OAR 735-024-0015: Definitions; Title Brands

As used in this rule through 735-024-0025, the following definitions apply: (1) “Brand,” “branded title,” or “title brand” means a notation, inscription, indicator, symbol or phrase to indicate the history, condition, or circumstances of a vehicle. A title brand does not necessarily indicate the extent to which a vehicle may have been damaged, whether a vehicle has been repaired or to what degree a damaged vehicle has been repaired. A title brand may be: (a) Printed, inscribed, stamped or otherwise affixed to a certificate of title; or (b) Designated or recorded on the vehicle record of another jurisdiction. (2) “Assembled vehicle” as defined in ORS 801.130 and these rules means a vehicle: (a) With a body that does not resemble any particular year model or make of vehicle; (b) That is not a vehicle rebuilt by a manufacturer; (c) That is not a vehicle built in a factory where the year model and make are assigned at the factory; and (d) That is not an antique vehicle, a vehicle of special interest, a reconstructed vehicle or a replica. (3) The following title brands defined under this section are adopted pursuant to ORS 803.015 and 646A.405. Title brands indicate a determination of a vehicle’s condition made by another jurisdiction, or in the case of “glider kit,” “reconstructed,” “replica vehicle,” “totaled” or “Lemon Law Buyback,” a determination made by Oregon DMV: (a) “Branded” means: (A) A listing of two or more brands on an out-of-state title or similar document; or (B) A brand not specifically defined or identified under this rule. (b) “Flood damaged,” “flood,” or a word of similar import means a brand to indicate that a vehicle has been submerged in water to the point that the vehicle sustained damage; (c) “Glider kit” or a word of similar import means a brand to indicate: (A) A kit consisting of a new truck cab or cab and hood assembly, including a front axle assembly and frame rails, with or without an engine, transmission and rear axle, manufactured and sold with a manufacturer’s statement of origin, has been used to replace damaged or worn components of an existing heavy truck or tractor; or (B) A heavy truck or tractor was assembled using a kit consisting of all new component parts, including engine, transmission and rear axle, manufactured and sold with a manufacturer’s statement of origin, and assembled by a person other than the manufacturer of the components. (C) For purposes of this subsection, “heavy truck or tractor” means truck or tractor with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 16,000 pounds. (d) “Lemon,” “lemon-defective,” “Lemon Law Buyback,” “returned to manufacturer,” or a word of similar import means a brand to indicate a vehicle was returned to the manufacturer because of a defect or condition that could not be corrected or repaired and that substantially impaired the safety, market value, or the use, or intended use, of the vehicle. (e) “Previous damage” means a title brand issued by DMV prior to August 20, 2004, to indicate that DMV had received information from another jurisdiction that a vehicle was damaged, destroyed, wrecked or salvaged, or words of similar import. The term “previous damage” does not apply to vehicles issued a junk title or similar ownership document by another jurisdiction as described under OAR 735-020-0070; (f) “Reconstructed vehicle,” or “reconstructed” as defined in ORS 801.408 and these rules, means either: (A) A vehicle that: (i) Has a body that resembles and primarily is a particular year model or make of vehicle; (ii) Is not a vehicle rebuilt by a manufacturer; (iii) Is not a vehicle built in a factory where the year model and make are assigned at the factory; and (iv) Is not a replica; or (B) A motor truck that has been rebuilt using a component kit if the manufacturer of the kit assigns a vehicle identification number and provides a manufacturer’s certificate of origin for the kit. (g) “Totaled vehicle” or “totaled” as defined in ORS 801.527 and these rules means a vehicle that: (A) Is declared a total loss by an insurer that is obligated to cover the loss or that the insurer takes possession of or title to. (B) Is stolen, if it is not recovered within 30 days of the date that it is stolen and if the loss is not covered by an insurer. (C) Has sustained damage that is not covered by an insurer and the estimated cost to repair the vehicle is equal to at least 80 percent of the retail market value of the vehicle before it was damaged. For purposes of this subsection, “retail market value” shall be as reflected in publications relied upon by financial institutions doing business in this state, including but not limited to the Title and Registration Textbook of the National Automobile Dealers Association (N.A.D.A. Guide), the Automobile Red Book or the Kelley Blue Book . (h) “Replica” as defined in ORS 801.425 and these rules, means a vehicle with a body built to resemble and be a reproduction of another vehicle of a given year and given manufacturer. (4) “DMV” means the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation; (5) “Oregon Certificate of Title” or “Oregon title” means a certificate of title, as that term is defined in ORS 801.185, issued by DMV. (6) “Oregon Salvage Title Certificate” means a written document issued by DMV under the provisions of ORS 803.140 and 819.016 as evidence of vehicle ownership. An Oregon Salvage Title Certificate is not an Oregon Certificate of Title. (7) “Salvage title,” “salvage certificate” and “dismantler (wrecker) bill of sale” means a document issued by another jurisdiction to indicate the vehicle has been damaged, wrecked or salvaged or words of similar import. “Salvage title” does not refer to an Oregon salvage title certificate as defined by ORS 801.454 and this rule, unless the Oregon salvage title certificate reflects a brand that indicates the vehicle was damaged in another jurisdiction, before being titled in Oregon. (8) “Word(s) of similar import” means any word, term, indicator, symbol or phrase that means the same or has the same effect as the terms described under OAR 735-020-0070 (junk titles) and defined under sections (2) and (3) of this rule. (9) For purposes of this rule, OAR chapter 735, division 024, division 152, ORS Chapters 819 and 822, “Auto Recycler” has the same meaning as “dismantler” as defined under ORS 801.236 and means a person issued a dismantler certificate under 822.110.