17 years ago, Congress ordered the creation of a free National Used Car Database. Today, we have one — an online national vehicle database, although some states are not complying. Why? Some states actually sell car data information to services like CarFax. So, what’s on the National Used Car Database.

Some cars have an unhappy story to tell, such as salvage, odometer errors, or flood history. That’s why you should always do a title search before you purchase a used car. Companies like CarFax charge up to $30 dollars to tell the story of a car’s history. However, in 1982 Congress ordered that there should be a National Used Car Database where one could search online for car history information for free.

According to one consumer group, some states are against providing this information for free. However, the current stats on the National used Car Database is at 73% representation. And thanks to lawsuits from other consumer groups 100% incorporation should be on the horizon.

Today, 27 states are participating on some level with the National Used Car Database. However there are 10 states still in development, and another 14 states not participating at all. Although the data on the National used Car Database is free, some records are requiring a small fee. These matters will also be resolved with pending lawsuits, I’m sure.

Conduct a Car Search Now National Motor Vehicle Title Information System Resource Center

States that have received federal funding to facilitate their participation in the National Motor Vehicle Database are:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

State By State National Motor Vehicle Database Participation as of March 10, 2009

The Following States Are Not Participating in the National Motor Vehicle Title Database

• Colorado
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Maine
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Utah
• Washington, D.C

The Following States Are Providing Data to the National Motor Vehicle Title Database, but are not making inquires:

• Alabama
• California
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Louisiana
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Wyoming

The Following States Are Participating in the National Motor Vehicle Title Database

• Arizona
• Florida
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Virginia
• Washington (state)
• Wisconsin

The Following States Are Still In the Development Stage but will be Participating in the National Motor Vehicle Title Database

• Arkansas
• Michigan
• Minneapolis
• Missouri
• Montana
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Vermont
• West Virginia

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If you watch the news, you don’t need a reminder that what’s here today can be easily gone tomorrow. A message especially important if you’re refinancing a new car.  Because the second that new car leaves the lot, it becomes a used car.  It can also be worth less than the loan amount.  This is a situation called “upside down”. That’s where Gap Insurance kicks in.   

What is Gap Insurance?

Basic you refinance a car for $30-$40 thousand, you drive it off the lot and your new car is now worth 10% less.  If you were to get into an accident, while you’re “upside down” that 10% less would be lost.  Gap Insurance makes up that 10% or the gap between what the car is worth and what you owe.

Gap Insurance is not for everyone.  Weight factors to include your drive habits and road conditions.  If you want gap insurance may sure to shop around for the best rates.

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What will be the easily and quickest solution to choice specifications for a new BMW in the future?  The answer is the new product navigator, based on Microsoft Surface. This technology provides a real multi-touch experience.  Users can grab digital information with their hands and interact with content by touch.

Franz Wimmer – Innovation Manager Of BMW Group  — The BMW Product Navigator is fun.

Potential BMW buyers can change colors, rims, and seat covers by placing samples on the surface.  They can also change the visual angle.  Accessories can be added very easily.  The vertical screens displays the current configuration of the car, related images, and video in a 360 degree view.

All information can be printed out on the spot, send by emailed to the user, or saved to a USB drive and viewed at home. BMW is the first car manufacturer worldwide to use this technology commercially.

What is Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface, also known as Milan is a touch product developed as a software/hardware combination that allows manipulation of digital content.

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Did you Know — The auto industry has one of the largest economic multipliers of any sector of America’s economy, and is sufficiently large that its growth or contraction can be detected in changes in the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) … Well, now you know.  Despite efforts to restructure, improve quality, and provide fuel efficient vehicles — America’s auto industry is facing a collapse.

Did you know — GM, Ford and Chrysler employ around 239 thousand Americans. Or that 775 thousand retirees are collecting pensions from these same companies. Well, now you know.

Currently the U.S. Auto Industry provides for 2 million people’s healthcare.

In the event of a collapse, the waves will go far.  The U.S. Auto industry health is not just felt in Detroit or the Midwest.  Think of suppliers -  in 2007, the auto industry purchased $156 billion in parts and other related materials and services from across 50 states.  Those suppliers employ 610 thousand workers.

Stats suggest — if the auto industry collapses the government will loss 60.1 billion in 2009, 54.3 billion in 2010 and 42 billion in 2011 which is a total tax loss of 156.4 billion over three years.

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