What Is an NMVTIS Report? Everything You Need to Know

NMVTIS stands for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. It is a federal electronic database designed to protect consumers from vehicle title fraud and unsafe vehicles. VINifyCheck generates its vehicle history reports from VINDATA, an NMVTIS-authorized data seller, ensuring you get reliable government-sourced information with every report.

The History of NMVTIS: Why It Was Created

NMVTIS was created by the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, signed into law to combat the growing problem of vehicle theft and title fraud in the United States. Before NMVTIS, each state maintained its own separate title database with no requirement to share information across state lines. This created a massive loophole that criminals exploited. A vehicle could be declared a total loss in Florida, transported to Georgia, and issued a clean title with no record of its damaged history. This practice, known as title washing, cost consumers billions of dollars annually and put unsafe vehicles on the road. The Department of Justice was tasked with implementing NMVTIS to create a centralized, nationwide database of vehicle title information that all states would be required to contribute to and query. The system began operating in 2009 and has since processed hundreds of millions of vehicle title records.

What Data Does an NMVTIS Report Include?

An NMVTIS report includes title brand history showing salvage, rebuilt, flood, lemon, and junk brands applied by any state. It includes theft records for vehicles reported stolen, odometer readings and potential rollback indicators from title transfers and inspections, salvage auction data showing when a vehicle passed through a salvage auction, and lien and impound records from state agencies. This data comes directly from state motor vehicle agencies, insurance companies, and salvage pools, making it highly reliable for verifying a vehicle true status. All 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participate in NMVTIS, providing comprehensive national coverage.

What NMVTIS Does NOT Cover

NMVTIS does not include accident severity details such as how severe an accident was or which specific parts were damaged. It does not include repair history or records of what parts were replaced after an accident. Service and maintenance records like oil changes, tire rotations, and routine inspections are not tracked. Airbag deployment status is also not included. Vehicle ownership history showing how many previous owners the vehicle had may not be complete. This is where VINifyCheck report adds value by combining NMVTIS data with other available sources to give you a more complete picture of the vehicle history.

How States Report Data to NMVTIS

All 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico participate in NMVTIS. States report title data electronically to the federal database on a regular basis, typically daily or weekly. Insurance companies report total loss claims directly to NMVTIS. Salvage auctions and vehicle dismantlers report vehicles they process. This three-pronged data collection ensures that NMVTIS captures a vehicle history from multiple angles. When you run a VINifyCheck report the data you receive is the result of this comprehensive data aggregation system. VINDATA, the NMVTIS-authorized data seller that VINifyCheck partners with, aggregates data from all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and other territories ensuring comprehensive coverage.

NMVTIS vs CARFAX: What is the Difference?

Feature	NMVTIS via VINifyCheck	CARFAX
Data Source	Government-mandated DOJ	Proprietary voluntary
Title Brands	All states mandated by law	Voluntary reporting
Price Per Report	.99	.99
Service Records	Limited	Extensive
Canadian Data	Limited	Yes
Accident Severity	Not included	Sometimes included
Sample Report Available	Yes	No

NMVTIS is government-mandated which means states are required by law to report data. CARFAX relies on voluntary partnerships with insurance companies and auto shops. While CARFAX may have more service records NMVTIS is more reliable for title brand accuracy because the data is federally required rather than voluntarily submitted.

How to Get an NMVTIS Vehicle History Report

Simply enter the VIN on VINifyCheck.com. The free check shows basic specifications like make model and year. For comprehensive NMVTIS-sourced data purchase the full .99 report which includes title brand history theft records odometer readings salvage auction data and more. The report is delivered instantly and you can view a sample report before purchasing.