License Plate Lookup
What is a license plate lookup?
License plate lookup is similar to VIN check or VIN decoder. License plate search is a great option for accessing your vehicle’s history when you can’t find your VIN. The car’s license plate number is linked to the VIN number in the public vehicle record.
To conduct a license plate search, you just need the license plate number and state name that is mentioned on the license plate. Enter these details on the license plate check “search bar” and discover vehicle history report. Depending on the state you live in and the rules and regulations of that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), certain information may be restricted when performing a license plate check.
What is a license plate number?
The state DMVs assign license plates or registration numbers to the vehicles upon registration. You can easily find your license plate number by looking at the license plate attached to your car. The plate number is also mentioned on the title and registration papers of the vehicle. The date of issue is stated on the document, which can be an important factor if there is any concern about the license plate number tempering.
Most states have their own unique color schemes, logo, and registration number format for license plates. You can order custom license plates or vanity plates if you want to choose a letter/number combination.
Statista lists the following top ten states with the highest number of registered cars in 2019.
Why is a license plate search so important?
People look for license plates for a variety of reasons. Mostly it is used when someone is considering buying a used car and wants to get the vehicle history before making a decision.
Ideally, the decision to buy a used car is a big deal that can be frustrating. Never expect the seller of a vehicle to be honest. Even some of these sellers are unaware that the vehicle they are trying to sell had been involved in an accident in the past. There may also be legal or criminal issues with the vehicle you are interested in. This is a common and important factor that many people overlook when buying a used car. If for some reason you can’t access the VIN number to do a VIN search, searching for the license plate is a good idea.
Insurify lists the following top ten states with the most car accidents in 2020.
FBI’s 2017 crime report lists the following top ten states reported for auto theft:
What information can you get from the license plate lookup?
Using a license plate lookup tool will give you access to a wealth of information that will reveal the vehicle’s hidden past. The Information includes
- Number of previous owners
- Current location
- Mileage Rollback
- Service and repair history
- Title checks including salvage title
- Loan and Lien Records
- Accident records
- Recalls
- Vehicle specifications
- Warranty status
- Safety Rating
- DMV Records
- Flood, Hail, and Fire Damage
- Personal, commercial, or rental use verifications
- Current market evaluation
- Theft Records
- Vehicle registration history
.This is just the most important information you will discover. The report also includes many other features.
What other information can you get with a license plate number?
In addition to the vehicle history report, you can also get other important information based on the license plate number. You can retrieve vehicle and owner information using a paid reverse license plate lookup service. However, you must have a valid reason to do so with the support of the appropriate regulatory body. You can perform a reverse license plate search online anonymously as long as you have a valid reason under your state’s DPPA laws.
Below are some paid services that can help you obtain vehicle and owner information.
SearchQuarry is an American public records resource utility that provides reverse license plate searches. You can access the owner’s identity and other vehicle details for federally authorized purposes.
Vehicle Data Registry allows paid members to view criminal records based on license plate numbers.
Check any vehicle's title history
The VIN report shows the state name where it was registered and the number of times it has been registered. If you see a car crossing a state line multiple times in a short period of time, it may indicate that the previous owner was trying to remove some negative information from the title.
When buying a vehicle, it is important to know the different car title types. Having a knowledge of different used car titles can make the big difference between undeceive purchase and a big disappointment. The vehicle report should contain a vehicle’s title history, including any salvaged ownership brands. The license plate lookup tool discovers if the vehicle has “salvage,” “junk,” “clear,” “rebuilt,” or some other title brand.
The following picture shows the few branded titles that are in use in different states.
Could you look up the license plate on your own?
In theory, you can, but in practice, it will be much harder. You’ll need to contact each DMV, federal agency, police department, service station, and insurance company yourself. Not only will this cost you a lot of time, but it will also be very expensive.
On the other hand, with an online license plate lookup service, you can discover important information on your laptop, or mobile device within minutes.
Lookup any license plate by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming