NMVTIS Report (2026): What an NMVTIS Vehicle History Report Shows, What It Leaves Out, and How to Get One
November 13, 2026
Short answer: an NMVTIS report is a short, federal-data title check. It tells you five things about a car: where it is titled now, its brand history, its odometer reading, and whether it was ever reported as a total loss or salvage. It does not tell you what happened to the car or how well it was fixed. For a rebuilt title car, that second half is the part you still need.
I think of it like a background check that only looks at court records. Useful, fast, and it will catch the big red flags. It just was never built to tell you the whole story.
Key takeaways
- NMVTIS is the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, hosted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the U.S. Department of Justice.
- A report covers five indicators: current title and last title date, brand history, odometer, total loss history and salvage history.
- States, insurers and salvage yards are required by federal law to report to it.
- You buy a report from an approved provider listed on the government site; prices are set by the provider.
- It does not include repair history. On a rebuilt car, pair it with the repair record, an inspection and a severity check.
What is NMVTIS?
Short answer: it is a national database of title and brand records that states, insurers and salvage yards feed, built so key history information is, in the system's own words, "available, accessible, and affordable to consumers."
The consumer site, vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov, is run under the Bureau of Justice Assistance. It describes the system as "designed to protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles." The point is to stop title washing: a car branded salvage in one state should not show up with a clean title in the next one without a trace. Our explainer on title washing shows how that used to happen.
What does an NMVTIS report show?
Short answer: five indicators, and only five. The government site says an NMVTIS report "is intended to only provide data on five key indicators."
| Indicator | What it tells you | Why it matters on a rebuilt car |
|---|---|---|
| Current state of title and last title date | Where the car is titled now and when that title was issued | A very recent title in a new state is worth a question |
| Brand history | Brands states have put on the title, such as salvage, rebuilt or flood | Confirms the rebuilt brand the seller disclosed, and catches any extra brand |
| Odometer reading | Mileage recorded at title events | Spots a rollback between title transfers |
| Total loss history | Whether an insurer reported the car as a total loss | Explains why the car was branded in the first place |
| Salvage history | Whether a salvage yard, recycler or auction reported the car | Shows the car went through the salvage channel before it was rebuilt |
Notice what is missing: the cause, how bad it was, and what was repaired. That is not a flaw in NMVTIS. The site calls the report "intentionally concise."
Who reports to NMVTIS?
Short answer: state titling agencies, insurance carriers, and auto recyclers, junk and salvage yards. The site says these sources "are required by federal law to report regularly to NMVTIS."
| Reporter | What they report | How often, per the site |
|---|---|---|
| State motor vehicle titling agencies | Title and brand records | Ongoing |
| Insurance carriers, including some self-insured entities | Salvage and total-loss vehicles | Monthly, since March 31, 2009 |
| Auto recyclers, junk yards and salvage yards (including salvage pools and auctions) | Salvage vehicles they handle | Monthly, since March 31, 2009; yards with fewer than 5 salvage vehicles a year are exempt |
That is why a rebuilt car usually shows up clearly: the insurer reported the total loss, the auction or yard reported the salvage vehicle, and the state recorded the brand.
What does an NMVTIS report leave out?
Short answer: repair history, service and maintenance, recalls and accident details. The site says private history providers offer information "that is not intended to be included in NMVTIS," and it encourages buyers to get an independent inspection.
On a rebuilt title car, that leaves the biggest question open: was this a hail car with dimples in the roof, or a hard front-end hit? Both carry the same brand. Here is how to fill the gap:
| Question | Where the answer lives |
|---|---|
| What happened, and how severe was it? | A ReVroom Report: in-house severity grade (minor, moderate or severe), a severity graphic, an estimated savings percentage, and where and when it was auctioned |
| What was repaired? | The repair receipts and repair photos; on ReVroom, listings show what was repaired, with photos where available |
| Did it pass the state inspection? | The rebuilt title itself and the inspection paperwork |
| Is it sound today? | An independent pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic you choose |
A ReVroom Report is not a vehicle history report and does not replace NMVTIS. It answers a different question, and it only works on rebuilt and branded title cars.
How do you get an NMVTIS report?
Short answer: from one of the approved data providers listed on vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov. The government site links out to them and does not list prices; you pay the provider you choose.
- Go to the approved-provider list on the NMVTIS consumer site.
- Pick a provider and enter the 17-character VIN.
- Read the five indicators, especially brand history and total loss history.
- Match the brand to what the seller told you and to the title in hand.
One detail surprises people: the site says consumers "CANNOT receive NMVTIS Vehicle History Reports from Carfax, DMVDesk, or Experian," which provide that data to dealerships. If you want a commercial report too, our comparison of AutoCheck vs. Carfax and our Carfax vs. VIN check guide walk through what each adds.
How should you use NMVTIS when buying a rebuilt title car?
Short answer: use it to confirm the story, then use the repair record and a severity check to judge the car. A rebuilt brand on the report is expected. What you are looking for is a mismatch: a brand the seller did not mention, mileage that goes backward, or a title history that hops states.
Rebuilt cars are worth the homework. In the ReVroom Rebuilt Title Market Snapshot (November 2026), buyers saved a median $4,583 per vehicle across 17,000+ rebuilt title sales, and 87% of the cars carried only minor or moderate documented history. You can shop that way from the start on ReVroom: minor severity only, hail history, or the full inventory.
My take
I bought my own rebuilt car for 53% off, and the title check was the easy part. What made me comfortable was seeing exactly what had been repaired. Run the NMVTIS report so nothing is hiding. Then spend your real attention on the repair.
Frequently asked questions
What is an NMVTIS report?
It is a short vehicle history report built from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, a federal database hosted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance at the U.S. Department of Justice. It covers five indicators: current state of title and last title date, brand history, odometer reading, total loss history and salvage history.
Is an NMVTIS report the same as a Carfax report?
No. NMVTIS is intentionally concise and sticks to title, brand, odometer, total loss and salvage data. Private history providers add other information, such as repair or service records, that NMVTIS is not intended to include. Many buyers run both.
How do I get an NMVTIS report?
Through one of the approved providers listed on vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov. The government site links out to them and does not list prices; you pay the provider you pick. The site also says consumers cannot receive NMVTIS reports from Carfax, DMVDesk or Experian, which provide that data to dealerships.
Who reports to NMVTIS?
State titling agencies, insurance carriers (including some self-insured entities), and auto recyclers, junk and salvage yards. The site says insurers and yards report salvage and total-loss data monthly, and yards handling fewer than 5 salvage vehicles a year are exempt.
Will an NMVTIS report show a rebuilt title?
It shows the title brand history, so a car that was branded salvage and then rebuilt should show those brands, along with any total-loss report from an insurer. What it will not tell you is how serious the original problem was or what was repaired.
How do I see what was repaired on a rebuilt car?
Ask for the repair receipts, repair photos and the state inspection paperwork, and get an independent inspection. On ReVroom, listings show what was repaired, with photos where available, and a ReVroom Report adds an in-house severity grade, a severity graphic, an estimated savings percentage and where and when the car was auctioned.
