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Salvage, rebuilt, and flood are title-brand signals, not complete vehicle diagnoses. A state decides which brand applies and records it; NMVTIS helps make title information available nationally. Its consumer reports can reveal title and brand history, odometer readings, theft information, and junk, salvage, or insurer total-loss reporting—but they are not repair histories. Developers seeking direct consumer-access integration must follow AAMVA’s application, testing, and certification process; NMVTIS is not an open, unauthenticated public API.
What NMVTIS is—and what a title brand means
The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is a national title-information system established under the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 and overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice. Its purposes include helping verify title validity and location, preventing stolen vehicles from re-entering commerce, reducing vehicle fraud, and helping protect consumers from unsafe resale. The system includes mileage reported when a title is issued and whether a vehicle has been identified as junk or salvage. DOJ’s NMVTIS system overview explains its scope.
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DOJ defines a brand as “a designation placed on a vehicle ownership document, including its electronic record, which identifies or describes an event that affects the value or safety of the vehicle, such as Junk, Salvage, or Flood.” States make the title and branding decisions, then map their statuses into NMVTIS. The national labels help standardize reporting, but they do not override the issuing jurisdiction’s laws or make every state’s process identical. The DOJ glossary describes the terminology.
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These labels are prompts to investigate a vehicle’s history, not standardized engineering assessments. The exact definition, threshold, paperwork, and route back to road use depend on the state that issued the title. Confirm the jurisdiction and the precise brand shown on the record rather than inferring a vehicle’s condition from a label alone.
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- These driver's vehicle inspection report (DVIR) books comply with DOT regulations 49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13.
- Our DVIR inspection book contains a vehicle inspection checklist that comprehensively lists specific tractor/truck and trailer parts to help simplify the inspection process. This allows drivers to quickly mark any needed repairs.
- DVIR books include essential DOT regulations which are printed on the inside cover to remind drivers of the DOT-required procedures they must follow. And there are instructions for filling out a DVIR form to simplify the completion.
- This package comes with 10 books. Each book contains 35 sets of DVIR forms, in duplicate. In total, you will receive 350 forms. Compact 8.5" x 5.5" size facilitates easy handling and record-keeping.
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Salvage
A salvage brand indicates that a state has classified the vehicle as salvage under its rules. It may be associated with significant damage or an insurer’s total-loss determination, but the brand alone does not establish the specific damage, the quality of repairs, or whether the vehicle is currently safe to drive.
Rebuilt
A rebuilt brand generally signals a vehicle that had a prior branded status and later completed a jurisdiction-specific process for titling or use again. It does not certify that repairs meet every buyer’s expectations or reveal what components were replaced. For example, New Mexico’s guidance describes its own salvage and rebuilt process and says its title brand field indicates a rebuilt vehicle; that is a state-specific example, not a nationwide rule. New Mexico MVD’s Chapter 9 guidance sets out that jurisdiction’s procedures.
Rank #2
- DVIR inspection book helps satisfy DOT vehicle inspection regulations 49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13.
- Driver vehicle inspection report books include vehicle inspection checklist that lists specific tractor and trailer parts to help simplify inspection; drivers simply check off parts that need repair.
- DVIR books include key regulations printed on inside front cover to remind drivers of DOT-required procedures.
- This vehicle inspection report book set comes with 10 books. Each book contains 31 sets of DVIR forms. In total, you will receive 310 forms.
- Vehicle inspection forms are 2-ply, carbonless, and measure 5-1/2" x 8-1/2".
Flood
A flood brand signals that the title record identifies a flood-related event under the issuing state’s rules. It does not, by itself, describe which electrical, mechanical, or safety systems were affected or how they were repaired. A missing flood brand does not prove the vehicle was never exposed to water.
What an NMVTIS consumer report can show
DOJ describes five indicator categories in an NMVTIS vehicle-history report. What appears depends on reporting and participation; a category is not a guarantee that every vehicle will have a result for it. DOJ’s guide to understanding an NMVTIS report explains these indicators.
Rank #3
- DVIR inspection book helps satisfy DOT vehicle inspection regulations 49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13.
- Driver vehicle inspection report books include vehicle inspection checklist that lists specific tractor and trailer parts to help simplify inspection; drivers simply check off parts that need repair.
- DVIR books include key regulations printed on inside front cover to remind drivers of DOT-required procedures.
- Each book contains 31 sets of DVIR forms.
- Vehicle inspection forms are 2-ply, carbonless, and measure 5-1/2" x 8-1/2".
| Indicator | What it can tell you | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Current title state and last title date | The state currently associated with the title record and the date of the latest title information reported. | It is not a complete chain of every ownership or registration event. |
| Brand history | Brands reported through title records, such as salvage or flood. | State definitions and processes differ, and a blank result is not proof of no damage. |
| Latest reported odometer reading | The most recent mileage reported in the covered records. | It is not a continuous mileage log or a guarantee that the reading is accurate. |
| Theft history | Available theft information associated with the vehicle. | Availability depends on reporting; no result should not be treated as a universal clearance. |
| Junk, salvage, and insurer total-loss history | Reported junk or salvage status and insurer-reported total-loss information where available. | It does not provide a detailed account of damage or repairs. |
DOJ’s NMVTIS FAQ says reports do not contain detailed repair history. A positive brand or total-loss signal merits follow-up with the state that issued the title and an independent inspection by a qualified professional. A missing brand—or no returned record—is not evidence that a vehicle is damage-free.
How developers can access NMVTIS data
NMVTIS has a state-facing integration architecture, but that does not make consumer access an unauthenticated public endpoint. AAMVA’s glossary describes a “RESTful Solution” for real-time system-to-system communication among states, NMVTIS, and stakeholders. Consumer-access providers follow a separate, formal path. The official glossary distinguishes the architecture terminology; AAMVA’s NMVTIS documentation page describes consumer-access specifications and provider requirements.
- Choose the access route. For consumer reports, begin with DOJ’s list of providers approved under its consumer-access program. For a direct consumer-access implementation, review AAMVA’s application and specifications. Do not assume that a commercial product using the term “NMVTIS API” is the official AAMVA interface or has the same authorization, data, or terms.
- Review the current requirements with AAMVA. The AAMVA page listed a Consumer Access Program RESTful specifications package, REST 3.2.1 dated August 20, 2026, when checked on October 7, 2026. Versions and requirements can change, so verify the current package and process before designing an integration.
- Plan for application, testing, and certification. AAMVA describes a provider application path involving a VIN request through the NMVTIS consumer-access interface, a provider-built report, structured testing, and AAMVA certification before going live. Treat these as program requirements to confirm with AAMVA, not as optional steps for a public endpoint.
- Model the full cost, not just the request. AAMVA states that “The development cost of the web interface to request and receive the NMVTIS data is $30,000.” The page also describes additional per-inquiry fees based on volume. These are volatile program figures, not a universal API price or guaranteed current quote; confirm fees directly before budgeting.
How to assess a provider or vendor API
DOJ’s provider directory separates providers available to public and commercial customers from commercial-only listings, and presents the approved list alphabetically rather than ranking providers. It specifically says consumers cannot obtain NMVTIS consumer reports from CARFAX, DMVdesk, or Experian through the listed program; those companies provide information to dealerships. Check the current directory for eligibility and status rather than assuming all providers serve the same audience. DOJ’s approved provider directory is the source for those distinctions.
A commercial vendor may separately market an NMVTIS-related API. Marketing language alone does not establish that it is the official consumer-access interface, that the developer is eligible, or that the output has the same provenance or permitted uses. Before integrating any commercial service, get its terms and technical documentation and verify:
Best Value
- DVIR inspection book helps satisfy DOT vehicle inspection regulations 49 CFR 396.11 and 396.13.
- Driver vehicle inspection report books include vehicle inspection checklist that lists specific tractor and trailer parts to help simplify inspection; drivers simply check off parts that need repair.
- DVIR books include key regulations printed on inside front cover to remind drivers of DOT-required procedures.
- This vehicle inspection report book set comes with 25 books. Each book contains 31 sets of DVIR forms. In total, you will receive 775 forms.
- Vehicle inspection forms are 2-ply, carbonless, and measure 5-1/2" x 8-1/2".
- Who may subscribe and whether the use case is permitted.
- Whether the provider is listed for the relevant consumer or commercial access route, and what that status actually covers.
- Which fields and reporting sources are included, how updates are handled, and what gaps remain.
- Whether data may be stored, reused, displayed, or redistributed, and what security obligations apply.
- Required testing or certification, pricing per inquiry or volume, and any additional implementation costs.
DOJ’s directory also notes that its FAQ’s historical report-cost range is dated to May 2020; do not use that old range as a current price. Ask each provider for current terms. An example of vendor marketing is the ClearVin NMVTIS history API page; the page itself is not evidence of official AAMVA interface status or a substitute for reviewing a vendor’s contract and data provenance.
Quick Recap
A practical workflow for a branded-vehicle record
- Record the exact VIN and report source. Preserve the report date and provider so you can distinguish the data returned at that time from later updates.
- Read the title sequence and jurisdiction. Note the state, brand wording, and title dates. The issuing state’s current rules determine what its brand means.
- Follow up on adverse signals. Contact the titling state for available title information. Ask for repair documents and insurer or seller records when relevant; the NMVTIS report itself is not a repair file.
- Arrange an independent inspection. Have a qualified inspector evaluate the vehicle, with attention to systems relevant to the reported event. Do not treat a clean report as a substitute for inspection.
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