Junk / non-repairable title
The car was written off as scrap — not legal to drive.
What it is
A junk (or non-repairable, or certificate-of-destruction) title means the car was declared fit only for parts or scrap. In most US states it can never legally return to the road.
What it means before you buy or import
A junk car should not be driven or registered — full stop. If someone offers a 'junk title' car as a runner, treat it as a serious fraud warning: the brand may have been washed to hide it. Importing one is a waste of money and often impossible to register.
How to spot it
The junk brand is permanent in the national record even if a later paper title looks clean — this is exactly what title washing tries to hide. Always check the VIN's national title history before you send money.
Check the VIN before you buy
Title brands follow the VIN in the national record even when the paper title looks clean. Decode the VIN free and check the history before you send any money.