What distinguishes a recovered theft vehicle from an unbranded title?

The distinguishing factor that sets a recovered theft vehicle apart from an unbranded title is related to the status of the vehicle as stolen. When a vehicle is reported stolen, it is typically documented in a way that indicates its theft status. Once the vehicle is recovered, it retains the designation of a recovered theft vehicle. This signifies that despite having been returned to its owner, the vehicle’s history includes an incident of theft.

An unbranded title, on the other hand, is one that does not carry any negative designations such as salvage or flood damage. It indicates the vehicle has not been deemed a total loss or involved in any significant incident that affects its market value or operability.

The amount spent on repairs, whether a salvage certificate has been issued, and where the vehicle was found do not determine the status as a recovered theft vehicle. Instead, it is primarily concerned with the vehicle's history of being stolen and subsequently recovered.