Does CARFAX Provide NMVTIS Reports? What the DOJ List Says
The DOJ says consumers cannot get NMVTIS reports from CARFAX, DMVDesk or Experian. See who can sell you one and what it costs.
Enter your VIN. Check the car before you buy.
Identify the vehicle free, then choose whether to buy its reported history.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
No subscription. No charge to check the VIN. Report contents vary by vehicle; applicable tax is shown at checkout.
See what the paid report includes →No — not to consumers. The U.S. Department of Justice’s approved-provider page states that consumers cannot receive NMVTIS vehicle history reports from CARFAX, DMVDesk or Experian, because those entities provide NMVTIS information only to car dealerships. CARFAX is listed under commercial-customer providers, with a note that it offers NMVTIS data to commercial customers in California only (checked October 8, 2026). A shopper who wants an NMVTIS report must use one of the twelve primary consumer providers on the DOJ list, such as Titlecheck.us at $9.98 or Carsforsale.com, which advertises free reports.
- CARFAX and Experian (AutoCheck) are commercial-only NMVTIS providers.
- A CARFAX report is a commercial history product; do not assume it is an NMVTIS report.
- Twelve primary providers sell NMVTIS reports to the public.
- An NMVTIS report and a commercial history report answer different questions.
One VIN. One $14.99 history report.
For $14.99, VIN Lookup delivers an original ClearVIN vehicle-history PDF for the VIN you enter. ClearVIN appears on the DOJ provider list; VIN Lookup resells its report and is not itself listed as an NMVTIS provider. The report may include data beyond the NMVTIS core, but the records returned vary by VIN.
The VIN decode is free. No card is needed until you choose to buy; applicable tax is shown at checkout. A missing record is not proof that an event never happened.Original provider PDF
No subscription
What the DOJ page says, word for word
Under “Approved NMVTIS Data Provider’s Links for Commercial Customers Only,” the DOJ lists oneaib.com, add123.com, CARFAX.com (noting that CARFAX offers NMVTIS data to commercial customers in California only), Vitu.com, Experian.com and Yassi.com. A separate note says consumers cannot receive NMVTIS vehicle history reports from CARFAX, DMVDesk or Experian.
The consumer section lists twelve primary providers: Bumper, Carsforsale, carVertical, CheckThatVIN, ClearVIN, EpicVIN, GoodCar, Titlecheck.us, VinAudit, VINData, VinReport and VINsmart, with additional websites named under some of them.
| Company | NMVTIS to consumers? | Lowest displayed consumer offer |
|---|---|---|
| CARFAX | No — commercial customers in California only | Not applicable |
| Experian (AutoCheck) | No — dealers only | Not applicable |
| Carsforsale.com | Yes | Free |
| Titlecheck.us | Yes | $9.98 |
| VinInspect (EpicVIN site) | Yes | $14.99 |
| VinReport | Yes | $19.95 |
| VINData | Yes | $19.99 card; page text says $3.49 |
| VIN Lookup (resells ClearVIN) | $14.99 for one report | One-time charge, no subscription; original ClearVIN PDF |
Why the distinction matters when you buy
An NMVTIS report answers a narrow federal question: title state, brands, odometer at titling, junk, salvage and insurance total-loss records. A commercial report from CARFAX or AutoCheck draws on its own network of service, dealer, auction and insurance sources and may or may not reflect a state brand as quickly.
If the decision hinges on whether the car was ever branded salvage or totaled, an NMVTIS-backed report from a DOJ-listed consumer provider is the direct source. If it hinges on maintenance or minor accidents, a commercial report or an inspection is the better tool. Many buyers use one of each.
Commercial-only providers on the DOJ list
Six companies appear only in the commercial section: oneaib.com, add123.com, CARFAX.com, Vitu.com, Experian.com and Yassi.com. They supply NMVTIS data to dealers, lenders and other businesses. A dealer may show you a report built on that access, but you cannot buy an NMVTIS report from them yourself.
If a dealer hands you a CARFAX or AutoCheck report, it can still be useful evidence. To check the title core yourself, run a free report at Carsforsale.com or pay $9.98 at Titlecheck.us; for the title core plus commercial auction and damage records, a ClearVIN report through VIN Lookup costs $14.99 once.
Buyer checklist
- Decide whether your question is a title question or a history question.
- For title brands, buy from a DOJ-listed consumer provider.
- Check recalls at NHTSA.
- Check theft at NICB.
- Inspect the car before paying.
What this research cannot prove
- The DOJ list can change; check it on the day you buy.
- Consumer prices were read on provider sites and can change.
- No report guarantees every event was reported.
Sources reviewed
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- NMVTIS consumer guidanceU.S. Department of Justice
- Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- VINCheckNational Insurance Crime Bureau
- Approved NMVTIS Data Providers — checked October 8, 2026U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
- Understanding an NMVTIS Vehicle History ReportU.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
- Current report and package pricesVIN Lookup — publisher of this guide
- Annotated original ClearVIN sampleVIN Lookup
Frequently asked questions
Is CARFAX an approved NMVTIS provider?
Only for commercial customers in California, according to the DOJ list. Consumers cannot get NMVTIS reports from CARFAX.
Does AutoCheck give NMVTIS reports?
Experian is listed as a commercial-only provider; the DOJ says consumers cannot receive NMVTIS reports from Experian.
Where can I get an official NMVTIS report?
From one of the twelve primary consumer providers on the DOJ list, including Carsforsale.com, Titlecheck.us, VinAudit, ClearVIN and EpicVIN.
Is a CARFAX report better than an NMVTIS report?
They answer different questions. NMVTIS covers federal title data; CARFAX covers its own commercial record network.