Oregon SB 840 Dealer Compliance (NMVTIS)

Current Oregon requirements for vehicle-record searches, title verification, customer notice, and dealer recordkeeping

Oregon SB 840 Dealer Requirements at a Glance

Oregon SB 840 is in effect as of January 1, 2026. Before finalizing a retail sales transaction, an Oregon-certified vehicle dealer must conduct an applicable vehicle-record search, verify the title information, and inform the retail customer of any brand, defect, or irregularity found in the search that could affect the vehicle’s value.

If the vehicle is subject to NMVTIS reporting requirements, the dealer may use the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). Oregon law also permits an equivalent commercially available system that, at minimum, maintains records from states participating in NMVTIS data sharing.

Important exception: The search, verification, and customer-notice requirements in ORS 822.043(9) do not apply when a vehicle is sold with an Oregon salvage title certificate or with a document issued by another state carrying a title brand as defined by ODOT rule. This exception should be applied only to the cited subsection and does not remove other dealer obligations.

This page provides general compliance information, not legal advice. Dealers should review current Oregon law and Oregon DMV guidance, and seek legal advice for transaction-specific questions. Official sources are listed below.

For NMVTIS background, see What Is NMVTIS? or return to the NMVTIS Dealer Compliance hub.

VinAudit is listed as an Approved NMVTIS Data Provider.

Dealers can obtain NMVTIS reports through the dealer portal or integrate vehicle-history access through an API.

What Oregon Dealers Must Do

For a covered retail sales transaction, the dealer should complete the following statutory steps before finalizing the sale:

Conduct the applicable vehicle-record search. Use NMVTIS when the vehicle is subject to NMVTIS reporting requirements, or use a qualifying equivalent commercially available system.
Verify the title information. Compare the search results with the title and transaction records.
Inform the retail customer of value-impacting findings. Communicate any brand, defect, or irregularity found in the search that could affect the vehicle’s value.
Keep the report in the dealer records. Required records for used or secondhand vehicles must include a copy of the NMVTIS vehicle-record report obtained through an NMVTIS data provider, or the qualifying equivalent report when permitted.

Oregon’s statute does not state that dealers must give every buyer a copy of the report or place a California-style red warning sticker on the vehicle. Dealers should not import California AB 1215 procedures into the Oregon workflow unless another applicable Oregon requirement independently calls for a notice or disclosure.

Oregon SB 840 Quick Reference

Requirement	What It Means for Dealers	Primary Authority
Timing	Complete the applicable search, title verification, and customer notice before finalizing the retail sales transaction.	ORS 822.043(9)
Vehicle-record search	Use NMVTIS when the vehicle is subject to NMVTIS reporting, or use a qualifying equivalent commercially available system.	ORS 822.043(9)(a)
Customer information	Inform the retail customer of any brand, defect, or irregularity found that could affect the vehicle’s value.	ORS 822.043(9)(c)
Statutory exception	Subsection (9) does not apply to specified Oregon salvage-title or out-of-state branded-title sales.	ORS 822.043(10)
Dealer records	Keep a copy of the NMVTIS report or permitted equivalent report with the required records for used or secondhand vehicles.	ORS 822.045(1)(c)(G)

Required Steps and Recommended Operating Practices

Required by Oregon Law

Run the applicable search before finalizing the covered retail sale.
Verify the title information.
Inform the customer of value-impacting findings.
Keep the report copy in the required dealer records.
Apply the statutory exception carefully.

Recommended Operating Practices

Record the search date and VIN in the deal file.
Train sales and title staff on the required workflow.
Create an escalation path for brands or irregularities.
Integrate report access into the DMS where practical.
Review ODOT updates and seek advice for edge cases.

The recommended practices above can support a consistent workflow, but they are not presented as additional statutory duties.

Recordkeeping and Enforcement

ORS 822.045 requires dealer records for used or secondhand vehicles to include a copy of the NMVTIS vehicle-record report obtained through an NMVTIS data provider, or the equivalent commercially available report when permitted under ORS 822.043. The statute permits dealer books and records to be maintained in paper or electronic form.

Failure to maintain the required dealer records, including the report copy, is treated as failure to maintain proper vehicle dealer records and is a Class A misdemeanor under ORS 822.045. Dealers should consult Oregon DMV or counsel regarding how the recordkeeping and enforcement provisions apply to a specific transaction.

How VinAudit Supports the Dealer Workflow

VinAudit is one available Approved NMVTIS Data Provider; Oregon law does not require dealers to use VinAudit specifically. Depending on dealer volume and workflow, VinAudit can support the process in the following ways:

Dealer Workflow Need	VinAudit Option
Run an individual NMVTIS search	Access a vehicle-history report through the dealer portal and download a PDF when available.
Process higher VIN volumes	Use bulk-processing options suited to larger inventories or recurring workflows.
Connect report access to a DMS or platform	Use the Vehicle History API for supported integrations.
Store report documentation	Save the downloaded report with the applicable deal records according to the dealer’s retention process.

Choose a VinAudit Access Method

Choose the access method that best fits the dealership’s volume and technical workflow:

Dealer Portal
Run individual or multiple VIN checks and download report files without an API integration.
Total Market Feed
Review VIN-level inventory and vehicle-history signals in bulk, with access to full vehicle-history reports through the API.
Vehicle History API
Connect supported vehicle-history access to a DMS, platform, or internal application.

Oregon SB 840 FAQs

When did the Oregon SB 840 dealer requirements take effect?

The dealer vehicle-search, title-verification, customer-information, and recordkeeping changes took effect on January 1, 2026.

Does Oregon require an NMVTIS search for every vehicle sale?

No. ORS 822.043(9) applies before a vehicle dealer finalizes a retail sales transaction. NMVTIS is used when the vehicle is subject to NMVTIS reporting requirements, and Oregon also permits a qualifying equivalent commercially available system. Oregon DMV guidance also identifies vehicle and transaction situations in which the search is not required. Dealers should confirm the current rule for the specific transaction.

What must a dealer tell the retail customer?

The dealer must inform the retail customer of any brand, defect, or irregularity found in the vehicle-record search that could affect the vehicle’s value. Oregon DMV examples include odometer discrepancies, damage reports, and indications that the vehicle has been stolen.

Does Oregon require a red branded-title sticker or a copy of the report for the buyer?

ORS 822.043(9) does not state a California-style red-sticker requirement or a general duty to give every buyer a copy of the report. The Oregon requirement is to inform the retail customer of value-impacting findings. Other transaction-specific notice duties may still apply, so dealers should confirm current Oregon DMV guidance.

What is the salvage or branded-title exception?

ORS 822.043(10) states that subsection (9) does not apply when a vehicle is sold with an Oregon salvage title certificate or with a document issued by another state carrying a title brand as defined by ODOT rule. The exception is limited to subsection (9) and should not be treated as an exemption from every other dealer duty.

What report documentation must dealers keep?

Required records for used or secondhand vehicles must include a copy of the NMVTIS vehicle-record report obtained through an NMVTIS data provider, or a permitted equivalent commercially available report. Dealers should follow current Oregon DMV rules and their legal or compliance guidance for the complete recordkeeping process.

Is VinAudit the only system Oregon dealers may use?

No. VinAudit is listed as an Approved NMVTIS Data Provider, but Oregon also permits a qualifying equivalent commercially available system. Dealers should select an appropriate source and confirm that their process satisfies current Oregon requirements.

What is the penalty for failing to maintain the required report record?

Under ORS 822.045, failure to maintain proper vehicle dealer records is a Class A misdemeanor. This statement concerns the statutory recordkeeping offense; dealers should consult Oregon DMV or counsel regarding enforcement and transaction-specific questions.

Official Sources

Official Oregon and NMVTIS Sources

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