VIN verification rules by state

State-by-state summary

• Alabama: Alabama uses a physical VIN inspection for many first-time Alabama title or first-time registration transactions, including out-of-state vehicles being titled in Alabama.
• Alaska: Alaska does not show a blanket VIN inspection requirement on its ordinary out-of-state title transfer page, but it uses Form 811 in several title situations where ownership or vehicle identity must be verified.
• Arizona: Arizona separates inspections into Level I, II, and III.
• Arkansas: Arkansas DFA says VIN verification is required for vehicles with out-of-state titles branded Salvage, Prior Salvage, or a similar designation.
• California: California DMV requires a physical vehicle verification for many nonresident vehicles and uses REG 31 as the standard VIN verification form.
• Colorado: Colorado separates a regular VIN inspection from a certified VIN inspection.
• Connecticut: Connecticut requires a VIN verification for out-of-state vehicles before registration, but the state splits the work between third-party VIN verification test centers and the DMV Inspection Lane in Wethersfield.
• Delaware: Delaware generally routes VIN and title-entry inspections through DMV inspection lanes, with a separate Delaware State Police Auto Theft Unit process for reconstructed, flood-damaged, missing-VIN, and certain title-problem vehicles.
• District of Columbia: The District does not publish a stand-alone civilian VIN-verifier program like some states; instead, DC registration requires a DC inspection, and salvage vehicles add a Metropolitan Police Department anti-theft inspection step.
• Florida: Florida requires a VIN verification when a used motor vehicle is being titled in Florida for the first time, including many out-of-state title transfers.
• Georgia: Georgia uses Form T-22B Certification of Inspection for several title situations involving non-title documents, non-title jurisdictions, bonded titles, and some vehicles not previously registered in Georgia.
• Hawaii: Hawaii vehicle registration and title work is administered by the counties, but the State of Hawaii runs the official safety inspection program used when out-of-state vehicles arrive.
• Idaho: Idaho requires VIN inspection when a vehicle is coming from another state or has never been titled in Idaho before.
• Illinois: Illinois does not use a general out-of-state VIN verification process like some states, but it does publish specific inspection programs for rebuilt salvage vehicles, homemade trailers, and specially constructed vehicles.
• Indiana: Indiana requires a VIN inspection for any vehicle from another state that is being titled in Indiana, including vehicles owned by new residents.
• Iowa: Iowa separates general titling inspections from salvage theft examinations.
• Kansas: Kansas uses the Motor Vehicle Examination form MVE-1 for most VIN/title inspections, and the Kansas Highway Patrol runs the program with some designee partner locations.
• Kentucky: Kentucky’s VIN/ownership inspection system is centered on the sheriff’s inspection for vehicles coming from another state and several special title situations.
• Louisiana: Louisiana handles VIN verification through a state police-backed physical inspection process rather than giving customers a paper VIN form.
• Maine: Maine publishes a customer-facing VIN inspection form, MVT-10, and separately publishes MVT-6 for state-assigned VINs.
• Maryland: Maryland’s published VIN-related process centers on salvage inspections by the Maryland Department of State Police and assigned-VIN or garage-inspection requirements for reconstructed, kit, and homemade-trailer cases.
• Massachusetts: Massachusetts uses a police-signed VIN visual inspection for undocumented bonded vehicles and a separate State Police salvage inspection process for salvage and rebuilt cases.
• Michigan: Michigan does not appear to require a routine VIN inspection just to convert a normal out-of-state title, but it does use form TR-54 in limited title-only import situations and for assembled vehicles.
• Minnesota: Minnesota publishes a DVS inspection program for salvage, reconstructed, and specially assembled vehicles, with statewide appointment-only inspection locations.
• Mississippi: Mississippi publishes VIN-related title inspection requirements through the Department of Public Safety’s Salvage Inspection Division and the Department of Revenue’s motor vehicle forms pages.
• Missouri: Missouri separates ordinary out-of-state VIN/odometer checks from salvage or specially constructed examinations.
• Montana: Montana uses staged VIN inspections rather than a single generic verifier category.
• Nebraska: Nebraska requires a physical vehicle inspection in several title situations, including most out-of-state vehicles, assembled vehicles, and vehicles moving from salvage to a regular title.
• Nevada: Nevada uses VIN inspection both for vehicles coming from out of state and for certain title situations involving bonded, rebuilt, reconstructed, specially constructed, and kit vehicles.
• New Hampshire: New Hampshire does not appear to require a routine VIN verification for every out-of-state titled vehicle transfer, but it does use VIN verification and inspection in several title and anti-theft situations.
• New Jersey: New Jersey’s current MVC pages center VIN-related identity inspections on salvage vehicles and certain special-title situations, not on routine out-of-state title transfers with normal proof of ownership.
• New Mexico: New Mexico broadly requires a VIN inspection when a used vehicle with an out-of-state title is being titled in New Mexico for the first time.
• New York: New York’s published VIN-related process is most explicit for rebuilt salvage vehicles and homemade vehicles, where DMV examination or VIN assignment is required before titling or registration can be completed.
• North Carolina: North Carolina publishes VIN- or identity-related inspections mainly through its title special-cases and custom-built vehicle processes, not as a general out-of-state title-transfer requirement.
• North Dakota: North Dakota uses a business-performed inspection model instead of limiting VIN checks to DMV staff or law enforcement.
• Ohio: Ohio requires a VIN inspection for out-of-state titles and handles rebuilt-salvage, self-assembled, replica, and replacement-VIN inspections through the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
• Oklahoma: Oklahoma’s official motor-vehicle pages say VIN inspections are only required for out-of-state vehicle titles.
• Oregon: Oregon requires a VIN inspection in several title situations, not just for out-of-state vehicles.
• Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania uses different VIN-verification paths depending on the title situation.
• Rhode Island: Rhode Island’s DMV says a VIN check from a local municipal police department is required for vehicles previously registered or titled in another state.
• South Carolina: South Carolina does not publish a general VIN inspection rule for ordinary out-of-state title transfers on its standard title and registration instructions.
• South Dakota: South Dakota’s Department of Revenue does not publish a general VIN inspection requirement for ordinary out-of-state title transfers on its main title pages.
• Tennessee: Tennessee does not appear to require a routine VIN inspection just because a vehicle has an out-of-state title.
• Texas: Texas does not show a separate VIN inspection for a routine title transfer of a normally titled out-of-state vehicle.
• Utah: Utah broadly requires VIN or HIN inspection for vehicles or vessels titled in Utah for the first time, with an exemption for new vehicles bought from an in-state dealer or manufacturer.
• Vermont: Vermont uses form VT-010 for VIN/HIN verification, but the requirement is narrow rather than a standard step for every out-of-state title transfer.
• Virginia: Virginia does not list a routine VIN inspection for a standard out-of-state title transfer on its main title page.
• Washington: Washington requires a certificate of vehicle inspection for salvage, rebuilt, assembled, kit, homemade, glider-kit, street-rod/custom, and ownership-in-doubt titles under RCW 46.12.560.
• West Virginia: West Virginia publishes a dedicated VIN verification form, DMV-1B, that must be completed by law enforcement.
• Wisconsin: Wisconsin separates several inspection types: repaired salvage vehicles are inspected by authorized salvage inspectors, while homemade or reconstructed vehicles are inspected through State Patrol procedures.
• Wyoming: Wyoming uses a general VIN inspection form, MV-300A, for out-of-state titles and several special-title situations.