I consider a Branded Title to be a title that is for a reconstructed vehicle - i.e., one that has been deemed "totaled" (or "salvage") and then repaired.
It will likely hurt resale value a bit, but lots of vehicles are "totaled" because they are simply not economically feasible to be repaired, under insurance constraints, when they are not structurally damaged at all, or are easily repaired. Or simply a badly damaged, but very low mile vehicle.
(I've seen lightly damaged Fieros "totalled", simply because replacement parts are not readily - or commonly - available. Even though we know better.)
In GA, a salvage vehicle can be repaired (but not painted - yet) and then inspected by a state inspector. Once it passes inspection (which is pretty stringent) it can be painted and then sold as "reconstructed".
Other states are different.
If you are looking to buy a "branded title" vehicle, I would ask for details about the nature of the damage, and the repairs.
Same can apply to a "bonded title", which may be issued to replace a lost title. Again... laws vary by state, since some states don't even require a title for vehicles older than XX years.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 01-20-2025).]
