Chapter 5 – Distressed Vehicles ______Page 10
Revised July 2023
Section 5-12
Flood Damaged Vehicles
5-12.1 Requirement. All vehicles and trailer coaches meeting the definition of a flood
damaged vehicle (see Section 5-11.2 for definition) must be issued a title with the Flood brand
that indicates to future purchasers the flood damaged history of the vehicle. Michigan vehicle
titles with flood branding are orange (like salvage titles) to alert purchasers. Vehicles with a
Flood brand title are not required to be re-certified for road use by a Salvage Vehicle Inspector
unless the title also has a salvage brand.
NOTE: Flood damage brands on out-of-state titles must be carried forward to the Michigan title.
5-12.2 Definition. A flood damaged vehicle is defined as a vehicle submerged in water to the
point water entered the passenger compartment or trunk over the sill of the trunk floor pan or
door sill, or a vehicle acquired by an insurance company as part of the settlement of a water
damage claim. [MCL 257.17c]
5-12.3 Selling at Retail. When selling a flood damaged vehicle to a retail purchaser, the dealer
must check the box marked “Vehicle Has Been Flood Damaged” under the Vehicle History and
Title Brand Disclosure section on the RD-108.
Section 5-13
Record Keeping Requirements
5-13.1 Proof of Ownership. Dealers must have a properly assigned title, salvage title, scrap
title, or other properly assigned ownership document for every vehicle in their inventory.
Properly assigned ownership documents include the BDVR-141 Statement of Seizure &
Forfeiture, TR-42 Garage Keeper’s Lien Form, TR-52L Notice of Abandoned Vehicle Bill of Sale
Form, TR-10 Certification of Repossession, and TR-208 Certificate of Scrapping. Odometer
disclosure is required on each of these ownership documents. You must immediately apply for a
resale title if you acquire a vehicle with a BDVR-141, TR-42, TR-52L, or TR-10, as you cannot
reassign ownership or give proper odometer disclosure on these forms.
5-13.2 Scrap Metal Processor Exception. A Vehicle Scrap Metal Processor (Class F) is not
required to obtain a title for vehicles purchased from another licensed dealer. Class C, H, and R
dealers transfer ownership of vehicles to a scrap metal processor on a TR-9 Scrap Vehicle
Inventory form. (Class C, H, and R dealers have already written SCRAP or JUNK across the
face of the title and mailed the titles to the Michigan Department of State and listed the vehicles
on the TR-9 Scrap Vehicle Inventory form.) All other dealers dispose of the vehicle utilizing the
TR-52, or TR-208 Certificate of Scrapping by forfeiting the form to the scrap metal processor.
Vehicle Scrap Metal Processors who obtain a vehicle with an assigned title are required by
Michigan law to surrender the assigned title to the Secretary of State within 30 days of
destroying or scrapping the vehicle. The Class F dealer writes SCRAP or JUNK across the
face of the title, along with the dealer’s license number and initials or signature, then mails
the title to the Secretary of State within 30 days. Titles are mailed to: