">agent</span> shall apply to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> and obtain a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span> for each vehicle acquired by the insurance company as a result of the claims process if such vehicle is titled in the Commonwealth and is (i) a late model <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable vehicle</span> or (ii) a stolen vehicle that has been recovered and determined to be a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable vehicle</span>. Except as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exception; vehicles sold for recycling parts, dismantling, demolishing, or utilizing for scrap" href="/46.2-1602.3/">46.2-1602.3</a>, the application shall be accompanied by the vehicle&#x2019;s title certificate or <span class="dictionary">salvage certificate</span>. Application for the <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span> shall be made within 15 days after payment has been made to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, lienholder, or both. <a id="paragraph-204177" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1603.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Every insurance company or its authorized <span class="dictionary">agent</span> shall notify the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of each <span class="dictionary">late model vehicle</span> titled in the Commonwealth upon which a claim has been paid if such vehicle is a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable vehicle</span> that is retained by its <span class="dictionary">owner</span>. <a id="paragraph-204178" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1603.2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, upon receipt of an application for a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span> for a vehicle titled in the Commonwealth, or upon receipt of notification from an insurance company or its authorized <span class="dictionary">agent</span> as provided in subsection C of this section that a vehicle registered in the Commonwealth has become a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable vehicle</span>, shall cause the title of such vehicle to be cancelled and a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span> issued to the vehicle&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">owner</span>.
			There shall be no fee for the issuance of a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span>. All provisions of this Code applicable to a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> certificate of title shall apply, <span class="dictionary">mutatis mutandis</span>, to a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span>, except that no registration or <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> shall be issued for the vehicle described in a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span>. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no vehicle for which a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span> has been issued shall ever be titled or registered for use on the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">highways</span></span> in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-204179" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1603.2/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, upon receipt of a title, <span class="dictionary">salvage certificate</span>, or other ownership document from a licensed <span class="dictionary">salvage dealer</span> or <span class="dictionary">demolisher</span> pursuant to subdivision A 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Duties of licensees" href="/46.2-1603.1/">46.2-1603.1</a>, shall cause the title, <span class="dictionary">salvage certificate</span>, or other ownership document to such vehicle to be cancelled and a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span> issued to the vehicle&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">owner</span>. <a id="paragraph-204180" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1603.2/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> For purposes of this chapter, any vehicle for which a brand or indicator has been issued by another state as reported to the National <span class="dictionary">Motor Vehicle</span> Title Information System or has been printed or stamped on the vehicle&#x2019;s out-of-state title or other document proving ownership issued by that state identifying such vehicle as &#x201C;junk,&#x201D; &#x201C;for destruction,&#x201D; &#x201C;for parts only,&#x201D; &#x201C;not to be repaired,&#x201D; or other similar designation shall be deemed to have been issued a <span class="dictionary">nonrepairable certificate</span> by that state. <a id="paragraph-204181" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1603.2/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1992, c. 148; 1993, c. 376; 1995, c. 390; 2015, cc. 33, 177; 2017, c. 277; 2023, cc. 364, 365.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
