Beginning July 1, 2012, every California-licensed motor vehicle dealer is required to check the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) prior to offering vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks, for sale. Junk yards, salvage yards, auto recyclers, insurance carriers and state motor vehicle departments are required to report vital information about vehicles to NMVTIS, a new federally-mandated vehicle history database maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice.
To comply with this new law, dealers can access vehicle history reports through an authorized NMVTIS Consumer Access Provider, such as RigDig Truck History Reports for heavy-duty truck dealers. If the report returns NMVTIS-related junk, salvage, total loss or title brand information, the dealer will be required to affix a 4 in. x 5 in. red warning sticker in the window of the vehicle. Additionally dealers must provide a copy of the report to the purchaser when requested.
Thanks to the launch of RigDig Truck History Reports in August, compliance with the new law will be easy for California heavy-duty truck dealers, the company says. In addition to partnering with the Department of Justice to integrate NMVTIS information, RigDig says its Truck History Reports also include important information from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, vehicle specification information from RigDig Business Intelligence, and Uniform Commercial Code-related lien and termination information from Equipment Data Associates.
“RigDig launched at just the right time for California commercial truck dealers. RigDig is able to help commercial truck dealers begin checking their existing inventory, possible trade-in vehicles and auction vehicles right now. This will help dealers avoid surprises arising from this new law come July 1,” says James Vogel, general manager of RigDig.
“RigDig Truck History Reports mesh a variety of data sources, including NMVTIS junk and salvage vehicles, total loss insurance claims, title and odometer brands, with other sources of information for accidents, inspections, ownership, cargo hauled and CSA scores. RigDig gives commercial truck dealers an easy-to-use report that not only helps them comply with Bill AB 1215 but also provides them with vital information to make informed purchase decisions.”
RigDig Truck History Reports are available at www.rigdig.com.
NMVTIS is a national, federally-mandated vehicle history database maintained by the United States Department of Justice to ensure that states, law enforcement agencies and consumers have access to vehicle titling, branding and other information that enables them to verify the accuracy and legality of motor vehicle titles before transfer or registration of the vehicle occurs, RigDig says.
California AB 1215 mandates all dealers using the California Electronic Titling (ELT) system use an NMVTIS-based vehicle history report, obtained from an authorized access provider. The law also provides for an increase in the maximum documentation fees that dealers can charge consumers. Dealers can now charge up to $80 per new or used purchase/leased vehicle, up from $45 for vehicle purchase transactions and $55 for lease transactions.
For more information on NMVITIS, go to https://www.vehiclehistory.gov/.
