Frequently Asked Questions

Policy Clarifications

New Policy Clarification Issued: Shredder Reporting
Notice Regarding Reporting Requirements
Policy Clarification Issued: Insurance Carrier Reporting of Salvage Information
Notice Regarding State Compliance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of NMVTIS?
Who operates and manages NMVTIS?
I am interested in purchasing a used vehicle and would like to obtain a vehicle history. How can I do this?
How much will it cost to obtain NMVTIS information on a vehicle?
What kind of information will I receive in a NVMTIS vehicle history report?
What types of vehicles are included in NMVTIS?
How current is the information in NMVTIS?
How is the information accessed through NMVTIS different from private vendors who provide this information as well?
Where can I get detailed vehicle information from a state?
If I believe there is a discrepancy in the information provided in a NMVTIS vehicle record, how do I go about resolving the issue?
If I purchase a vehicle, is my personal information included and shared in NMVTIS?
Why aren't all states participating in NMVTIS? Why isn't my state participating?
I requested vehicle information through NMVTIS and no brand/odometer/title information was returned. Why?

Insurance, Junk/Salvage FAQs

As a junk/salvage yard, I already report certain vehicle information to my state. Do I still need to report to NMVTIS?
As an insurance carrier, junk/salvage yard, I have questions about how to report information through a third party data consolidators?
If an insurance carrier determines a vehicle to be salvage or total loss, but does not pay a claim (e.g., third party claims) is the insurance carrier required to report the determination to NMVTIS?
When is the first report due, what will it include, and what timeframe of data is required?
Can an insurance carrier, junk or salvage yard report directly to NMVTIS or must they use an approved third party data consolidator?
My company is a salvage pool. Can we report to NMVTIS on behalf of our insurance company customers?
Do total loss vehicles over five years old have to be reported?
Since the disposition of the vehicle must be included in junk and salvage yards' reports to NMVTIS, how will we comply when a vehicle's final disposition is unknown at the time of making the report? Are we required to report a second time once the final disposition is determined?
If there are zero cars that meet the reporting requirements, does this need to be reported to NMVTIS?
What junk/salvage yards and insurance carriers are required to report specified information to NMVTIS?
What is the definition of an automobile for purposes of NMVTIS?
If the VIN cannot be determined based on a visual inspection and title documents are not available, how does a salvage yard report the vehicle?
A salvage yard does not have information on who they received an automobile from. How does the salvage yard report the name of the individual or entity from whom the automobile was obtained?

What is the purpose of NMVTIS?
NMVTIS was created to:

• Prevent the introduction or reintroduction of stolen motor vehicles into interstate commerce;
• Protect states and consumers (individual and commercial) from fraud;
• Reduce the use of stolen vehicles for illicit purposes including funding of criminal enterprises; and
Provide consumers protection from unsafe vehicles.

Who operates and manages NMVTIS?
The U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for oversight of the implementation and operation of NMVTIS, and works in partnership with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). AAMVA has been the operator since 1992. To learn more about AAMVA contact:

American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
4301 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, Virginia 22203
(703) 522-4200
www.aamva.org

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I am interested in purchasing a used vehicle and would like to obtain a vehicle history. How can I do this?
Consumers can request vehicle history information through NMVTIS by selecting an approved service provider from the alphabetical list below:

• Auto Data Direct
• CARCO Group, Inc.

Additional service providers will be added to this web site as they become available.

How much will it cost to obtain NMVTIS information on a vehicle?
Cost for NVMTIS vehicle history reports vary and are determined by individual service providers. The Anti-Car Theft Act requires that the system be funded through user fees and not dependent on federal funds. For this reason, NMVTIS has been designed as a fee-for-service system. Current fees range from approximately $2 to $4 per report.

What kind of information will I receive in a NVMTIS vehicle history report?
NMVTIS records provide:

• current and previous state of title data
• title issue date
• latest odometer data
• theft history data (if any)
• any brand assigned to a vehicle and date applied
• salvage history, including designations as a “total loss” (if any)

Read the NMVTIS Consumer Access Product Disclaimer, which describes what is and is not included in NMVTIS reports.

What types of vehicles are included in NMVTIS?
NMVTIS includes information on automobiles, buses, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, motor homes, and tractors. NMVTIS may not currently include commercial vehicles if those vehicles are not included in a state's primary database for title records (in some states, those vehicles are managed by a separate agency), although these records may be added at a later time.

How current is the information in NMVTIS?
Currently the data provided to NMVTIS by states is provided in a variety of time frames; while some report and update NVMTIS data in “real-time” (as title transactions occur) others send updates less frequently, such as once every 24 hours or within a period of days.

How is the information accessed through NMVTIS different from private vendors who provide this information as well?
NMVTIS information made available to consumers is from state motor vehicle agency records and entire sectors (e.g., insurance, auto recyclers/junk/salvage, etc.) addressed by the Anti-Car Theft Act. As opposed to purchasing information from specific businesses or companies, entities are required to provide specific information to NMVTIS in a specific format. NMVTIS is intended to serve as a reliable source of title and brand history for automobiles, which helps consumers make informed decisions before purchasing a used vehicle. However, there are certain pieces of vehicle history data that NMVTIS does not contain; for example, a vehicle's repair history.

Before making a decision to purchase a vehicle, consumers may wish to obtain an independent vehicle inspection and consult other available information resources that provide additional vehicle history data.

Where can I get detailed vehicle information from a state?
To request a complete copy of a specific state vehicle title record, you can contact the current state motor vehicle titling agency. Click here to find more information on state motor vehicle agency processes for obtaining state records.

If I believe there is a discrepancy in the information provided in a NMVTIS vehicle record, how do I go about resolving the issue?
Contact the service provider directly for questions about your vehicle history report. Customer support is available on each service providers' website.

• Auto Data Direct, Inc.
  Telephone: Toll Free: (866)-923-3123; Local (850)-877-8804
  www.add123.com/support
• CARCO Group, Inc.
  Help Desk: 1-866-725-5294
  helpdesk@carcogroup.com

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If I purchase a vehicle, is my personal information included and shared in NMVTIS?
No personal identifying information will be made available to individual consumers via NMVTIS. However, information contained within NMVTIS will include limited personal identifying information specifically for law enforcement/investigative, regulatory, and related purposes. While no personal identifying information will be made available to individual consumers, states can permit access to their records that is consistent with the requirements of federal statutes such as the Drivers Privacy Protection Act and any relevant state statutes. Visit the Privacy Policy page to read more.

Why aren't all states participating in NMVTIS? Why isn't my state participating?
Currently 46 states are involved with NMVTIS at various levels of participation. (View NMVTIS participation map.) Some states participate fully with NMVTIS (provide data to the system as well as make title inquiries before issuing new titles.) Other states provide data only or are developing the capacity to participate fully with NMVTIS. Non-participating states have offered different reasons for not providing data to the system and not making inquiries of NMVTIS, however consumers are encouraged to seek responses to these questions from the states directly.

In January 2009, the Department of Justice issued clear and detailed guidance for states on how to participate in NMVTIS and comply with the Anti-Car Theft Act. All states must be fully participating as required by the Act and its regulations by January 1, 2010. The Department of Justice continues to work collaboratively with states to help bring them into full compliance. (View the Notice Regarding State Compliance.)

I requested vehicle information through NMVTIS and (no brand/odometer/title information was returned. Why?
It is likely in this case that no brand, odometer, or title information for that vehicle has been reported by participating states. Contact the report service provider for any additional questions or further explanation. Although NMVTIS includes nearly 75 percent of the U.S. vehicle population, it is expected that this type of response may occur until all states are participating.

To read the NMVTIS Consumer Access Product Disclaimer click here.

Insurance, Junk/Salvage FAQs

As an insurance carrier, junk/salvage yard, I have questions about how to report information through a third party data consolidators?
To view approved third party data consolidators, please visit the “For Insurance” or “For Auto Recyclers” page. The Operator of NMVTIS is required to have at least two, third party data consolidators under contract and ready to accept data by March 31, 2009, and to bring at least one additional third party data consolidator online as soon as possible.

If an insurance carrier determines a vehicle to be salvage or total loss, but does not pay a claim (e.g., third party claims) is the insurance carrier required to report the determination to NMVTIS?
Yes, an insurance carrier determination of salvage or total loss, regardless of whether a claim is paid or not, must be reported to NMVTIS.

When is the first report due, what will it include, and what timeframe of data is required?
The NMVTIS regulations require that by no later than March 31, 2009, insurance carriers, and junk and salvage yards must begin to report specified information to NMVTIS.

DOJ cannot change the March 31, 2009 date by which reporting must commence, which also is mandated by Court Order, but is aware that some junk and salvage yards and insurance carriers may need additional time after March 31, 2009 to come into full compliance with all reporting requirements. Accordingly, all reports must be complete, even if they are delayed, and the initial report, when submitted, shall include all automobiles with regard to which the reporting requirements of sections 25.55(a) and 25.56(a) of the NMVTIS Regulation were satisfied during March 2009. The initial report should include information from March 1, 2009 to March 31, 2009.

To read the full Notice on Reporting Requirements, click here.

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Can an insurance carrier, junk or salvage yard report directly to NMVTIS or must they use an approved third party data consolidator?
In order to ensure that the system-wide expense of operating NMVTIS is kept to a minimum, and to provide overall for what BJA and the operator of NMVTIS (AAMVA) believe to be the least burdensome and costly manner for reporting, insurance carriers and junk and salvage yards must make their reports to NMVTIS through AAMVA-approved third party data consolidators. To view a list of approved third party data consolidators, click here.

My company is a salvage pool. Can we report to NMVTIS on behalf of our insurance company customers?
Every insurance carrier, and junk and salvage yard is required to report to NMVTIS. Insurance carriers may arrange to have the reports provided by another entity to satisfy its reporting obligation if those other reports are filed in a timely manner and contain all of the information that the insurance carrier itself is legally obligated to report to NMVTIS. Although another entity may provide the report on behalf of the insurance carrier, it is the insurance carrier itself that has the legal responsibility for all reporting requirements, including the content and the timeliness of the report. Any report filed on behalf of an insurance carrier by another entity must use the unique reporting ID of the insurance carrier on whose behalf the report is filed.

As a junk/salvage yard, I already report certain vehicle information to my state. Do I still need to report to NMVTIS?
Junk and salvage yards are responsible to reporting to NMVTIS:

• The name, address, and contact information for the reporting entity.
• VIN.
• Date the automobile was obtained.
• Name of the individual or entity from whom the automobile was obtained.
• A statement of whether the automobile was crushed or disposed of, or offered for sale or other purposes, and whether the vehicle is intended for export out of the United States.

Junk and salvage yards are not required to report to NMVTIS through a third party data consolidator if they already report ALL the required information to their state and the state provides the required information to NMVTIS on their behalf in a timely manner. Please note: No state is currently reporting on behalf of junk and salvage yards and these entities are responsible for reporting the required information to NMVTIS using a third party data consolidator

Do total loss vehicles over five years old have to be reported?
Junk and salvage yards are required to report to NMVTIS an inventory of ALL junk or salvage automobiles obtained in whole or in part by that entity in the prior month regardless of the model year. The model year begins on the first day of the calendar year.

Insurance carriers are required to report to NMVTIS an inventory of all automobiles of the current model year or any of the four prior model years that the carrier has obtained possession of and has decided are junk and salvage automobiles (including those determined to be a total loss) in the prior month.

Since the disposition of the vehicle must be included in junk and salvage yards' reports to NMVTIS, how will we comply when a vehicle's final disposition is unknown at the time of making the report? Are we required to report a second time once the final disposition is determined?
Junk and salvage yards are required to report the date the automobile was obtained in inventory during that month even if the final disposition is unknown at the time the report is submitted. Junk and salvage yards must file an update or supplemental report of the final disposition of any automobile where final disposition information was not available at the time of the initial report filing, or if the actual disposition of the automobile differs from what was initially reported.

If there are zero cars that meet the reporting requirements, does this need to be reported to NMVTIS?
No report is necessary for that month.

What junk/salvage yards and insurance carriers are required to report specified information to NMVTIS?
Junk/salvage yards are those individuals or entities engaged in the business of acquiring or owning junk or salvage automobiles for resale in their entirety or as spare parts or for rebuilding, restoration, or crushing. This would include scrap-vehicle shredders and scrap-metal processors, as well as pull- or pick-apart yards, salvage pools, salvage auctions, and other types of auctions, businesses, and individuals that handle salvage vehicles (including those vehicles declared a total loss.)

An insurance carrier is an individual or entity engaged in the business of underwriting automobile insurance. This would include any entity that enters into a formal arrangement, typically of a commercial nature, where a fee(s), contribution(s), or other consideration is received as part of pooling the risk of loss of an automobile(s) or as part of accepting the risk of loss of an automobile(s) on behalf of another individual or entity.

For example:

• A rental car company that offers, for a fee, contribution, or other consideration, to relieve its customers from liability for loss or damage to, or caused by, automobiles the customers rent from that company, is required to report.
• A city government that self insures its fleet is not required to report.

The definition of an automobile for purposes of NMVTIS, incorporating the definition in 49 U.S.C. § 32901(a), generally covers four-wheel vehicles that are rated at less than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, but excludes vehicles that operate solely on rails, certain vehicles manufactured in different states by two or more manufacturers, and certain work trucks.

What is included in the gross vehicle weight rating?
The concept of "gross vehicle weight rating" ("GVWR") seems to be commonly used in the automobile industry and the Department of Transportation states it is "the maximum allowable total weight of a vehicle when loaded, including the vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight. This is a fixed weight specified by the manufacturer." Usually the GVWR may be found on the sticker on the automobile.

What is the definition of a work truck?
49 C.F.R. § 523.2 provides the following definition for work trucks: "Work truck means a vehicle that is rated at more than 8,500 and less than or equal to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and is not a medium-duty passenger vehicle as defined in 40 CFR 86.1803-01 effective as of December 20, 2007." (Emphasis added). (the definition of a medium-duty passenger vehicle is provided below).

A medium-duty passenger vehicle ("MDPV"), according to 40 C.F.R. § 86.1803-01, "means any heavy-duty vehicle (as defined in this subpart) with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 pounds that is designed primarily for the transportation of persons. The MDPV definition does not include any vehicle which:

1. Is an "incomplete truck" as defined in this subpart; or
2. Has a seating capacity of more than 12 persons; or
3. Is designed for more than 9 persons in seating rearward of the driver's seat; or
4. Is equipped with an open cargo area (for example, a pick-up truck box or bed) of 72.0 inches in interior length or more. A covered box not readily accessible from the passenger compartment will be considered an open cargo area for purposes of this definition.

If the VIN cannot be determined based on a visual inspection and title documents are not available, how does a salvage yard report the vehicle?
Per the NMVTIS Regulation, a salvage yard has an obligation to perform a visual inspection of the vehicle and to review the title documents to determine the VIN. A salvage yard is encouraged to make a good faith effort to obtain the VIN prior to not reporting the vehicle.

A salvage yard does not have information on who they received an automobile from. How does the salvage yard report the name of the individual or entity from whom the automobile was obtained?
When a salvage yard is unable to identify from whom an automobile was obtained, it should report to NMVTIS the owner of the vehicle as the name of the individual from whom the automobile was obtained.

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