California’s legislation requiring that used vehicle dealers, including heavy-duty truck dealers, post a red warning label on vehicles flagged in a federal database as junk, salvage, total loss, or title branded mark’s the nation’s first law (Assembly Bill 1215) of this kind.
California AB 1215 mandates all dealers using the California Electronic Titling (ELT) system use an National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS)-based vehicle history report, obtained from an authorized access provider. The law also provides for an increase in the maximum documentation fees that auto 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.
To achieve compliance with this new law, dealers can access vehicle history reports through an authorized NMVTIS Consumer Access Provider, such as RigDigTruck History Reports for heavy-duty truck dealers.
Beginning July 1, 2012, every California-licensed motor vehicle dealer is required to check the 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.
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.
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- by 5-inch red warning sticker in the window of the vehicle. Additionally, upon request, dealers must provide a copy of the report to the purchaser.
RigDigTruck History Reports, which was launched in August, serves as a tool to help California heavy-duty truck dealers comply with the new law.
In addition to partnering with the Department of Justice to integrate NMVTIS information, RigDig 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,” says James Vogel, general manager of RigDig, a sister brand to Randall-Reilly, the parent company of Aggregates Manager, Better Roads and Equipment World. “This will help dealers avoid surprises arising from this new law come July 1.”
Vogel notes that 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,” Vogel adds.
