Truth in Mileage Act of 1986
PL 99-579 (S.475), enacted 10/28/1986

PUBLIC LAW 99-579—OCT. 28, 1986 
100 STAT. 3309 
Public Law 99-579 
99th Congress 
An Act 
To amend section 408 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to 
strengthen, for the protection of consumers, the provisions respecting disclosure of 
motor vehicle mileage when motor vehicles are transferred. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Truth in Mileage Act of 1986". 
SEC. 2. MOTOR VEHICLE ODOMETER MODIFICATIONS. 
(a) TRANSFERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES.—Section 408 of the Motor 
Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1988) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(dXlXA) Any motor vehicle the ownership of which is transferred 
may not be licensed for use in any State unless the transferee, in 
submitting an application to a State for the title upon which such 
license will be issued, includes with such application the transferor's 
title and, if that title contains the space referred to in paragraph 
(2XAXiii), a statement, signed and dated by the transferor, of the 
mileage disclosure required under subsection (a). 
"(B) This paragraph shall not apply to any transfer of ownership 
of a motor vehicle which has not been licensed before the transfer. 
"(2XA) Any motor vehicle the ownership of which is transferred 
may not be licensed for use in any State unless the title which is 
issued by the State to the transferee following such transfer— 
"(i) is set forth by means of a secure printing process (or other 
secure process); 
"(ii) indicates the mileage disclosure required to be made 
under subsection (a); and 
"(iii) contains a space for the transferee to disclose (in the 
' 
event of a future transfer) the mileage at the time of such 
future transfer and to sign and date such disclosure. 
"(B) The requirements of subparagraph (A) shall not be construed 
to require a State to verify, or preclude the State from verifying, the 
mileage information contained in the title. 
"(eXl) In the case of any leased motor vehicle, the rules under 
subsection (a) shall require written disclosure regarding mileage to 
be made by the lessee to the lessor upon the lessor's transfer of 
ownership of the leased motor vehicle. 
"(2) Under such rules, the lessor of a leased motor vehicle shall 
provide written notice to the lessee regarding— 
"(A) such mileage disclosure requirements, and 
"(B) the penalties for failure to comply with them. 
"(3) The lessor shall retain the disclosures made by any lessee 
with respect to any motor vehicle under paragraph (1) for a period of 
at least 4 years following the date the lessor transfers that vehicle. 
"(4) For purposes of this section, if the lessor transfers ownership 
of any leased motor vehicle without obtaining possession of such 
Oct. 28, 1986 
[S. 475] 
Truth in Mileage 
Act of 1986. 
State and local 
governments. 
15 u s e 1901 
note. 
100 STAT. 3310 
PUBLIC LAW 99-579—OCT. 28, 1986 
Records. 
15 use 2021. 
15 u s e 1381 
note. 
vehicle, the lessor may, in making the disclosure required by subsec-
tion (a), indicate on the title the mileage disclosed by the lessee 
under paragraph (1) unless the lessor has reason to believe that such 
disclosure by the lessee does not reflect the actual mileage of the 
vehicle. 
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^ 
"(f)(1) The requirements of subsections (d) and (e)(1) respecting the 
. ' 
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disclosure of motor vehicle mileage when motor vehicles are trans-
ferred or leased shall apply in a State unless the State has in effect 
alternate motor vehicle mileage disclosure requirements approved 
Regulations. 
by the Secretary. The Secretary may promulgate regulations 
establishing procedures for the consideration and approval of such 
alternate requirements. 
"(2) The Secretary shall approve alternate motor vehicle mileage 
disclosure requirements submitted by a State unless the Secretary 
determines that such requirements are not consistent with the 
purpose of the disclosure required by subsection (d) or (e), as the case 
may be. 
"(g) If any motor vehicle is sold at an auction, the auction com-
pany which conducts such auction shall establish and maintain for a 
period of at least 4 years following the date of such sale the 
following records: 
"(1) The name of the most recent owner of the motor vehicle 
(other than the auction company) and the name of the buyer of 
.;.t the motor vehicle. 
"(2) The vehicle identification number of the motor vehicle 
required under title VI of this Act or the National Traffic and 
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966. 
"(3) The odometer reading on the date of which the auction 
company took possession of the motor vehicle.". 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 402 of the Motor Vehicle Information 
and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1982) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
"(6) The term 'title' means the certificate of title or other 
document issued by the State indicating ownership. 
"(7) The term 'leased motor vehicle' means any motor vehicle 
which is leased to a person for a term of at least 4 months by a 
lessor who has leased 5 or more vehicles in the past 12 months. 
b»ij 
"(8) The term 'auction company' means any person who takes 
,9,11 possession (whether through consignment or bailment or 
through any other arrangement) of a motor vehicle owned by 
another person for purposes of selling such motor vehicle at an 
auction.'. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), subsec-
,Bi tions (d), (e), (f), and (g) of section 408 of the Motor Vehicle 
Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1988), as added by 
subsection (a) of this section, shall apply with respect to motor 
vehicles which are transferred after the date 30 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) REVISION OF STATE LAWS TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Transpor-
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tation shall, upon application, assist a State in revising its 
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f c ». laws to comply with the requirements of section 408(d) (1) 
and (2) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings 
Ante, p. 3309. 
Act. 
Federal 
(B) EXTENSION OF TIME.—If any State requires time, in 
Register, 
addition to the period prescribed by paragraph (1) of this 
15 u s e 1988 
note. 
PUBLIC LAW 99-579—OCT. 28, 1986 
100 STAT. 3311 
subsection, to revise its laws to achieve such compUance, 
the Secretary may, upon the request of such State, grant, 
by notice pubUshed in the Federal Register, the State such 
reasonable additional time £is the Secretary determines is 
necessary to achieve such compliance. The Secretary shall 
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include in the Federal Register notice the reasons for grant- 
1 •;; 
ing additional time. In granting additional time, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that the State is making reasonable 
efforts to achieve such compliance. 
(3) MOTOR VEHICLE DEFINED.—For purposes of this subsection, 
the term "motor vehicle" has the same meaning as when used 
in the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (15 
U.S.C. 1901 and following). 
SEC. 3. VIOLATION OF ODOMETER REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) CIVIL PENALTY.—Section 412(a) of the Motor Vehicle Informa-
tion and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1990b) is amended by striking 
out "$1,000" and inserting in lieu thereof "$2,000". 
(b) CRIMINAL PENALTY.—Section 413(a) of the Motor Vehicle 
Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1990c) is amended by 
striking out "not more than one year," and inserting in lieu thereof 
"not more than three years,". 
Approved October 28, 1986. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 475 (H.R. 780): 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 99-47 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 131 (1985): Dec. 13, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 132 (1986): Oct. 6, H.R. 780 considered and passed House; proceedings 
vacated and S. 475, amended, passed in lieu. 
Oct. 8, Senate concurred in House amendments.