Branded titles can often help shed some light on the car's history, and understanding what this term means is essential.

Simply put, a branded title refers to a label attached to the title due to an event that has occurred in the car's past such as an accident, theft or major mechanical issue. This label will remain as part of the car’s title permanently, so understanding what this means ahead of time is key.

In some cases, branded titles do not necessarily need to be seen as a red flag. For instance, if there has been an accident or minor repairs done in the past but have since been properly and safely fixed, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the car won't be reliable and safe to drive.

Third-party or auction reports can provide helpful information about certain known incidents that have led to branded titles as well as other details about the used vehicle's history.

If a vehicle you are selling happens to have a branded title, or you know or should know that the vehicle has some prior history or condition that a consumer would find to be important, make sure to disclose that information to your customer in writing.