This information represents Auto Data Direct’s understanding of the rule but is not intended to be legal advice nor a substitute for advice of your counsel. Policy changes occur frequently. While we endeavor to update the FAQs regularly, they may be out of date. Users should consult the vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov website and their attorney. DOJ issues clarification at vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov, Read the Final Rule.
NMVTIS FAQs
What is the purpose of NMVTIS?
Who is responsible for maintaining the NMVTIS information?
What information should be reported to NMVTIS?
What is the official definition of a “salvage” vehicle?
What is the official definition of a “junk” vehicle?
What vehicles do NOT have to be reported?
I report salvage/derelict vehicles to my state. Does this count for NMVTIS reporting?
I am a towing company. Do I have to report all vehicles I tow?
What is a NMVTIS Identification number?
Are we expected to send an initial report of all our historical vehicles?
Do I have to report when I purchase a vehicle AND when it is crushed or sold?
How do I determine the disposition of a vehicle?
The vehicle is crushed or in a condensed state and I cannot identify the VIN. How do I report?
What date should I use to determine the date of total loss?
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
ADD FAQs
Do I have to set up an account to report to NMVTIS?
What is an ADD PIN number and why do I need one?
I have more than one location. Do I need more than one account?
How do I send the vehicle reports to ADD?
I do not have a computer, are there other ways I can report?
What is the per-report fee for a Full Service account?
Why is the pricing different for the insurance industry versus the salvage industry?
What if I reported a vehicle and later discovered that the reported information was incorrect?
I use a management system. Can I use it to report to NMVTIS?
Does ADD aggregate or sell my information?
What other services does ADD offer?
NMVTIS FAQ Answers
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is a system that allows an electronic means to verify and exchange titling, brand, and odometer data among motor vehicle administrators, law enforcement officials, prospective purchasers and insurance carriers.
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 is responsible for maintaining the NMVTIS information?
NMVTIS is a Department of Justice database maintained by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).
What information should be included for each vehicle?
Insurance Carriers
- VIN
- Date on which the automobile was obtained or designated as a total loss
- Name of the individual or entity from whom the automobile was obtained (owner name or lien-holder name)
- Who possessed the automobile when it was designated a total loss
- Name of the owner of the automobile at the time of the filing of the report with NMVTIS (either the insurance company or the owner, if owner-retained)
Salvage Industry
- 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
- Whether the vehicle is intended for export out of the United States
What is the official definition of a “salvage” vehicle?
A salvage vehicle is an automobile that is damaged by collision, fire, flood, accident, trespass, or other event, to the extent that its fair salvage value plus the cost of repairing the automobile for legal operation on public streets, roads, and highways would be more than the fair market value of the automobile immediately before the event that caused the damage. Salvage automobiles include automobiles determined to be a total loss under the law of the applicable jurisdiction or designated as a total loss by an insurer under the terms of its policies, regardless of whether or not the ownership of the vehicle is transferred to the insurance carrier.
What is the official definition of a “junk” vehicle?
A junk vehicle is an automobile that is incapable of operating on public streets, roads, and highways and has no value except as a source of parts or scrap.
What vehicles do NOT have to be reported?
Under the NMVTIS guidelines, if a qualified independent appraiser determines that a vehicle does not meet the definition of a salvage or junk automobile, it does not have to be reported. This determination must be in writing and made after performing a good-faith physical and value appraisal. The DOJ recommends that junk and salvage yards retain the reports and written appraisals for a period of ten years from the date of the report.
I report salvage/derelict vehicles to my state. Does this count for NMVTIS reporting?
Junk and salvage yards are not required to report to NMVTIS 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. HOWEVER, no state is currently reporting on behalf of junk and salvage yards. Auto recyclers, junk and salvage yards are responsible for reporting the required information to NMVTIS. Read the Department of Justice clarification on this issue.
I am a towing company. Do I have to report all vehicles that I tow?
Any vehicle that is merely transported or stored, or for which you did not have the right to determine what would happen to the vehicle does not have to be reported. Any vehicle that does not meet the definition of a junk or salvage vehicle should not be reported. Tow companies should report all junk or salvage vehicles that they acquire, own or sell (at auction or through other means). Read the Department of Justice clarification on this issue.
What is a NMVTIS Identification number?
A NMVTIS number is a unique identification number assigned to a company for the purpose of identifying the reporting entity to the NMVTIS database. Data consolidators assign NMVTIS IDs. New accounts may use a previously assigned NMVTIS ID, or Auto Data Direct will assign a NMVTIS ID to the reporting entity.
Are we expected to send an initial report of every vehicle we own?
You are not required to send an full inventory report. You are required to submit information on every vehicle that has been brought into inventory from March 1, 2009 forward.
Do I have to report when I purchase a vehicle AND when it is crushed or sold?
Vehicles should be reported within 30 days of receipt, but because some junk or salvage yards may hold vehicles for several months or years before a final disposition (e.g., crushed, sold) is known, some reporting entities may need to provide a second report when the final disposition of a vehicle is known.
The NMVTIS regulations do not preclude a junk or salvage yard from reporting the final disposition of a vehicle at the time of first reporting, if such a disposition is known with certainty. Junk and salvage yards are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of their reporting and for providing corrected information to the system, should the disposition be changed from what was initially reported.
How do I determine the disposition of a vehicle?
Insurance Carriers
SALVAGE is the only available disposition for insurance carriers or those reporting on their behalf.
Salvage Industry
SCRAP - The vehicle is being “parted out.” You will have to update this disposition when the vehicle is crushed or sold.
CRUSH - The vehicle was crushed, baled or shredded.
SOLD - the vehicle was sold. This disposition requires the name of the company or individual to whom the vehicle was sold.
Unknown (no disposition) - You do not know at this time what you will do with the vehicle. You will have to update this disposition when you determine what will happen to the vehicle.
The vehicle is crushed or in a condensed state and I cannot identify the VIN. What is the policy on this issue?
Shredders and other recyclers who receive vehicles in a crushed or condensed state are not required to report these specific vehicles to the operator IF they determine that their supplier has already reported the crushed vehicle to NMVTIS. Shredders and other recyclers who rely upon this exception to reporting should maintain documentation supporting their determination.
In cases where a supplier’s compliance with NMVTIS cannot be determined, scrap metal processors and shredders must report these vehicles. Vehicle information should be reported based on a visual inspection if possible, but if the VIN cannot be determined from the vehicle, scrap metal processors and shredders may rely on primary documentation (i.e., title documents) provided by the vehicle supplier.Read the Department of Justice Shredder clarification on this issue.
What date should I use to determine the date of total loss?
Insurance carriers should report the date on which the automobile was obtained or designated as a total loss, junk or salvage automobile, however, if that information is not available, insurers may report the date of loss or the date the total loss claim was paid in lieu of the date the total loss determination was made. Read the Department of Justice clarification on this issue.
I purchase repairable/rebuildable vehicles, fix and sell them. Do I have to report the rebuildable and vehicles that I buy and sell to NMVTIS?
Yes, all junk and salvage vehicles must be reported, even if they are intended to be repaired and lawfully sold as operable automobiles.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
The Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 rule sets forth a $1000 civil penalty for ‘each violation of the chapter.’ The Department of Justice preserves its full enforcement authority and discretion, including the ability to determine what constitutes a violation of the Act. [inline:Anti Car Theft Act.pdf=Read the full Anti-Car Theft Act.]
ADD FAQ Answers
Do I have to set up an account to report to NMVTIS?
Yes. Companies must create an Auto Data Direct account before reporting NMVTIS information through Auto Data Direct. Full Service accounts require a one-time $250 activation fee and an initial working balance of $50 in a pre-paid account. Full accounts include single entry, batch entry, management system upload, VIN validation tools and a record manifest for a small per-report fee. Basic Service accounts have no activation fee, no per-report fee, and include single entry reporting and emailed receipts. More information on account features.
What is an ADD PIN number and why do I need one?
An ADD PIN will be assigned to each NMVTIS Identification number. The purpose of the PIN is to provide your company additional account and data security from outside sources.
I have more than one location. Do I need more than one account?
If you have multiple locations, you have two account options:
- If you would prefer that each location had a unique account containing only its vehicle reports, separate accounts will be set up. This will also provide financial separation for the account balances. Each location will be assigned a unique NMVTIS ID number and ADD PIN.
- If reports can be combined and paid from one account, a unique NMVTIS number and ADD PIN will be assigned and each location can set up a reporting “profile” within the single account.
How do I send the vehicle reports to ADD?
Auto Data Direct offers three ways to report VINs:
- Single Entry: Enter NMVTIS information for each vehicle one-by-one on our website. This is the simplest reporting method, and is the best upload method for businesses uploading less than 20 vehicles per week.
- Batch Entry: Transfer batches of NMVTIS information collected on an Excel spreadsheet through our website. This method allows the upload for a higher volume of vehicles at one time.
- Business to Business Connection: Transfer data through a business-to-business interface using an XML format. This method allows batch reporting for larger entities uploading high volumes of information. You should have a technical staff to help set up this interface.
I do not have a computer, are there other ways I can report?
ADD has asked one of its longstanding customers, Florida Fast Title Service, to assist NMVTIS reporting customers who are not technologically ready for this new federal requirement. You may contact Florida Fast Title at 813-237-5805 or you may have a local title company able to assist you with reporting.
What is the per-report fee for a Full Service account?
Insurance Carriers
Insurance reports are $0.75 per upload, regardless of who makes the report (the insurance carrier, a claims administrator, a salvage pool, etc.).
Salvage Industry
| Pricing is based on a 3 monthly rolling average. | |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 999 uploads per month: | $0.35 per record |
| 1,000 to 4,999 uploads per month: | $0.30 per record |
| 5,000 to 9,999 uploads per month: | $0.25 per record |
| 10,000 or more uploads per month: | Contact us for pricing. |
Please note: an “upload” is defined as a single vehicle record on a specific day from a specific reporting entity.
Why is the pricing different for the insurance industry versus the salvage industry?
Insurance carriers are required to produce one vehicle upload and to report only vehicles of the current year, plus the previous 4 years. However, the salvage industry will most likely have a minimum of two reports for each vehicle and must report on EVERY vehicle they receive, regardless of age.
What if I reported a vehicle and later discovered that a VIN or other data element was incorrect?
ADD users have the ability to report records submitted in error. This function is available in all NMVTIS accounts through the Record Manifest in the Full Service Account or using the Record ID returned with each Basic Account record. Submission of an error report requires the user to provide a short comment explaining the nature of the error.
I use a management system. Can I use it to report to NMVTIS?
Many management systems and business software providers have teamed up with ADD to help users report NMVTIS vehicles with a few clicks of a mouse. Contact us to see if your management system can help you report.
How do I check my supplier compliance?
The official government website, vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov, provides a searchable database of compliant companies. Choose the link on the left menu named “Junk, Salvage, Recycler, and Insurer Information– Check here to search for junk, salvage, recycler, and insurer information.” NMVTIS compliance checks are a great tool that will help identify unfair and illegal business practices that hurt the whole industry.
ADD account holders can also spot-check vendor compliance by pulling a VIN report from the database. If the supplier has reported the vehicle, the supplier name and vehicle disposition will appear on the report. This service is available for all ADD accounts.
Does ADD aggregate or sell my information?
No. ADD does not sell, disclose, compile, or aggregate its customers' information beyond the scope of its legal obligation to the operator of NMVTIS. ADD is the only data consolidator that is contractually prevented from re-selling or re-marketing any data collected.
What other services does ADD offer?
Auto Data Direct, Inc. provides a variety of services such as retrieving motor vehicle, vessel, and recreational vehicle records from Florida, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and others. ADD also provides Florida driver license records, the ability to mail certified letters right from your computer and is a Florida Print on Demand temporary tag vendor.