History
The Anti-Car Theft Act (the Act) of 1992 directed the U.S.
Department of Transportation to establish a national
information system enabling states and others to access automobile titling
information. In 1996, the Act was reauthorized, transferring the
responsibility for this system to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The
Act prescribes the ongoing responsibilities of DOJ in the operation and
oversight of NMVTIS. 49 U.S.C. § 30502(a)(1) directs the Attorney General to
establish NMVTIS to accomplish specific automobile titling information
objectives that specify
what information is to be made available and to whom.
NMVTIS was created to:
- Prevent the introduction or reintroduction of stolen motor vehicles
into interstate commerce;
- Protect states, consumers (both individual and commercial), and
other entities from fraud;
- Reduce the use of stolen vehicles for illicit purposes including
funding of criminal enterprises; and
- Provide consumer protection from unsafe vehicles.
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS)
Participation Program (FY
2009 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Applications are due February 12, 2009
In 1999, the then General Accounting Office (GAO)
conducted a review of NMVTIS. The
GAO report
found that a life-cycle cost and benefits analysis should be conducted to
determine if further federal funding of NMVTIS was warranted.
In 2001, at the request of the Department of Justice, the
Logistics Management Institute (LMI) submitted a
report to DOJ's National
Institute of Justice, found that: "…NMVTIS-if it is fully implemented in all
50 states and the District of Columbia, and if it is 100 percent
effective-can achieve benefits in the range of $4 billion to $11.3 billion
annually."
In 2006, the Integrated
Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute, a nonprofit organization
made up of technology companies and formed to provide a single voice of
industry in the development of new standards and practices in the law
enforcement and justice information technology world, was asked by BJA to
conduct a full review of the NMVTIS system architecture to identify any
technological barriers to NMVTIS implementation and to determine if any
potential cost savings was available through emerging technology. The
IJIS Institute
report found that: "…the NMVTIS program provides an invaluable benefit
to state vehicle administrators and the public community as a whole.
Advantages of the program including improving the state titling process, as
well as providing key information to consumers and law enforcement
agencies."
New! State
Compliance Technical Alternative Available Soon!
Historically, the case has been made for states to fully integrate the
NMVTIS inquiries, updates, and data sharing into their titling processes and
systems. These integration efforts have, in some cases, created a burden on
states, as their title information systems required modification in order to
allow for the integration of NMVTIS inquiries and updates. In 2008, BJA
supported the development of a stand-alone access method that the states may
use to make NMVTIS inquiries without requiring changes to local information
systems with Internet capabilities. Stand-alone access is expected to
consist of a secure (password-protected) Internet-based access point
providing state titling staff access during a title transaction. The
information available is expected to include key title information a titling
agency would need to detect fraud or theft before issuing a new title.
Stand-alone access may also include the ability to query and respond with
additional title information residing in the state of record, although at
this time that specific functional capability has not been finalized. Once a
title transaction is made, the NMVTIS central file would be updated via the
daily or real-time batch upload process. The stand-alone inquiry technical
details have been made available to AAMVA and are now being developed into
an alternative "stand-alone" state connectivity application. It is expected
this method of connectivity will significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the
need for capital investments from the states in order to comply with the
requirements of the Anti-Car Theft Act.
Key Links:
Anti-Car Theft Act
National Motor
Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) Final Rule
NMVTIS Administration
The Act authorizes the designation of a third-party operator of NMVTIS.
Since 1992, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA)
has acted in this capacity and operates the system today. AAMVA is a
nonprofit, tax exempt, educational association representing U.S. and
Canadian officials responsible for the administration and enforcement of
motor vehicle laws.
For more information, please contact AAMVA at:
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
4301 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
Arlington, VA 22203
703-522-4200
www.aamva.org
NMVTIS Funding
Federal law provides that NMVTIS should be supported through user fees and
not dependent on federal funding. The system operator is authorized to
assess and collect user fees not to exceed the cost of operating the system,
not permitting any profits to be made by the operator. The law details the
types of fees that may be charged and the basis for such fees. The operator
is required to notify users of such fees in advance and to account for all
fees collected.
Since 1997, more than $15 million in federal funding has
been provided to states and the system operator. During fiscal years
2007-2009, DOJ has issued a competitive funding solicitation, offering
states the ability to apply for direct funding from DOJ to participate in
NMVTIS. DOJ has also encouraged states to consider using Justice Assistance
Grant (JAG) funding, and has encouraged and funded state applications
submitted under the Edward Byrne Discretionary Grants Program.
Related Information:
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) Participation
Program (FY
2008 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Annual Performance and Financial Reporting
NMVTIS regulations require the system operator to prepare and publish an
annual report detailing system operation, and the collection and spending of
fees and other funds to operate NMVTIS. This report must also include a
status report on system implementation, compliance reporting, and detailed
financial information to determine budgeting and performance. The
regulations also require the operator to conduct an annual independent
financial audit and to publish the audit reports on this site. The purpose
of these reporting requirements is to ensure that NMVTIS is operated with
transparency and accountability.
NMVTIS Governance
NMVTIS is a DOJ program and DOJ is fully responsible for NMVTIS policy and
operations. To ensure that it make informed decisions regarding the
operation of the program however, DOJ will convene a NMVTIS Advisory Board
that will include representation from all of the stakeholder communities
affected by the program-states, consumers, insurance carriers, auto
recyclers, junk and salvage yards, and law enforcement agencies. The NMVTIS
operator will also be represented on the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board
will make recommendations to DOJ regarding NMVTIS and may be asked to make
recommendations regarding program operation and administration issues, such
as establishing NMVTIS performance measures, accessing additional data
within the system that is not required by the Anti-Car Theft Act, assessing
program costs and revenues, and quality assurance. More information
regarding the NMVTIS Advisory Board will be posted in this location in the
near future.
