The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is the official U.S. vehicle title database established under the Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and operated with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

NMVTIS provides a nationwide system for states, law enforcement, dealers, insurers, and consumers to verify vehicle titles and histories. Its core goal is to prevent automobile fraud, protect public safety, and ensure that branded or unsafe vehicles cannot be resold under false “clean title” status.

Purpose and Legal Foundation

NMVTIS was created in response to title fraud, VIN cloning, and auto theft. The Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-519) and implementing rules in 28 C.F.R. §§ 25.51–25.56 mandate the system to:

• Prevent the introduction or reintroduction of stolen vehicles into interstate commerce.
• Protect consumers from purchasing vehicles with hidden damage or fraudulent titles.
• Reduce theft by enabling transparent identification and title tracking.
• Support state DMVs, insurers, and law enforcement with authoritative title data.

What NMVTIS Tracks

NMVTIS aggregates key data points from state titling agencies, insurers, and junk/salvage entities to form a permanent, VIN-based record of a vehicle’s title lifecycle.

• Title Brands: Salvage, rebuilt, flood, junk/non-repairable, lemon/buyback, etc.
• Title History: Current and prior state titles with issue dates and brand consistency.
• Total-Loss Events: Insurance-reported declarations when a vehicle is uneconomical to repair.
• Junk & Salvage Records: Data from recyclers, dismantlers, and auctions.
• Odometer Readings (where available): Helps detect rollback or tampering.
• VIN Status & Uniqueness: Cross-state validation against conflicting or duplicate titles.

How NMVTIS Works

When a vehicle is titled, sold, junked, salvaged, or declared a total loss, the relevant entities must submit updates to NMVTIS:

• State DMVs – Report title issuance, transfers, and brands (e.g., salvage, rebuilt, flood).
• Insurance Carriers – Report total-loss declarations (generally within 30 days).
• Junk & Salvage Yards / Auctions – Report vehicle acquisitions and dispositions.
• Law Enforcement – Utilize NMVTIS to investigate fraud and stolen-vehicle activity.

NMVTIS aggregates these inputs into a centralized database accessible to the public via authorized data providers such as VinAudit.com, which delivers official vehicle history reports sourced from NMVTIS.

Who Reports to NMVTIS

1. State motor vehicle titling agencies.
2. Insurance companies declaring total-loss vehicles.
3. Auto recyclers, dismantlers, and salvage pools.
4. Junk and salvage auctions and related operators.
5. Approved federal and state partners (DOJ, AAMVA).

Who Uses NMVTIS

• Consumers – Verify title history and avoid previously damaged or unsafe vehicles.
• Dealers – Confirm title brands before resale and comply with disclosure requirements.
• Law Enforcement – Identify title fraud, cloning, or stolen-vehicle activity.
• State DMVs – Prevent duplicate or conflicting titles across state lines.
• Insurance Companies – Verify total-loss claims and avoid fraud.

Why NMVTIS Matters

NMVTIS is central to vehicle market integrity and public safety. It prevents “title washing,” where branded vehicles are retitled in a different state to appear clean. With NMVTIS:

• Title brands follow the vehicle for life, regardless of where it’s registered.
• Dealers and consumers can confirm legitimate title histories instantly.
• Stolen, flooded, or total-loss vehicles are flagged before resale.
• States maintain synchronized title data for cross-border verification.

NMVTIS Participation by State

All 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories contribute data to NMVTIS. Many states add compliance requirements for dealer-level verification or integrate NMVTIS into DMV workflows.

Examples include:
• California AB 1215 – Mandates NMVTIS checks for used-vehicle dealers.
• Oregon SB 840 – Integrates NMVTIS into dealer reporting and disclosure.
• Texas and Arizona – DMV-level NMVTIS integration to verify titles automatically.

Data Limitations & Common Misconceptions

• Service/repair history: NMVTIS is a title database; it does not track routine maintenance or minor repairs.
• Accident-only incidents: Not all crashes appear unless they result in a brand or a total-loss report.
• Odometer data: Provided where available from state records; not every title event includes mileage.
• Instant updates: Reporting is timely but may vary by source; recent events can take time to appear.
• Private history sites vs. NMVTIS: NMVTIS is the official title system; private reports may include extra data (e.g., service) but aren’t a substitute for official title/brand verification.

Dealer Workflow: NMVTIS Compliance Checklist

1. Run an NMVTIS-based VIN check before acquiring and again before selling any used vehicle.
2. Disclose all branded titles (salvage, rebuilt, flood, non-repairable) in writing to buyers.
3. Retain records (reports, disclosures) for audits per state rules (commonly 4+ years).
4. Ensure your DMS or sales process integrates NMVTIS lookups (API or bulk tools).
5. Train staff on identifying brands, total-loss records, and odometer anomalies.

How to Read an NMVTIS-Based Report

• Title Brands: The most critical field. Any brand requires written disclosure.
• Title History: Look for frequent state moves or brand inconsistencies.
• Total-Loss Records: Verify dates, insurer, and subsequent branding.
• Junk/Salvage: Acquisition/disposition entries indicate end-of-life handling.
• Odometer (if present): Watch for mileage reversals or suspicious jumps.

API & Bulk Access for Dealers

High-volume users can integrate NMVTIS checks into inventory systems:

• Batch processing for wholesale lots and auction acquisitions.
• REST API to automate pre-acquisition and pre-sale verification.
• Audit-ready logs tied to VIN, date, and user for compliance.

NMVTIS Myths vs. Facts

Errors, Disputes, and Data Corrections

• Title data issues: Contact the issuing state DMV to correct title or brand records.
• Total-loss reporting: Work with the reporting insurer to address inaccuracies.
• Junk/salvage entries: Contact the reporting facility (yard/auction) to reconcile records.
• Authorized providers (e.g., VinAudit) can guide you to the source of record for official corrections.

NMVTIS Compliance and Enforcement

Under 28 C.F.R. § 25.51–25.56, reporting to NMVTIS is mandatory for insurance carriers, junk and salvage entities, and state titling agencies. Violations can result in civil or criminal penalties under the Anti-Car Theft Act.

Dealers are expected to verify NMVTIS data before resale to meet federal and state consumer-protection standards and to support accurate disclosures.

How to Access NMVTIS Vehicle Information

Public access is available through DOJ-authorized providers. VinAudit.com delivers NMVTIS-based reports that include:

• Title brand verification and title history.
• Odometer readings (where available) and rollback detection indicators.
• Junk, salvage, and insurance total-loss records.
• Cross-state checks for conflicts or duplicate titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

• Why Dealers Must Comply with NMVTIS
• NMVTIS Dealer Compliance Checklist
• Consumer Guide: How NMVTIS Protects Buyers
• NMVTIS Compliance Map (U.S.)

Stay compliant: Run an official VinAudit NMVTIS Vehicle History Report before each used-vehicle sale to ensure federal and state compliance.