SAN DIEGO — Sen. Juan Vargas (D-San Diego)  introduced legislation on Monday to fix a new law that will require dealers to provide consumers with vehicle history reports starting on July 1.

Senate Bill 990 aims to change the requirements under legislation passed last year, which requires that dealers provide a government report, known as the National Motor Vehicle Titling Information System, to consumers who purchased a used car.

Citing a study conducted by auto industry experts, Vargas said the NMVTIS doesn’t track detailed vehicle history events, such as air bag deployment, open recalls and structural or frame damage.  His legislation will allow dealers to source vehicle history reports from companies like Carfax.

“My legislation is an important fix to better ensure that Californians have the opportunity to receive the best and most accurate information possible when purchasing a used vehicle,” said Senator Juan Vargas. “For many working families, their car is their lifeline and it is essential that they are confident that it is safe and free of damage. SB 990 will simply provide Californians with an option to obtain more information about a car’s vehicle history before making a purchase.”

The law that takes effect July 1 will discourage the use of commercially available vehicle history reports and create an opportunity for widespread fraud in California, Vargas added.

More than 9,000 state titling agencies, insurance carriers and auto recyclers or junkyards are required to report to the NMVTIS, which was created in 1992 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.