2014 Virginia Code
Title 46.2 - Motor Vehicles
§ 46.2-1605. Vehicles repaired or rebuilt for highway use; examinations; branding of titles

Each salvage vehicle that has been repaired or rebuilt for use on the highways shall be examined by the Department or by a local law-enforcement official prior to the issuance of a title for the vehicle. The examination shall include a review of all documentation for the parts and labor used for the repair of the salvage vehicle and a verification of the vehicle's identification number, confidential number, and odometer reading. The Commissioner shall ensure that, in scheduling and performing examinations of salvage vehicles under this section, single vehicles owned by private owner-operators are afforded no lower priority than examinations of vehicles owned by motor vehicle dealers, salvage dealers, demolishers, rebuilders, salvage pools, or vehicle removal operators. The Commissioner may charge a fee of $125 per vehicle, for the examination of repaired and rebuilt vehicles. When the examination is conducted by a local law-enforcement official, the Department shall reimburse the local law-enforcement department $75 for its costs in conducting the examination and reporting its findings to the Department.

Any salvage vehicle whose vehicle identification number or confidential number has been altered, is missing, or appears to have been tampered with may be impounded by the Department or a local law-enforcement official until completion of an investigation by the Department. The vehicle may not be moved, sold, or tampered with until the completion of this investigation. Upon completion of an investigation by the Department, if the vehicle identification number is found to be missing or altered, a new vehicle identification number may be issued by the Department. If the vehicle is found to be a stolen vehicle and its owner can be determined, the vehicle shall be returned to him. If the owner cannot be determined or located and the person seeking to title the vehicle has been convicted of a violation of § 46.2-1074 or 46.2-1075, the vehicle shall be deemed forfeited to the Commonwealth and said forfeiture shall proceed in accordance with Chapter 22.1 (§ 19.2-386.1 et seq.) of Title 19.2. If the Department's examination of a repaired or rebuilt salvage vehicle indicates no irregularities, a title and registration may be issued for the vehicle upon application therefor to the Department by the owner of the salvage vehicle. The title issued by the Department and any subsequent title thereafter issued for the repaired or rebuilt vehicle shall be permanently branded to indicate that it is a repaired or rebuilt vehicle. All repaired and rebuilt vehicles shall be subject to all safety equipment requirements provided by law. No title or registration shall be issued by the Department for any vehicle for which a nonrepairable certificate has ever been issued.

1979, c. 401, § 46.1-550.10; 1986, c. 161; 1989, c. 727; 1992, c. 148; 1994, c. 73; 1996, cc. 21, 843; 2003, c. 304; 2006, c. 615; 2011, c. 824; 2012, cc. 283, 756.