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FAQ

What is NVMTIS?
Established by federal law in 1992, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) system that is operated on behalf of DOJ by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

NMVTIS is an electronic system that enables users to access automobile titling information, including brand history and certain historical theft data. A "brand" is a descriptive label assigned to a vehicle by a state that identifies the vehicle's current or prior condition, such as "junk," "salvage," or "flood."

By capturing into one system specific pieces of information from state motor vehicle titling agencies, automobile recyclers, junk and salvage yards, and insurance carriers, NMVTIS protects states and consumers from title fraud, keeps stolen vehicles from being retitled, and makes it more difficult for criminals to conceal stolen vehicles for criminal purposes.

Why is NMVTIS necessary?
To Protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles.

  • Aid law enforcement efforts to reduce crime, specifically crimes involving vehicles, including vehicle theft rings, violent crimes, drug crimes, financial crimes, smuggling, and fraud.

  • Allow state motor vehicle titling agencies to instantly and reliably verify a vehicle's title before issuing a new title, and facilitating the electronic exchange of information between states, which improves titling efficiency and reduces fraud.

    • How many states participate in NMVTIS?
    Currently 27 states participate or contribute to NMVTIS with 10 others currently working towards participation. All states are required to be fully participating on or before January 1, 2010.

    Why did the government create NMVTIS?

  • 1.3 million vehicles are stolen each year.

  • Auto fraud is a profitable business that burdens states and consumers.

  • Auto theft alone costs consumers and insurance companies nearly $8 billion per year.

  • Only 63 percent of vehicles reported stolen are recovered.

  • Approximately 570,000 vehicles were affected by the 2005 hurricanes. These vehicles have been targets for vehicle title fraud ("brand washing").

  • Creation of false vehicle identification numbers ("VIN Cloning") is a growing trend.

  • Brand washing occurs regularly. Experian Automotive reported that in the first six months of 2008 there were more than 185,000 titles that were initially branded in one state, and then transferred and re-titled in a second state in a way that resulted in a purportedly clean title.

  • A clear link has been demonstrated between auto theft and major crimes, violent crime, organized crime, and transnational criminal activity.

    • Where can I conduct a search?
    To conduct a NMVTIS search, you have to select a provider, from a list of authorised third party providers.

    How much does it cost?
    The prices vary by provider, and typically range from $2-$5.

    Why use NMVTIS when similar information can be obtained elsewhere?
    NMVTIS receives certain state data more frequently than some of the third-party databases, and the data NMVTIS receives includes information that some of the third-party databases do not have.

    Many third-party databases experience lag time of several weeks or months in getting state updated data, NMVTIS is designed to significantly reduce or eliminate the lag time entirely to provide reliable information to users.

    While NMVTIS provides a unique service in terms of the source of its data, and its comprehensiveness, services such as AutoCheck will continue to provide information to the public that is not intended to be included in NMVTIS, such as vehicle repair histories, etc.

    NMVTIS is simply intended as a government sponsored service to verify the title and brand history of a vehicle reliably, thereby preventing fraud and theft.