"Once more unto" etc.
- as long as you have a physical title you have some control
- whether a title is "branded" is between you and the insurance company
- any insurance company/adjuster is happy for the insured to accept a lesser amount and keep the item, they (except in special cases) do not want it.
- DMV does not really care other than to make sure licensed vehicles have insurance. Some states require periodic inspection, Florida does not, but you can be ticketed if "unsafe".
However at least here, if an insurance company receives a title and needs to transfer, they will generally take the least expensive option - salvage (see: they don't want it).
ps here a COD title can only change hands three times - once from the insurance company & you see online auctions at cheap prices & COD titles. The second time is when the auction house transfers to the suc^H^H^H eager buyer who can then only sell on once more. There is a way to take three near identical COD cars, often with little damage, and combine their parts into a third car. The state then inspects to make sure three different VINs have been used and then issues a new VIN and a sticker that must go on the door jam. I have a friend who funds his hobby doing just that.
However many are tempted by a super low online price on a Florida car, but must make sure it has a good title, most CL adverts here have a special note for a "clean Florida title". Florida even provides a
web site where you can feed a VIN and it will show the title and registration status (but not the owner).
pps we Floridians have a long and prosperous practice of "skinning Yankees", is part of the reason we need no state income tax.