Should these terms keep you from buying a particular vehicle?

Not Necessarily.

What is FAR more important is the integrity and skill level of the dealer you buy from.

It offends us to see some dealers brag that they never sell cars that have had prior damage. That statement alone should be a RED FLAG regarding either integrity or intelligence. The are many thousands of vehicles on the street that have had damage properly repaired and still have a "clean" title. Many of these vehicles have been repaired expertly enough that the repair is virtualy undetectable and the aforementioned dealer is selling cars as "no prior damage" dishonestly.

We recently sold a low mileage 2006 F150 Supercrew with a clean title to a local man that had been hit in the front and had run up over something and bent the front crossmember of the frame. After replacing the front crossmember and completing body/paint work the new owner took the truck into the local Ford dealer a month later for some routine warranty work not associated with the prior damage. Since the local Ford dealer happened to know the history of the truck they went over it with a fine tooth comb and finally gave up and called us to ask exactly what and where we had worked on the truck. That made us very proud and is typical of the work we do.

Most states have title laws that were originally intended to protect and inform the consumer ( or so they told us!). But politics and people being what they are these laws have all been made moot in actual practice. Oklahoma, for instance, has a law that declares any vehicle that sustains damage of 60% or more of its value to require a salvage title be issued. The fly in the ointment is that this only happens when an insurance company totals and actually takes possesion of a vehicle.
 
If for instance, John Doe has his car cut in 2 pieces by a train but he and or the insurance company has a shop repair the car---not only does it NOT get a "salvage" title but it keeps its original "clean" title, nor will this vehicle show up on any computer search like Carfax as being damaged! . Then it can (and will) be resold by one of those dealers that do not sell cars with prior damage!!! There are brand new vehicles sitting on new car dealers lots right now that have been damaged in transit, repaired, and there is no record of any damage.

Most all car dealers are strickly "sales oriented" and know little to nothing about what makes your car tick.  Car buyers would be wise to pay as much attention to the experience, character & integrity, and skill level of the dealer they are buying from. The worst thing you can do is buy from one of the many faceless corporations! When you call them with a problem you will be spending your time pressing 1 for English, 2,3,4,5,etc! Better to be able to talk face to face with the owner!

The bottom line is that "Salvage" and "Rebuilt" titles should not automatically be a negative factor muchless a red flag. Consumers should always be informed and careful, but recognize that a vehicle with a salvage or rebuilt title can be a FANTASTIC deal...not just on the day you buy it, but for the life of the vehicle.