Car Plate Search

Name Phone Number License Plate VIN
Name Phone Number License Plate VIN

How to Run a Car Plate Search

The first step in being able to run a car plate search is to define the specific car information you want, as well as the reason you want to access these vehicle records. One of the most popular reasons to run a car plate search for researching a used car that someone wants to buy. A quick car license plate search or VIN search can reveal important information about a car that might not be disclosed from the seller, which can greatly affect the value of that used car. A plate search will show information about the vehicle options, manufacturer specs, if the odometer is accurate, if the car has been in any major accidents, if title is clean and to verify if the seller actually owns that vehicle. A car plate search can be performed on the fly with a smartphone, tablet or laptop, which means anyone can quickly research any vehicle while out shopping, to find out the truth about that car before handing over any cash. Utilizing online vehicle record resources like this can really benefit the buyer and give them leverage to bargain if there are any issues or discoveries that can bring down the value of used car. The process only take a few moments, here are the basic steps to researching a vehicle and running a car license plate search:

  1. Write down the complete car license plate number, the VIN is ok to use too
  2. Find a reliable public record website that offers vehicle history reports
  3. Enter the complete car license plate into the search field and select a state
  4. Search the vehicle and review the results to make sure the make and model match
  5. Then proceed to obtain a vehicle history report for the car, these usually cost a few bucks
  6. Review the important sections such as; if the odometer is accurate, if the vehicle title is clean, if there were any recalls or major accidents
  7. You may also want to verify the title of the used car from the seller along with their driver’s license to verify they are in fact the owner
  8. Then you’ll have all the information you need to make an informed purchase and uncover any issues that may not have been disclosed

There are also other reasons that people want to run a car plate search and obtain car owner information. These reasons must comply and adhere to the strict guidelines and privacy laws outlined by the DPPA as well as state privacy laws. Some of these reasons include business verification, fraud and insurance purposes, motor vehicle safety related issues, statistical reporting, commercial driver verifications and a few other acceptable reasons. The specific nature of your search for car license plate information must be used as intended and your name and contact information or business entity information may be collected before receiving certain car owner details. Remember that it is illegal and unethical to use your car plate search to harrass or stock someone or use it in any way not outlined by the privacy laws that frame this type of public record search.

Car License Plate Search

Car License Plate Options

There are other reasons that people run a car plate search, and those really depend on what is allowed in your state. Some of the other reasons that people run a car license plate search is for insurance claims, fraud and stolen vehicle searches, motor vehicle safety related reasons, business verification purposes and statistical research. Some limited car owner information is available however you will need to read through the allowable reasons set by the DPPA and the state’s  privacy protection laws that are relevant

There are many options of different car license plate options from the DMV. The standard car plates for each state are stamped and embossed aluminum plates with the state’s designation and colors. There are not typically options to choose from as the state issues a single standard plate to every registered vehicle unless the registered driver decides to pay for a different type of car license plate which may include the following options: 

  1. Personalized Car Plates: These are customizable car plates that give people the option of choosing specific numbers and letters. A personalized plate must also be approved before being issued as nothing vulgar or offensive is allowed 
  2. Specialty Car License Plates: These plates represent different organizations or special interests such as conservation programs, nature protection efforts, military service branches, organizations and sports teams, to name a few. 
  3. Vanity Car Plates: The plates are similar to personalized plates however vanity plates typically designate a specific phrase or word. These have a character limit and are also subject to being audited for offensive language. 
  4. Disability Car Plates: These are reserved for people who have disabilities and allow people to park in the designated parking spots that are wider and closer to stores and businesses. These permanent plates are typically only given to those that are elderly or have permanent disabilities. If someone has a temporary disability, then a placard is issued that can be hung from the rear-view mirror. 
  5. Temporary Car Plates: These are issued when vehicles are newly purchased or being transferred to another state and are not yet registered in that new state. They are only to be used for a short time and come with a temporary vehicle registration in case that person gets pulled over for a traffic violation. 
  6. Vintage and Antique License Plates: These are plates that are original or facsimiles of original plates that may be different shapes and sizes and made of other materials such as porcelain. They are only issued for older vehicles from certain years. Their designs reflect the designs when the cars were originally manufactured 
  7. Commercial License Plates: These are license plates that are issued to vehicles that are used for commercial purposes, such as delivery trucks or vans such as Amazon delivery trucks or construction vehicles that deliver materials. Commercial vehicles are typically a different weight class and have more taxes and fees associated with their registration. 

For all the different types of car plate options, there is a premium that must be paid to obtain these as only the standard license plates issue by the Motor Vehicle Department are paid for by your registration fees. A custom car license plate of any kind will mean that if you will need to pay that premium each year to keep it. 

Transfer a License Plate To a New Car

To transfer a license plate to a new car is relatively simple as long as you have all the required documentation. To make this transfer to another car will also vary depending on what state the car plate is registered in. Here are some of the basic steps to make this car plate transfer: 

  1. Check with you state’s DMV website to find instructions and forms needed to make this transfer.  
  2. Download the required forms and then mail them in to the DMV directly however, it is recommended that you visit a branch in person to make sure all the requisites are handled properly and this will also expedite the transfer by doing it in person. 
  3. Make sure the car plate you want to transfer has current registration tags and is in good shape. You can always order a new one from the DMV for a fee. 
  4. You may be issued a temporary registration that must be visible or taped to the windshield or rear window of the vehicle so that it’s visible to law enforcement 
  5. Once you’ve received your new registration card or vehicle title with the updated information, then your car plate transfer is complete 

How to Find Out if a Car is Stolen by License Plate

There are free and anonymous online resources that can be used to check if a car has been stolen by its license plate number. One of these resources is offered by the Department of Justice, they have a resource called NMVTIS, which is the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System which was created to protect consumers from fraudulent sales of stolen vehicles or vehicles that have serious issues with them. There is quite a bit of vehicle title fraud and stolen vehicles that sold each year and this resource can be used by anyone research a car by VIN or car license plate number. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, there were over 745,000 vehicles stolen in 2022. With that in mind, if you are wanting to buy a used car, it might be a consideration to use this resource to research that car before making a purchase.

Car Owner Search

Run a Car Plate Search By State

 


Car License Plate Search - FAQs

Can I search the owner of a car with a license plate number?

It is possible to find the owner of a car by the license plate number. You can contact the DMV directly and make a car owner request as long as you have an acceptable reason according to the laws and regulations of the state you live in. You can also hire a private investigator to search on your behalf. Additionally it is possible to lookup car owner information from certain vehicle public record websites as long as your reasons for searching fall under one of the acceptable DPPA reasons.

What will a car plate search tell me?

A car license plate search can offer you insights into the vehicle of interest such as the make and model of the vehicle, VIN number, manufacturing information about the car as well as the vehicle history and potentially some limited owner information

How do i put a license plate on a car?

If you have two license plates then the one in the back will have the registration stickers on them and the one in the front will be without stickers. Find the pre-drilled holes on the front and rear bumper and make sure to have the correct Philip-head screws that match the threads on the pre-drilled holes. Then only use a hand screwdriver so that you don't over tighten the screws or strip them. Then just hand tighten them until they are snug and that then you are done.

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Responses to “Car Plate Search

  1. JoAnn Duval says:

    Person that owns the car I want information wasn’t who was driving the car when it hit me lt head on. Totaled my car checked out TRIPLE A INSURANCE NO RECORD OF PERSON DRIVING THE CAR POLICE REPORT SAYS NOTHING

  2. squarryadministrator says:

    Gloria, you will need to reach out to your local DMV directly to inquire who’s name is on the car title. They will be able to run a car plate search for you by VIN or license plate number

  3. Gloria Howell says:

    I have a curious problem. I recently started shopping for cheaper insurance. Everything I entered my social security number and birth date it would bring up a car I’ve never owned. I have the VIN and even the lein holder information. How can I make sure that my name isn’t on that car? I know there are 2 names on the title but that’s as close as I can get. I can’t afford to pay for a report.

  4. Mohamed says:

    Need the of vehicle kbu 100 f

  5. squarryadministrator says:

    Susan, you will need to inquire with your local motor vehicle department about your mom’s license plate number and vehicle identification number. We cannot lookup car license plate numbers by name. You may need to visit a DMV office in person since you are making a request for another person’s information, even though it’s your mom

  6. Susan Culley says:

    Need my moms old and maybe current vin numbers on GMC Acadia

  7. squarryadministrator says:

    Also, unfortunately we cannot give out car plate information without you going through our process and reading and agreeing to the terms of use of our vehicle record resources. Additionally you will probably want to purchase a vehicle history report, which will cost a few bucks, to find out the history of the used vehicle you purchased. Please reach out if we can be of further assistance

  8. Aldo says:

    Looking to purchase the following vehicle imported to Canada but current owner lost title papers and we only have customs Canada import documents. Looking for previous owners besides the last which was the new auto toy store.

    SCAZN42A6DCX07475
    Thank you

  9. squarryadministrator says:

    Marie, you will want to confirm this with your local DMV. You can make an appointment or try to contact them via email or phone. The will be able to tell you if the vehicle registration and/or vehicle title was transferred into your name

  10. Marie Ayala says:

    I bought a used car and i think i transferred it in my name..i paid 186 dollar fee for something. How do i find out if it was put in my name? Plate number is 3MFE664

  11. squarryadministrator says:

    When running a car plate search through our resources you will need to read and agree to the terms and conditions of our search as well as have a valid DPPA reason for performing a car license plate search. Then you will be directed to our member’s area where you can find out detailed vehicle information and potentially owner information depending on what information is available in the state you live in.

  12. Patricia Voccola licensed Repossesion Co. says:

    What i need to know if the purchase provides thru a vin or: tag if it provides the registered owners name and address plus other info like drivers etc.

  13. squarryadministrator says:

    We do show the make and model of all the Pontiac G6 options. In order to find out more detailed car information you will want to run a vehicle history report. There is a small charge for this service but it will give you a lot of information about your car.

  14. Leland Mckenzie says:

    Hello. I am trying to find the license plate number for my vehicle. I live in México and to be able to register the vehicle here I need the old plate number. The car has a export only title from California. Vin# 1G2ZH17NX74177458 and it is a pontiac g6.

  15. squarryadministrator says:

    You will need to read and agree to the terms and condition of use for our vehicle record resources

  16. Kyle says:

    Would you be able to find the current owner for a vehicle in Texas?

    License Plate:
    VIN:

    Thank you very much!

  17. squarryadministrator says:

    In this situation, you need to contact the DMV or the police to inquire about an abandoned vehicle. In order to use our car plate or vehicle record resources you must first read and agree to the terms and conditions of use.

  18. Oscar says:

    I am looking for the registered owner of a car left on my property. Could you give me that info. I have the all the cars papers. And registration but want to know if its still registered to the same person.

  19. squarryadministrator says:

    You are a good Samaritan! A good option would be to contact the police and give them the car license plate number so they can inquire with the person of interests family and let them know about the accident. There can be complications when driving in Mexico and a lot of those complications depend on whether that person had Mexican insurance on their vehicle and if they were at fault and if there was an intoxicated driving involved.

  20. Aaron caucho García says:

    The owner of the license plate number had an accident in Mexico. Putting the license plate number to notify the family that he is in Mexico, Pachuca Hidalgo and, That he had an accident

Reviews

good service
Reviewed 2018-08-12T13:35:42, by Krystina   5/5 Stars

Good service for license plate searches across a few stats

make and model results
Reviewed 2018-08-12T13:34:42, by Leland   4/5 Stars

Was able to get make and model from the plate info I was searching for

good results
Reviewed 2018-08-12T13:33:35, by Thomas   4/5 Stars

Found plates in quite a few stats I was looking for

100% RESULTS
Reviewed 2018-04-09T12:43:40, by Jackson J.   4/5 Stars

I’ve used the lookup service here a few times but I’m just getting around to writing a review now. So far, all of my results have been 100% and I have recommended to others.

DELIGHTED THAT I DISCOVERED THIS SERVICE
Reviewed 2018-04-09T12:44:44, by Milo L   5/5 Stars

Great site! I need to do this kind of lookup frequently and this is really going to cut down the leg work next time when trying to find vehicle and license plate info. I’m delighted that I discovered this service.

Show all reviews
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Last Updated: 2023-04-04

Please be aware that the information obtained using SearchQuarry.com searches may not always be accurate and up to date as we do not create, verify, or guarantee the accuracy or the amount of information provided through our service. Data availability is largely dependent on various public sources from which the information is aggregated. SearchQuarry.com is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by Fair Credit Reporting Act and should not be used to determine an individual’s eligibility for personal credit or employment, or to assess risk associated with any business transactions such as tenant screening. By using the services offered through this website you agree to comply with all of the conditions set forth in our terms and privacy disclosure. The information obtained from our searches is not to be used for any unlawful purposes such as stalking or harassing others, or investigating public officials or celebrities. Violators may be subject to civil and criminal litigation and penalties. All searches are subject to our terms and applicable laws.