Hail Damage Requires Extra Auto Salvage Inspectors in N.H.

New Hampshire has set up a temporary salvage inspection center to deal with the large number of cars and trucks pounded by hail last month.

State inspectors are working once a week out of the Department of Motors Vehicles headquarters through next month. Salvage inspections are necessary when an insurance company declares a vehicle is “totaled” because the cost to repair it is more than its sale value, but it is still runs.

When that happens, the insurance company can buy the vehicle for its value from the owner. The owner then can buy it back at its salvage price, generally quite less than the original value, but to drive it the owner must have a safety-salvage inspection and re-register it.

Inspectors are looking for any blatant safety hazards such as broken lights, mirrors or windshields.

Topics Auto