[Tejas1836]

TX form VTR-441 [emphasis mine]
A “salvage motor vehicle” is a motor vehicle that:
• has damage to or is missing a major component part to the extent that the cost of repairs exceeds the actual cash value of the motor
vehicle immediately before the damage. Cost of repair calculations may include parts and labor, but must exclude the cost of materials
and labor for repainting the motor vehicle and sales tax on the total cost of repairs or
• comes into this state under an out of state salvage motor vehicle title or similar out of state ownership document.
A salvage motor vehicle does not include an out of state motor vehicle with a “rebuilt,” “prior salvage,” “salvaged,” or similar notation, a
nonrepairable motor vehicle, or a motor vehicle for which an insurance company has paid a claim for the cost of repairing hail damage or theft,
unless the motor vehicle was damaged during the theft and before recovery to the extent that the cost of repair exceeds the actual cash value of
the motor vehicle immediately before the damage.
A salvage motor vehicle may not be registered or operated on a public highway until the vehicle has been repaired/rebuilt and a certificate of
title branded “Rebuilt Salvage” has been issued.
A “nonrepairable motor vehicle” is a motor vehicle that:
• is damaged, wrecked, or burned to the extent that the only residual value of the vehicle is as a source of parts or scrap metal; or
• comes into this state under a title or other ownership document that indicates the vehicle is nonrepairable, junked, for...

Maybe you will be fine, if the present owner has a legitimate clean title
I would talk to TX DMV