Definitions.

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  • (1) "Certified vehicle inspector" means a person employed by the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division as qualified through experience, training, or both to identify and analyze damage to vehicles with either unibody or conventional frames.
  • (2) "Major component part" means:
    • (a) the front body component of a motor vehicle consisting of the structure forward of the firewall;
    • (b) the passenger body component of a motor vehicle including the firewall, roof, and extending to and including the rear-most seating;
    • (c) the rear body component of a motor vehicle consisting of the main cross member directly behind the rear-most seating excluding any auxiliary seating and structural body assembly rear of the cross members; and
    • (d) the frame of a motor vehicle consisting of the structural member that supports the auto body.
  • (3)
    • (a) "Major damage" means damage to a major component part of the motor vehicle requiring 10 or more hours to repair or replace, as determined by a collision estimating guide recognized by the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division.
    • (b) For purposes of Subsection (3)(a) repair or replacement hours do not include time spent on cosmetic repairs.
  • (4) "Nonrepairable certificate" means a certificate of ownership issued for a nonrepairable vehicle.
  • (5) "Nonrepairable vehicle" means a vehicle of a type otherwise subject to registration that:
    • (a) has no resale value except as a source of parts or scrap metal or that the owner irreversibly designates as a source of parts or scrap metal or for destruction;
    • (b)
      • (i) has little or no resale value other than its worth as a source of a vehicle identification number that could be used illegally; and
      • (ii)
        • (A) has been substantially stripped as a result of theft; or
        • (B) is missing all of the bolt-on sheet metal body panels, all of the doors and hatches, substantially all of the interior components, and substantially all of the grill and light assemblies; or
    • (c) is a substantially burned vehicle that:
      • (i) has burned to the extent that there are no more usable or repairable body or interior components, tires and wheels, or drive train components; or
      • (ii) the owner irreversibly designates for destruction or as having little or no resale value other than its worth as a source of scrap metal or as a source of a vehicle identification number that could be used illegally.
  • (6) "Owner" means the person who has the legal right to possession of the vehicle.
  • (7)
    • (a) "Salvage certificate" means a certificate of ownership issued for a salvage vehicle before a new certificate of title is issued for the vehicle.
    • (b) A salvage certificate is not valid for registration purposes.
  • (8) "Salvage vehicle" means any vehicle:
    • (a) damaged by collision, flood, or other occurrence to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle for safe operation exceeds its fair market value; or
    • (b) that has been declared a salvage vehicle by an insurer or other state or jurisdiction, but is not precluded from further registration and titling.




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