Maryland to Implement National Database for Used Cars

Maryland will soon be required to electronically track information about cars so that salvaged or stolen cars will not be resold to unsuspecting consumers.

The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System combines information from several sources. It will include car information from auto insurance companies titling agencies, junk yards and car recycling facilities from all states. The system will make it harder for thieves to steal cars and resell them in another state.

A spokesman for the U.S Department of Justice stated that the "NMVTIS allows access to important information that will help consumers make better-informed purchases, protect us from unsafe vehicles and prevent stolen and cloned vehicles from entering into interstate commerce.'

The system may have an indirect effect on auto insurance rates by reducing the number of stolen cars. The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will show Current and previous state of the cars title, last odometer reading taken, whether the car has been previously branded as junk, salvage or flood, whether the car has been to an auto recycler or junk yard, and auto insurance company information such as "total loss' assessments.