What NMVTIS is
NMVTIS is a national database of title and brand information, created under the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 and overseen by the US Department of Justice. Its job is to let state titling agencies, law enforcement and buyers see a vehicle's title history across state lines, so a car branded salvage in one state can't easily be presented as clean in another.
Who reports to it
- State titling agencies report titles, brands and odometer readings recorded at titling. Most states take part; check the program website for current participation.
- Insurance carriers report vehicles they have declared a total loss.
- Junk yards, salvage yards and auto recyclers must report the vehicles they handle.
What an NMVTIS report shows
| Item | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Current title state and date | Confirms where the car is titled now and whether the seller's paperwork is recent. |
| Title brand history | Salvage, rebuilt, flood, junk and other brands applied by any reporting state. |
| Odometer reading at the last title | A recorded reading to compare against the dashboard. |
| Total-loss history | Whether a reporting insurer wrote the car off. |
| Junk or salvage history | Whether the car passed through a reporting junk or salvage yard. |
What it does not show
- Accidents that didn't lead to a total loss or a brand.
- Service and repair history.
- Number of owners in the way a commercial report presents it.
- Open safety recalls (use the free NHTSA lookup on the recalls page).
- Data from any state or reporter that isn't participating or hasn't reported yet.
NMVTIS is narrow by design. It answers one question well: has this car ever been branded or written off somewhere? That is often the most expensive question to get wrong.
How to get a report
- Go to the official consumer page at vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov.
- Pick one of the approved data providers listed there. Each sets its own price, usually a few dollars per report.
- Enter the VIN and buy the report from that provider.
Only go through the list on the official site. Many websites mention NMVTIS; being listed as an approved provider is what matters.
NMVTIS and dealers
Federal rules require certain businesses that handle salvage vehicles to report to NMVTIS, but ordinary used-car dealers aren't generally required to hand you an NMVTIS report. Some states and some dealers provide one anyway. If yours doesn't, run it yourself.
How it fits with other checks
Use NMVTIS for title and brand history, the NHTSA lookup for recalls, NICB VINCheck for theft and insurer total-loss records, and a commercial history report if you want accident and service history. Then confirm everything with an inspection.