Official US Vehicle Contacts
Federal agencies that handle vehicle safety, records, warranties and complaints. With direct lines where they exist.
Government and manufacturer channels only. No private businesses, no paid listings.
Most vehicle problems have an official place to go. Almost nobody knows where. This page collects the contacts that exist, grouped by what you're trying to do.
Bookmark it. You'll need it again.
Safety defects and recalls
NHTSA handles defects, recalls and complaints for cars, trucks, tires and car seats.
| What you need | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Report a suspected safety defect | 888-327-4236 | NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET English and Spanish staff |
| Same line, hearing impaired | 888-275-9171 | NHTSA TTY |
| Check open recalls by VIN | nhtsa.gov/recalls | Free. Covers the last 15 years. One VIN at a time |
| US DOT general switchboard | 202-366-4000 | Personnel locator |
| Off-road vehicles, ATVs, go-carts | Consumer Product Safety Commission | Not NHTSA. Different agency |
Written complaints go to NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (NEF-100), West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Recall repairs are free. If a dealer asks you to pay for a recall repair, that's wrong.
Vehicle history and title records
Three checks, and two of them cost nothing.
| What you get | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Theft and salvage records | NICB VINCheck | Free, 5 lookups per day |
| Vehicle specs decoded from the VIN | NHTSA vPIC decoder | Free |
| Title history, brands, odometer readings | NMVTIS approved providers | About $10 |
NMVTIS is a Department of Justice system. Every state, insurer and salvage yard is required by federal law to report to it. The list of approved providers is published by DOJ.
Use the DOJ provider list rather than searching for a report seller. It's the only way to know a report actually contains NMVTIS data.
None of these three covers accident or repair history. A clean result means the record isn't in that database, not that the car is clean.
Warranty and emissions disputes
Start with the manufacturer. Escalate only after that fails.
| Step | Where to go |
|---|---|
| 1. First attempt | Service department at any dealer authorized for that brand |
| 2. If denied | Ask for the denial in writing. The rule requires it |
| 3. Escalate | Manufacturer customer assistance center. Number is in your owner's manual |
| 4. Emissions warranty violations | complianceinfo@epa.gov Director, Compliance Division, EPA 2000 Traverwood Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Attention: Warranty |
| 5. Dealer conduct | Your state consumer protection office |
That EPA address isn't something we found on a help page. It's written into the regulation itself, at 40 CFR 85.2109, as the place owners can report emissions warranty violations.
The manufacturer has 30 days from the day you present the car to reach a final decision. Miss that and the repair becomes free, and you can have it done wherever you like at the manufacturer's expense.
Child seats
| What you need | Where |
|---|---|
| Free car seat inspection | NHTSA inspection station locator |
| Ease-of-use ratings | NHTSA Car Seat Finder |
| Report a car seat problem | 888-327-4236 |
| Check car seat recalls | nhtsa.gov/recalls |
One caution on the ratings. NHTSA rates car seats for ease of use, not for safety. Every seat it rates already meets federal crash standards. A low rating means the seat is harder to install correctly, which matters, but it isn't a safety score.
Registration, titles and state matters
These are set by each state, and they differ.
Registration, titling, inspection schedules, dealer licensing and most consumer protection rules are state law. We don't interpret state law on this site. Go to the official source for your state.
| What you need | Where |
|---|---|
| Registration, title, plates | Your state DMV or equivalent |
| Emissions or safety inspection rules | Your state DMV or environmental agency |
| Dealer complaints | Your state attorney general or consumer protection office |
| Government fleet vehicle auctions | gsafleet.gov |
What is not on this page
We don't list dealers, repair shops, tow operators, car washes or any other private business.
Two reasons. Listing some and not others is a recommendation, and we don't make recommendations. And a national directory of local businesses goes stale faster than anyone could maintain it.
Everything above is a government agency or an official manufacturer channel. Nobody paid to be here.
Before you call
- Have the VIN ready. It's on the dashboard at the base of the windshield, on the driver's door jamb, and on your title.
- Know the in-service date and current mileage.
- For a warranty issue, bring the owner's manual and any service records.
- For a defect report, write down what happened, when, and what the car was doing.
Sources
- NHTSA, Contact Us. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- NHTSA, Resources Related to Investigations and Recalls. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- 40 CFR 85.2106, 85.2107, 85.2109. eCFR, title 40 current as of June 30, 2026. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- NICB VINCheck terms of use. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- AAMVA, NMVTIS for General Public and Consumers. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- NHTSA, Car Seat Ease-of-Use Ratings. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- GSA Fleet Vehicle Sales. Retrieved July 27, 2026.