Contact:	Clarence Mills (202) 543-1440 c.mills@att.net
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin PR-4 January 14, 2009

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System Available to Public

Consumers to Benefit from DOJ Action

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 14, 2009 - The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System will be implemented by Jan. 30, 2009, providing a national database of vehicles compiled from state, salvage and insurer reporting. It will require insurance companies and salvage yards to report vehicles that are severely damaged or totaled, and consumers will have access to such information as odometer readings and theft records. Data is predicted to be more comprehensive, up-to-date and less expensive than some private sector reports.

The implementation stems from the 2008 court case, Public Citizen Inc., Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and Consumer Action v. Michael Mukasey, Attorney General of the United States. Public Citizen filed the suit to fight for a used car database that was established by Congress in 1992 in the Anti-Car Theft Act. However, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had never made the system available to the public.

The Automotive Service Association supported legislation in the 110th Congress similar to the new National Motor Vehicle Title Information System.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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