Consumer Law

National Database of Wrecked Vehicles Available January 30, 2009

By Kemnitzer, Anderson, Barron, Ogilvie & Brewer

On January 30, 2009, the federal safety agency will make available a national database on stolen and totaled (salvage) vehicles. Consumers may go to www.nmvtis.gov for information on how to use the system. At this time, the database has information from only 27 states that cover 73% of U.S. vehicles. A federal law requires all states to participate by 2010.

Starting March 30, 2009, salvage yards, junk yards, and insurance companies must provide information on junked cars for inclusion in the database.

Shamefully, California, New York and Pennslyvania officials are balking at participating. Observers say it may be because those states get revenue from supplying vehicle information to private databases (presumably Carfax and AutoCheck). Presumably this will get worked out in time.

Three consumer advocacy groups had to sue the U.S. Department of Justice to get this done. Rosemary Shahan of Citizens for Auto Reliability and Safety led the way.

Full post as published by Lemon Law Blog on January 29, 2009 (boomark / email).