Here's what you need to do:

- check with your insurance company (or other companies if yours won't) to find out what their requirements are for insuring a vehicle on a salvage title, or with salvage history. It is possible to do, though many companies that do so will require you to have the title changed from a salvage title to a rebuilt title.

- If the latter is true, contact your state BMV to find out what steps need to be taken in order to have the title updated. For example, in Ohio, the OHSP must inspect the vehicle in person. They check the VIN, and that all safety items are working, and that the vehicle is roadworthy. Here's a link to Ohio's process, just for reference. https://services.dps.ohio.gov/vehicleInspection#!

- Don't take as gospel anything anyone tells you about "I knew a guy,' or "I wouldn't worry about it," or "In state XYZ, we do this, so you should do the same."

- with regard specifically to the 2013 Escape, if it has the 1.6 Ecoboost, it may not be worth buying, as they had significant engine and electrical problems. Our company fleet is made up largely of Escapes, and when the model change was made, our 1.6's were constantly in the shop, many for extended periods of time, many for weeks/months on end. Complete engine replacements, PCM failures, wiring harness replacement, etc.