Report VINs to NMVTIS: Help Prevent Crime & Save Lives

• NCJ Number: 254686
• Date Published: December 2019
• Length: 2 pages
• Agencies: BJA-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Program/Project Description; Legislation/Policy Description; Instructional Material (Programmed)

Annotation

This brief report presents the legal and public-service rationales for providing designated vehicle information to the federal National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), which is managed by the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) to protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles and to keep stolen vehicles from being resold.

Abstract

The federal law that established the NMVTIS requires that any business or individual who operates five or more junk, salvage, or insurance (total loss) vehicles annually must report vehicle information to NMVTIS through authorized third-party data consolidators. A list of these consolidators and reporting requirements is available at www.vehiclehistory.gov. Some data consolidators may establish limited service charges in order to provide improved or additional services to reporting entities. Failure to report to NMVTIS is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per reporting violation. Reporting can be as often as desired, but cannot be less frequent than monthly. DOJ encourages submission of the required information as soon as possible to prevent fraud and theft. A table shows what information must be reported to NMVTIS.