What does “NMVTIS” stand for?

NMVTIS stands for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. It was established by the U.S. Department of Justice to help protect consumers from vehicle fraud, unsafe vehicles, and the resale of stolen vehicles.

Why NMVTIS Matters

• It serves as a centralized database that helps state DMVs and law enforcement detect and prevent title fraud and other vehicle-related crimes.
• All U.S. state DMVs are required to report data to NMVTIS and to consult the database each time a vehicle title is transferred.
• Based on the records in NMVTIS, states may brand titles (e.g., salvage, rebuilt) to reflect a vehicle’s history.

Important Note for Buyers

Vehicles listed with clean titles—such as MD Certificate of Title (Clean) or AL Certificate of Title (Clean)—at insurance auctions may still be reclassified as salvage during the DMV registration process based on NMVTIS data. While this is uncommon, it’s important to be aware of the possibility before making a purchase.

Learn More

For detailed information or to research a vehicle’s history using an approved Data Provider, visit the official NMVTIS site: www.vehiclehistory.gov

Related FAQs

• What Does “May Become Salvage Upon Ownership Transfer” Mean?
• What Does “Clean Title (May Become Salvage per NMVTIS)” Mean?

For further assistance, feel free to contact RideSafely support.

If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding NMVTIS compliance, our RideSafely support team is readily available to help. Please call us at (215) 289-0300 for expert guidance.

Thank you,
The RideSafely Team
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