--- kind: "section" citation: "49 U.S.C. § 30503" title: "49" title_heading: "Transportation" number: "30503" heading: "State participation" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/30503" units: - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs" - "Part A — General" - "Chapter 305 — National Motor Vehicle Title Information System" --- # §30503. State participation - (a) **State Information.—** Each [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) shall make titling information maintained by that [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) available for use in operating the National [Motor Vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) Title Information System established or designated under [section 30502 of this title](/usc/49/30502.md). - (b) **Verification Checks.—** Each [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) shall establish a practice of performing an instant title verification check before issuing a [certificate of title](/usc/49/30501.md?p=2) to an individual or entity claiming to have purchased an automobile from an individual or entity in another [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12). The check shall consist of— - (1) communicating to the [operator](/usc/49/30501.md?p=6)— - (A) the vehicle identification number of the automobile for which the [certificate of title](/usc/49/30501.md?p=2) is sought; - (B) the name of the [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) that issued the most recent [certificate of title](/usc/49/30501.md?p=2) for the automobile; and - (C) the name of the individual or entity to whom the [certificate of title](/usc/49/30501.md?p=2) was issued; and - (2) giving the [operator](/usc/49/30501.md?p=6) an opportunity to communicate to the [participating State](/usc/49/30301.md?p=6) the results of a search of the information. - (c) **Grants to States.—** - (1) In cooperation with the [States](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) and not later than January 1, 1994, the Attorney General shall— - (A) conduct a review of systems used by the [States](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) to compile and maintain information about the titling of automobiles; and - (B) determine for each [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) the cost of making titling information maintained by that [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) available to the [operator](/usc/49/30501.md?p=6) to meet the requirements of [section 30502(d) of this title](/usc/49/30502.md?p=d). - (2) The Attorney General may make reasonable and necessary grants to [participating States](/usc/49/30301.md?p=6) to be used in making titling information maintained by those [States](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) available to the [operator](/usc/49/30501.md?p=6). - (d) **Report to Congress.—** Not later than October 1, 1998, the Attorney General shall report to Congress on which [States](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) have met the requirements of this section. If a [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) has not met the requirements, the Attorney General shall describe the impediments that have resulted in the [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12)’s failure to meet the requirements. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 981; Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), (c), 3(a), 6(a), July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1384, 1385; Pub. L. 105–102, § 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215.) ## Notes | Historical and Revision Notes | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Revised
Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) | | 30503(a) | 15:2043(a)(1). | Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 203, 106 Stat. 3391. | | 30503(b) | 15:2043(a)(2). | | | 30503(c) | 15:2043(b). | | | 30503(d) | 15:2043(c). | | In subsection (a), the words “for use in operating . . . established or designated” are substituted for “for use in establishing . . . established” for clarity and for consistency with the source provisions restated in section 30502 of the revised title. In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “The check” are substituted for “Such instant title verification check” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subclauses (A) and (B), the words “of the automobile” are substituted for “of the vehicle” for consistency in the revised chapter. In subsection (c)(1)(B), the words “section 30502(d) of this title” are substituted for “subsection (b)” to reflect the apparent intent of Congress. In subsection (c)(2)(A), before subclause (i), the words “is not more than the lesser of” are substituted for “does not exceed . . . whichever is lower” for clarity. In subclause (i), the words “paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection” are substituted for “subsection (d)(1)(B)” to reflect the apparent intent of Congress. In subsection (c)(2)(B), the word “fair” is omitted as being included in “reasonable”. ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–102 amended directory language of Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c). See 1996 Amendment note below. 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c), as amended by Pub. L. 105–102, substituted “National Motor Vehicle Title Information System” for “National Automobile Title Information System”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–152, § 3(a), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary of Transportation”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104–152, § 6(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “The Secretary may make grants to participating States to be used in making titling information maintained by those States available to the operator if— “(A) the grant to a State is not more than the lesser of— “(i) 25 percent of the cost of making titling information maintained by that State available to the operator as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection; or “(ii) $300,000; and “(B) the Secretary decides that the grants are reasonable and necessary to establish the System.” Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), 3(a), substituted “October 1, 1998” for “January 1, 1997” and substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” in two places. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date of 1997 Amendment Pub. L. 105–102, § 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215, provided that the amendment made by section 3(b) is effective July 2, 1996. Amendment by Pub. L. 105–102 effective as if included in the provisions of the Act to which the amendment relates, see section 3(f) of Pub. L. 105–102, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.