Wyoming State Title Processing Procedures

1. What form of title must an insurer obtain in connection with the sale of a vehicle that has been acquired through the settlement of a claim?
2. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a vehicle on a Certificate of Title?
3. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a vehicle on a Certificate of Title branded "Salvage"?
4. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a vehicle on a Certificate of Title branded "Flood"?
5. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a recovered theft vehicle recovered substantially intact with no substantial damage, where title is still in the name of the insured?
6. What steps must an insurer take in Wyoming to process an owner-retained vehicle?
7. What legal duties are imposed upon a lienholder following satisfaction of the lien?

1. What form of title must an insurer obtain in connection with the sale of a vehicle that has been acquired through the settlement of a claim?
   
   (a) As used in W.S. 31-2-106 through 31-2-110:
   
   
   (i) "Flood vehicle" means any motor vehicle that has been submerged in water to the point that rising water has reached over the door sill and has entered into the passenger or trunk compartment of the vehicle and the actual dollar amount of the damage would not cause the vehicle to be titled as a salvage vehicle. Disclosure that a motor vehicle has become a flood vehicle shall be made at the time of transfer of ownership and the next certificate of title issued after the transfer shall be branded with the word "flood";
   (ii) "Certificate of title, branded salvage" means a motor vehicle ownership document issued in this state to the owner of a salvage vehicle conspicuously branded with the word "salvage" across the front of the certificate;
   (iii) "Rebuilt title" means the certificate of title issued in this state to the owner of a rebuilt salvage vehicle conspicuously branded "rebuilt" across the front of the certificate of title;
   (iv) "Rebuilt salvage vehicle" means any motor vehicle which was previously issued a certificate of title branded "salvage" and has a decal stating "rebuilt salvage vehicle" affixed as required by W.S. 31-2-108(d);
   (v) "Salvage vehicle" means any motor vehicle which has been wrecked, destroyed or damaged to the extent that it has been declared a total loss by the insurance company or, in the event an insurance company is not involved in the settlement of the claim, the total estimated or actual cost of parts and labor to rebuild or reconstruct the motor vehicle to its pre-accident condition exceeds seventy-five percent (75% ) of the actual retail cash value of the motor vehicle, as set forth in the most current edition of any nationally recognized automotive appraisal guide or other source approved by the Wyoming insurance department.
   
   
   The value of repair parts for purposes of this paragraph shall be determined by using the current cost of the repair parts to be used in the repair. The labor cost of repairs for purposes of this paragraph shall be computed by using the hourly labor rate and time allocations that are reasonable and customary in the automobile repair industry in the community where the repairs are to be performed.
   
   [Wyoming Statutes § 31-2-106]
   
   (a) When a motor vehicle is declared a total loss by the insurance company or, in the event an insurance company is not involved in the settlement of the claim, sustains damage in an amount exceeding seventy-five percent (75%) of its actual retail cash value, as set forth in any current edition of a nationally recognized automotive appraisal guide or other source approved by the Wyoming insurance department, the owner or insurance company, if it obtains ownership of the vehicle through transfer of title as a result of a settlement of an insurance claim, shall forward the properly endorsed certificate of title to the office of the county clerk that issued the certificate of title together with an application for a certificate of title branded salvage and payment of the fee required under W.S. 31-2-102(a)(vii) [§ 31-3-102(a)(vii)] to obtain a properly branded certificate of title. When any vehicle accident report is required under chapter 5, article 11 of this title [§ 31-5- 1101 et seq.], the investigating officer shall provide written notice to the owner or operator of the vehicle of the requirements under this section.
   
   (b) Upon receipt of a certificate of title under subsection (a) of this section, the county clerk shall issue a certificate of title branded "salvage" to the legal owner. (c) If the damaged vehicle is rebuilt and the owner is issued a certificate of title
   
   branded "rebuilt", the owner shall register the vehicle as required under W.S. 31-2- 201, unless the owner is a licensed vehicle dealer under chapter 16 of this title and the vehicle was rebuilt for resale to the public. If the person registering the rebuilt vehicle is the person under whose name the vehicle was previously registered and the annual registration year for the vehicle prior to being damaged has not expired at the time of application under this section, a credit shall be issued for the remainder of the current annual registration year for the vehicle to be applied against any registration fees due for registration of the vehicle for the same period.
   
   (d) This section shall not apply to motor vehicles with more than eight (8) years of service.
   
   (e) This section shall not apply to a commercial vehicle or a commercial vehicle combination used, designed or maintained for transportation of persons for hire, compensation or profit, or designed or used primarily for the transportation of property for gain or profit including:
   
   
   (i)A power unit having two (2) axles and a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight exceeding twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds;
   (ii) A power unit having three (3) or more axles regardless of weight, or which is used in combination when the weight of the combination exceeds twenty-six thousand (26,000) pounds gross vehicle weight.
   
   
   (f) If the owner of a motor vehicle retains the vehicle upon a settlement with an insurance company, and the vehicle has incurred damage requiring the vehicle to be issued a certificate of title branded "nonrepairable" or "salvage", the owner shall apply for the certificate of title in his own name with the applicable brand displayed on the certificate of title before the vehicle is commercially repaired or ownership of the vehicle is transferred.
   
   (g) If an insurance company is not involved in a damage settlement involving a salvage vehicle, the motor vehicle owner shall apply for a certificate of title branded "salvage", before the vehicle is commercially repaired or ownership of the vehicle is transferred.
   
   (h) If a leased motor vehicle incurs damage requiring the vehicle to be issued a certificate of title branded "salvage", the lessor shall apply for a properly branded certificate of title after being notified by the lessee that the vehicle has been damaged. The lessee of the vehicle shall inform the lessor that the leased vehicle has been damaged within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the damage.
   
   (j) Any person acquiring ownership of a damaged motor vehicle that meets the definition of a salvage vehicle for which a certificate of title branded "salvage" has not been issued shall apply for a certificate of title before the vehicle is further transferred.
   
   (k) A seller of a motor vehicle that becomes a flood vehicle shall, at or prior to the time of transfer of ownership, give the buyer a written notice that the vehicle is a flood vehicle. At the time of the next application for certificate of title for the vehicle, disclosure of the flood status shall be provided to the county clerk with the properly assigned title and the word "flood" shall be conspicuously branded across the front of the new title.
   
   (m) In the case of a leased motor vehicle, the lessee, within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of the event that caused the vehicle to become a flood vehicle, shall give the lessor written disclosure that the vehicle is a flood vehicle.
   
   [Wyoming Statutes § 31-2-107]
   
   (a) For any motor vehicle, the ownership of which is transferred on or after December 31, 2001, the certificate of title shall contain an appropriate notice whenever records readily accessible to the state indicate that the motor vehicle was previously issued a title that bore any word or symbol signifying that the vehicle was "salvage", "unrebuildable", "parts only", "scrap", "junk", "nonrepairable", "reconstructed", "rebuilt" or any other symbol or word of like kind, or that it has been damaged by flood. Any information concerning a motor vehicle's status shall also be conveyed on any subsequent title issued for the vehicle by this state, including a duplicate or replacement title.
   
   (b) The certificate of title and the rebuilt salvage decal stating "rebuilt salvage vehicle" shall meet security standards minimizing the opportunity for fraud.
   
   (c) A motor vehicle owner submitting an application for a rebuilt salvage vehicle decal shall be required to provide a completed document approved by the department identifying the vehicle's damage prior to being repaired, a copy of the original certificate of title branded "salvage" and the name and address of the person who repaired or rebuilt the vehicle. The owner shall also include an affirmation that the information in the declaration is complete and accurate and, to the knowledge of the declarant, no stolen parts were used during the rebuilding.
   
   (d) After the owner of a motor vehicle for which a certificate of title branded "salvage" has been issued, provides the information required under subsection (c) of this section to the department, the department shall provide to the owner a secure decal which shall comply with the permanency requirements of the department, stating "rebuilt salvage vehicle". The owner shall apply the decal to the driver's door jamb of the vehicle prior to having the vehicle inspected by a Wyoming law enforcement officer for the vehicle identification number and to ensure the decal has been properly affixed. On a motorcycle, the owner shall apply the decal opposite the vehicle identification number on the fork crown in a manner that does not obscure the vehicle identification number, prior to having the motorcycle inspected by a Wyoming law enforcement officer for the vehicle identification number and to ensure the decal has been properly affixed. The owner shall pay the fee specified in W.S. 31-3-102(b) for the inspection.
   
   (e) The owner of a motor vehicle for which a certificate of title branded "salvage" has been issued may apply for a certificate of title branded "rebuilt" by presenting to the county clerk the certificate of title, properly assigned, if applicable, together with the department certificate signed by a Wyoming law enforcement officer who has inspected the vehicle for the vehicle identification number and to ensure the decal required under subsection (d) of this section has been properly affixed. Upon proper application and payment of fees for a certificate of title as provided under W.S. 31-3-102(a)(vii), a certificate of title branded "rebuilt" shall be issued to the owner.
   
   [Wyoming Statutes § 31-2-108] back to top
   
   
2. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a vehicle on a Certificate of Title?
   
   The insurer shall provide Copart with a Certificate of Title or a comparable ownership document issued by another state or jurisdiction (either endorsed over to the insurer or accompanied by a power of attorney), an odometer disclosure statement, and a release of any liens.
   
   Copart will submit these documents along with an Application to the County Clerk for Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title (MV-300A) and the appropriate fee to the County Clerk for processing.
   
   Thereafter, the County Clerk shall issue a Certificate of Title in the name of the insurer.
   
   Copart, acting under a power of attorney for the insurer, will then sell the vehicle at auction and reassign the insurer’s Certificate of Title to the purchaser.
   
   [Wyoming Statutes § 31-2-103] back to top
   
   
3. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a vehicle on a Certificate of Title branded "Salvage"?
   
   The insurer shall provide Copart with a Certificate of Title or a comparable ownership document issued by another state or jurisdiction (either endorsed over to the insurer or accompanied by a power of attorney), an odometer disclosure statement, a release of any liens, and a letter from insurance company stating vehicle has been declared a total loss.
   
   Copart will submit these documents along with an Application to County Clerk Motor Vehicle Branded Certificate of Title (MV-300A) and the appropriate fee to the County Clerk for processing.
   
   Thereafter, the County Clerk shall issue a Certificate of Title branded "Salvage" in the name of the insurer.
   
   Copart, acting under a power of attorney for the insurer, will then sell the vehicle at auction and reassign the insurer’s Certificate of Title branded "Salvage" to the purchaser.
   
   [Wyoming Statutes § 31-2-106(a)(ii) & (v)] back to top
   
   
4. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a vehicle on a Certificate of Title branded "Flood"?
   
   The insurer shall provide Copart with a Certificate of Title or a comparable ownership document issued by another state or jurisdiction (either endorsed over to the insurer or accompanied by a power of attorney), an odometer disclosure statement, a release of any liens, and a letter from insurance company stating vehicle has been declared a total loss as a result of flood.
   
   Copart will submit these documents along with an Application to County Clerk Motor Vehicle Branded Certificate of Title (MV-300A) and the appropriate fee to the County Clerk for processing.
   
   Thereafter, the County Clerk shall issue a Certificate of Title branded "Flood" in the name of the insurer.
   
   Copart, acting under a power of attorney for the insurer, will then sell the vehicle at auction and reassign the insurer’s Certificate of Title branded "Flood" to the purchaser.
   
   [Wyoming Statutes § 31-2-106(a)(i)] back to top
   
   
5. What documents must an insurer provide to Copart in order to sell a recovered theft vehicle recovered substantially intact with no substantial damage, where title is still in the name of the insured?
   
   When a vehicle has been stolen and recovered, the insurer shall provide Copart with a Title or a comparable ownership document issued by another state or jurisdiction (either endorsed over to the insurer or accompanied by a power of attorney), an odometer disclosure statement with last known mileage, a release of any liens, and a letter from insurance company stating vehicle has been declared a total loss as a result of theft.
   
   After receipt of these documents, Copart will submit these documents along with an Application to County Clerk Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title/Branded Certificate of Title and the appropriate fee to the County Clerk for processing. Thereafter, the County Clerk shall issue the appropriate title depending upon the damage to the vehicle.
   
   Copart, acting upon a power of attorney for the insurer, will then sell the vehicle at auction and reassign the insurer’s appropriate Title to the purchaser.
   
   [Per Wyoming DMV] back to top
   
   
6. What steps must an insurer take in Wyoming to process an owner-retained vehicle?
   
   If the owner of a motor vehicle retains the vehicle upon a settlement with an insurance company, and the vehicle has incurred damage requiring the vehicle to be issued a certificate of title branded "nonrepairable" or "salvage", the owner shall apply for the certificate of title in his own name with the applicable brand displayed on the certificate of title before the vehicle is commercially repaired or ownership of the vehicle is transferred.
   
   [Wyoming § 31-2-107(f)] back to top
   
   
7. What legal duties are imposed upon a lienholder following satisfaction of the lien?
   
   No specific requirements. back to top
   
   
   WYOMING DMV