DMV Vehicle Data Access

Academic researchers who would like access to vehicle transaction and registration data of the type used in my Job Market Paper can request data directly from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), but the DMV charges a fee for the retrieving these data to cover labor costs. Having previously acquired this dataset, I may request DMV approval to authorize additional academic researchers, including PhD students, to access the full 2014–2025 data at no cost. To grant approval, the DMV typically requires documentation confirming that the requester is employed in a research role and that the data will be used exclusively for scholarly research. This is offered in the spirit of service to the profession; researchers should feel free to use the data independently, and there is no expectation of coauthorship.

To support researchers working with vehicle data, I have also prepared a guide that reviews the structure, coverage, and access procedures for publicly available datasets in the United States. The document summarizes state DMV records (with a focus on Texas), as well as complementary sources such as VIN decoding services, fuel economy ratings, recall and safety records, lease and loan data, fueling infrastructure, accident reports, and rideshare activity .

Public Vehicle Data in the United States: A Practical Guide for Academic Researchers