In Texas, a salvage title is given to a vehicle that has been damaged to the extent that the cost of repair, including materials and labor, was more than the vehicle was worth before it was damaged. Insurance companies usually make this determination. A vehicle with a salvage title cannot be driven on public roads until it has been repaired and passed a salvage inspection.

A rebuilt vehicle, also known as a "prior salvage," is a vehicle that was previously branded as salvage but has been rebuilt to roadworthiness. A rebuilt vehicle must pass safety and anti-theft inspections, as well as other state-mandated standards, before it can return to the road.