title was marked as for parts only
What does a parts only title mean?
It means that some insurance company likely decided that repairs are greater than the value of the once wrecked (as in totaled) vehicle, typically that is about 70% of the value set.
If the car was declared a total loss, then the title is branded as salvage.
In some states (that would be yours, UTAH) the title is branded as parts only.
I suspect that is why the dealer is mandated by law to buy the vehicle back from you.
Here you go, pal, direct from your Utah DMV website:
Branded Titles
A salvage vehicle is a vehicle damaged by collision, flood, or other occurrence to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle for safe operation exceeds its fair market value; or a vehicle that has been declared a salvage vehicle by an insurer or other state or jurisdiction, but is not precluded from further registration and titling (UCA §41-1a-1001)
https://le.utah.gov/asp/codelookup/codelookup.asp?section=41-1a-1001 . A rebuilt/restored vehicle is a salvage vehicle that has been repaired and restored to operation.
Note: A vehicle that has been "salvaged" or "rebuilt/restored" will be issued a different kind of Utah title, referred to as a "branded" title. A salvage vehicle's Utah title will state: "Salvage." If the vehicle has been rebuilt, the title will say "rebuilt/restored."
Utah law allows, under limited circumstances, some salvage vehicles to be rebuilt and to have the "brand" removed from the title if the vehicle was not damaged by flood or if the vehicle is newer than seven years old.
An operator of a motor vehicle auction shall provide a purchaser of a salvage vehicle a disclosure statement. See Utah Code Section UCA §41-3-201(3)(e)(ii)
https://le.utah.gov/asp/codelookup/codelookup.asp?section=41-3-201 for the required wording of the disclosure statement.
For more information on selling salvage vehicles, see Salvage and Rebuilt/Restored Vehicles
http://mved.utah.gov/dealer-sales/salvage on the MVED website.
For motor vehicle title history on a vehicle, visit the:
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) | BJA
https://dmv.utah.gov/titles/salvage-vehicles
Buyer Beware
The best advice is to spot a one-time wreck before you buy it. These vehicles can look good but there are some telltale signs:
Be suspicious of any vehicle that has a recently issued out-of-state title.
Be suspicious of a private seller whose name does not appear on the title.
Use an on-line commercial title-search company to research the history of the vehicle.
Check the door gaps. Make sure that the door itself isn't touching the fender when you open the door.
Check both sides. It is unusual that both sides will be exactly the same when a vehicle has been damaged.
Examine the paint. Check the doorjamb, moldings, and plastic cover items. Because any time a vehicle has been sprayed over these areas may be missed.
Check the dashboard, which may not have been repaired due to the cost, right up to the molding, which may have chips in it.
Check the roof and doors for body filler. The finish of the body filler may not be super smooth and this is an indication that there's a problem. It is harder to see dents when the paint on the vehicle is light so feel it with your hands. Sometimes minor dents aren't repaired at all.
Check that the rear tailgate and body match. Gaps in some areas and a tighter fit in another is an indication there has been improper fitting of the body panels to the rest of the chassis.
Check the paint match between the tailgate and the quarter panel. Don't look at the vehicle in the rain or in the night because both can hide a lot of blemishes.
Have the vehicle checked by a body shop and mechanic. Ask for a complete mechanical report of the vehicle, what repairs you may have to do in the future and if the vehicle has been damaged.
Check under the car for damage.
If, for example the gas tank is damaged, or dented, it will give you an inaccurate reading on your fuel gauge and it is just another indication of problems.
Keep your eyes open, ask a lot of questions and if you have doubts, walk away.
