Buying or checking a rebuilt (VGA) vehicle in Quebec
A vehicle with a "rebuilt" mention is legal, cheaper and harder to resell. What the statuses mean, what to verify before paying, and what the seller must disclose.
A vehicle with a "rebuilt" mention is legal, cheaper and harder to resell. What the statuses mean, what to verify before paying, and what the seller must disclose.
What the statuses mean
A write-off gets a SAAQ status: VGA (seriously damaged) can be rebuilt and returned to the road after the required steps, with the mention then becoming "rebuilt"; irreparable can never circulate again in Quebec; scrapped requires a mechanical inspection before circulating. The insurer must notify the SAAQ when it pays a total loss settlement.
What a reconstruction requires
Repairs, a reconstruction file including the insurer's damage estimate, the technical conformity certificate issued by an SAAQ mandatary after a technical assessment, and the mechanical inspection certificate. An uncertified rebuild is not registrable.
What a buyer should verify
Request the SAAQ ownership history and check the status and any mention, compare the VIN on the vehicle, certificate and inspection documents, ask for the reconstruction file and invoices, have an independent mechanical inspection done — structure, alignment and airbags — and check insurability with your own insurer before paying.
Value and recourse
The rebuilt mention lowers resale value, sometimes only slightly for an older vehicle. A seller who hides an accident or reconstruction history can be liable: keep the advertisement, the contract, the messages and the inspection, and use the consumer protection route if the disclosure was misleading.