LAS VEGAS, NV - They're back, those pesky postcards offering you an extended warranty on your car. But how do these companies get your personal information and how can you keep it out of their hands?

Contact 13 went looking for answers. They've been flooding consumers' mailboxes for months, those direct marketing flyers that warn your vehicle's warranty is about to expire.

Back in February, Contact 13 got the skinny on these flyers from then consumer affairs commissioner James Campos.

"They just try to sell you something you don't need at a very high price," said Campos.

Recently, those official looking ads have been making a comeback. We all provide this information to the DMV when we register our vehicles. So we asked Kevin Malone is the DMV dimming out Nevada drivers?

"We don't sell to these warranty companies directly. And we've never been able to confirm whether they're getting our data or not," said Malone.

During the course of our investigation Contact 13 learned that Nevada law does allow the DMV to sell your information, but only for purposes it deems legitimate.

"Things like recalls, towing companies, insurance companies, attorneys pursuing litigation," explained Malone.

The DMV requires those buying the information to sign a contract, forbidding them from re-selling your information but are the buyers following those rules?

"That's a good question that we'd like to know as much as you'd like to know," said Malone.

Contact 13 researched the companies that sent these flyers. Automotive Protection Bureau, also known as Auto One Warranty Specialists, has an F rating and nearly 820 complaints with the Southern California Better Business Bureau.

When we asked the company where they get consumer information they sent us a written response. When contact 13 asked the company where they get consumer information they didn't respond.

Malone says it could come from a number of sources other than the DMV.

"Some of the other places they might be getting it would be banks, insurance companies if you have loans on your car, credit card companies," said Malone.

Knowing their information is out there for the highest bidder doesn't sit well with the drivers we spoke to.

The Contact 13 bottom line is really your information is everywhere and easy to find if you know where to look. You can minimize what's out there by asking companies not to share your information.

When you sign up for a service, most of the time you're given the opportunity to "opt-out." Doing so can help keep you from getting unwanted phone calls, emails and direct mail.