Any replacement vin will probably have "salvage" attached to it forever. Yes these laws vary widely state to state so its up to you to research the laws in your state.
Not necessarily. As you said it probably varies state to state, but I have a car with a California replacement VIN that does not have a salvage title. It's an earlier vehicle that didn't have a VIN, the DMV inspector noted that the identification plate had been removed for the painting process (it was held on by standard screws from the factory, again, this is pre-VIN) and because the ID plate had been removed it was given a California VIN. Anal retentive on the inspectors part since most pre-VIN cars have removable ID plates and many didn't have frame stampings, but whatever.
At any rate, my point is that since he has several matching VIN stampings for the car to prove it's the same car it's not likely to get a salvage or reconstructed title, just a replacement state issued VIN. But yeah, check the local laws because that absolutely depends on where it is.
