Law Enforcement

What is NMVTIS?

Law enforcement investigations have shown that criminals involved in domestic auto theft enterprises often perpetrate violent crimes, such as homicide, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is, among other things, a tool that assists local, state, and federal law enforcement in investigating, deterring, and preventing vehicle-related crimes. NMVTIS was established by the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-519), the Anti-Car Theft Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-152), and its implementing regulations (28 CFR part 25, published January 30, 2009, 74 FR 5740). It is an electronic system designed to protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles and to keep stolen vehicles from being resold. NMVTIS captures specific pieces of vehicle information from state motor vehicle titling agencies, automobile recyclers, junk and salvage yards, and insurance carriers into one system.

NMVTIS and its Benefits to Law Enforcement

Vehicle theft and cloning have become a lucrative business for organized criminals with the profits often used to fund additional criminal activity and terrorism. The NMVTIS Law Enforcement Access Tool provides law enforcement with the information necessary to investigate vehicle-related crimes. The NMVTIS Law Enforcement Access Tool assists law enforcement with:

• Investigating vehicles involved in violent crimes, smuggling (narcotics, weapons, and currency), and fraud.
• Identifying vehicle theft rings.
• Increasing the identification of other criminal enterprises involving vehicles.

Law Enforcement Access to NMVTIS

Law enforcement agencies have two options to access the NMVTIS Law Enforcement Tool: 1) the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) OR 2) Law Enforcement Online (LEO). Law enforcement access to NMVTIS data is available at no cost through RISS and LEO, which is hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If you are a law enforcement agent or investigator and would like to obtain instructions for accessing NMVTIS data, please email [email protected].