by 
The Curious Bag
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As one person's tragedy is another's opportunity, so might salvage-titled cars be some of the best deals on the planet. Though some of these vehicles are in fact damaged beyond repair, many are simply the victims of underwriters' paranoia.
Definition
A salvage-titled vehicle is one that has been determined by an insurance company as having sustained damage that would cost more than 70 percent of the vehicle's total value to repair.
Totaling and Salvage
Often (but not always) a salvage-titled car is one that has been "totaled" out and written off by an insurance company.
Recycling
Most salvage-titled cars wind up in junkyards, where they are stripped of valuable parts and crushed.
Re-Selling
Often, dealers will purchase totaled cars at an auction and repair them for sale. These resurrected rides need only meet the state inspector's criteria to determine whether or not it is as safe as it was stock.
Salvaged Cars
Companies like eRepairables.com and Autoworld sell high-end salvage-titled cars that have received their state "Revived Salvage" bona fides.
Source:
California DMV: Salvage Title FAQ
Resource:
Video: How to Buy and Sell Salvaged Cars
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