[dansmurf]

A salvage title just means the car had more $ woth of damage than what it is worth and the insurance comany "totaled it". In some states if you fix a car with a salvage title you can have it inspected and get a different title that says rebuilt or something like that. Other state will allow you to fix it and just put it back on the road.

So if you get in an accident in an older Focus and mess up the bumper, grill, fenders, hood, lights, and blow off the air bags it may get a salvage title and it may not have any structural damage.

Also if someone destroys a car that is not covered under insurance they can fix it and nobody will ever know. And if are car is sold between states some states will give a clean title even though it had a salvage title in the last state.

Inspect a used car carefully before buying. Good luck.