Find Who Owns a Car

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

How to Find Who Owns a Car

Finding who owns a vehicle has never been easier. All you need to begin to find out who owns a car is the full license plate number of the vehicle, but you can also search vehicle owner information by the VIN.

Once you have the full license plate number, or VIN, of the vehicle you want to search, you can enter that into the search fields to begin. In the next step you will be prompted to select a reason to for running your car owner search.

Then once your car owner search is complete, make sure to check that the vehicle matches the results. After that you can access a multitude of information including car owner details, vehicle history reports, vehicle title verification, accidents, recalls and more.

Find Who Owns a Car By License Plate Number

If you know the full license plate number of a car you can find car owner information in a few easy steps. The basic steps to find who owns a car by license plate are as follows:

  1. Enter the full license plate number into the search field, and select a state
  2. Verify you have a legitimate reason for running a car owner search
  3. Once your search is complete, verify the make and model of the vehicle match
  4. Verify car owner details, depending on your reason for this search, and what is allowed in your state
  5. Use the information obtained only as directed and as required by state regulations

How to Find Who Owns a Car

Find Who Owns a Car By VIN

To find out who owns a car by VIN , or vehicle identification number, you will need the complete VIN. The vehicle identification number is a 17 digit alpha-numeric code that describes all the specific vehicle information and each VIN is unique to one specific car, just like the license plate number. You can go through the same channels as the license plate search as long as you have a legitimate reason to perform this car owner search. It’s also important to note that not all sites that offer vehicle records have access to car owner information. So if you are searching by VIN it’s good to be certain of this. The same rules apply to access owner information with a VIN search as they do with a license plate search.

Car Owner Search

Reasons for Finding out Who Owns a Car

There are a multitude of reasons that someone would like to know who owns a car. It might be that they’re in the market for a used car or maybe checking on the title of their own car or possibly another reason that is allowed via the DPPA. The Driver Privacy Protection Act is very serious and only those that meet the criteria and have a legitimate reason can perform this car owner search. Each state in the United States has their own DPPA that must be adhered to. To find out more about DPPA reasons and regulations in order to answer the question, “ How to Find Who Owns a Car ,” can be found here on Wikipedia.

Also note that not all states allow the same reasons to find out who owns a car and some information about the car owner may be limited. Also note that you will be personally liable for information obtained in a car owner search and it’s illegal to stalk or harass anyone with any information you obtain. Please be responsible with the information you find. The FOIA, or Freedom of Information Act makes vehicle records public domain so that people can access this information as long as their in compliance with state, local and federal regulations.

What You Can Find With a Car Plate Search

  1. Make and Model of the Car
  2. Car Owner Information
  3. VIN – 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number
  4. Car Specifications and Manufacturing Details
  5. Car History Report
  6. Accident History
  7. Car Title Status
  8. Crash Test Ratings and Recalls

Many people run a car plate search for reasons of purchasing a used car and verification of the vehicle and vehicle ownership which is a key part of the transaction. It can be very helpful to know if the car title is clean or salvaged or has a lien on it, if there are any major safety concerns. There are a multitude of reasons people want to know more about vehicles and with our search tool you can run multiple searches on the cars you want to know more about.

Researching Cars For Sale By Owner

There are some simple ways to verify and research cars for sale by owner. A license plate search or VIN search can be useful information for people researching a used car such as, obtaining a car history report, verifying if the odometer is accurate, checking if the car has a salvaged title, or if the car was in any major car accidents. Many people have voiced concerns about buying a used car by owner on craigslist, because of all the scams that are out there. These concerns can be somewhat mitigated by doing some quick research before handing over any cash for that used car, running a vehicle history report can reveal the truth and if there are any problems that were not disclosed.

Another way to verify the car for sale by owner is legit is to verify if the owner is the seller of the vehicle. You may want to ask them to show you their driver’s license and match that with the car title or registration before making the purchase. Most importantly, never send any money until you see and verify the used the car in person. Buying a stolen vehicle happens, and the buyer is the one that pays the price. With over 275 million vehicles on the road, according to a 2020 Department of Transportation report, the need for vehicle related information has become significant, especially for people researching a used car they are interested in. With a quick online license plate number search or VIN check, a person can research the history of most any car to make a more informed decision.

Common Used Car Scams

Cars for sale by owner scams are on the rise, there are many online platforms that host used car sales but not all the listings are legitimate, even though the platform is. According to the FTC in December 2022 report, car buying scams have gone up significantly year over year, from flood damaged cars to phony car sales. It’s a good idea to keep that in mind when purchasing a used car from an unknown seller. There are a few obvious things to look out for with popular used car scams:

  1. If the used car owner asks you to pay them before you see the car in person. This is a big red flag that should be avoided
  2. If the used car seller attempts to pressure you into sending them a deposit because there is a lot of interest in the car they’re selling. this is a major red flag
  3. If the seller is not local or in another state or country, do not make a deal without seeing the car and owner together. The seller might not even own the car they’re trying to sell
  4. If the deal is too good to be true, then maybe it is. Make sure to do your research and run a vehicle history report and check the status of the title to make sure the car isn’t a lemon.
  5. If you cannot get the car owner to meet you in person, then this is very risky as well. You will want to verify they are the owner of the vehicle before making any transaction
  6. If the car owner asks for a bunch of personal information over the phone then you might consider they’re trying to get steal your identity, this is also a prevalent online scam to look out for.

Run a Car Owner Search By State


Car Owner Search - FAQs

How can I find who owns a car by license plate?

It's a simple process using an online public records website. All you need is the full license plate number of the vehicle in question and a valid reason and you can find car owner information. You can also find who owns a car by the VIN if you do not know the car license plate number.

How do you find out who owns a car?

You can find out who owns a car using public record sites that specialize in vehicle records. You will need either the full license plate number or the 17 digit VIN to begin. Then, as long as you have a valid reason, you can run a car owner search using the license plate or VIN and find vehicle owner information.

How to find the owner of a car by VIN?

If you know the VIN of a car you can find the owner of a car using specialized public record websites. You can also use the license plate number if you do not know the VIN number. Then, as long as you have a valid reason to run this search according to the DPPA, you can find vehicle owner information with a quick online search.

Can I find the owner of a car by the license plate number?

Yes, it is possible to find the owner of a car by the license plate number or the VIN number. To find car owner information you will need to use a public records site that specializes in vehicle. Then using the complete license plate number or VIN of the car, you can access car owner information online.

Is it legal to run a car owner search?

Yes, as long as you have a valid reason and comply with state and federal guidelines you can run a car owner search using the license plate number or VIN of the car you want to find the owner of.

Can I lookup a car owner by license plate number?

Yes, if you want to run a car owner lookup you will need the full license plate number and a valid reason, according to state regulations. First, find a reliable public records site, input the full license plate number into the search fields, select a reason for running your search, and then you will be able to access car owner information.

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Responses to “Find Who Owns a Car

  1. Jim Boorman says:

    I need some info on a plate number of a vehicle I world like to purchase

  2. squarryadministrator says:

    Tom, our car owner lookup resources only work for motorized vehicles, they do not have information regarding trailers or fifth wheels. You might ask the DMV how to go about getting the title transferred AS-IS, there may be a precedence for your situation.

  3. Tom says:

    Hello I’m needing the owner of a 5th wheel that was givin to me out of a trailer park for some work that was done and the title they gave me was the previous owners title since then the I went to dmv to do transfer tittle which obviously dint go through because of wrong info and the person at the trailer park had passed away since this has happened so I don’t know who the trailer belonged to it’s not stolen the dmv said the transfer took place in 2013 and no one knows who it was last registered to so it’s going to get towed if I can’t get the info nobody seems to know anything I’d like to get ahold of the people to one if it is missing to them I can tell them where it is and two if there not interested nor want it or has passed away also I just don’t want it getting thrown away it be a waste dmv won’t help cops won’t help your my last option

  4. squarryadministrator says:

    Brian, if you have the bill of sales for the car your purchased the DMV will often accept that and you can apply for the title transfer to your name. This means that you do not need to lookup the car owner by VIN or license plate

  5. Brian K Smeltzer says:

    I lost title before I got it transferred.I need contact info of the person that the title was in so I can get a new title.

  6. squarryadministrator says:

    Jim, you don’t need to find the owner of that car to have it towed away. You can call the police and file an abandoned car report and they will attempt to contact the owner and if they cannot then they will have it towed away at the owners expense. You should not have to pay for this. Another option is if nobody claims the car that was abandoned, you can sometimes have the title transferred into your name but you will need to check on your state’s laws to find out how to go about this.

    We hope this helps!

  7. jim white says:

    they left the car on street in front of my house 2002 honda accord1hgcg56402a07i132 vin# its been there bout 3months im gonna hav som ody haul it off i need to find owenr thank you

  8. squarryadministrator says:

    Rodney, unfortunately our VIN lookup for finding who owns a car only works for modern vehicles with 17 digits in the VIN. There really are not many options besides the DMV to find out information about vintage vehicles. The only other option is to hire a private investigator that specializes in vehicle related records.

  9. Rodney Chatham says:

    I would like to find this car vin number 242679B128788 it is a 1969 GTO convertible that i previously owned and was forced to sell due to financial hardship. The car was like a family member beloved by myself and my family as we all enjoyed it over the years. I personally restored the car to new condition before having to sell it. I want it back is it legal to do a search under this criteria?

  10. squarryadministrator says:

    Ronnie, if someone hit your car, or if there was a hit and run incident, you should contact the police and file a report. This is the safest and fastest way to get your car fixed. Once you have the police accident report you can send that to your insurance company. The police will follow up with the car owner, and then your auto insurance company should give you guidance on the best way to get your car repaired

  11. Ronnie Hayes says:

    He Hit my Car

  12. squarryadministrator says:

    Harry, if you need to find out information about a car you want to buy, you should consider running a vehicle history report. This will give you a lot of valuable information about the history, specs, accidents and more with a simple VIN check or car license plate number lookup

  13. Harry Edward says:

    I need to find who the owner is of a car I am looking to buy

  14. squarryadministrator says:

    Joseph, you will need to find out from the DMV about when your car registration expires. Unfortunately that is not something that is listed on a car license plate search

  15. Joseph says:

    I just bought this car from a dude who said he had just gotten the regestration renewed and it has good tags till 24, but that the tags were stolen off the car. The tags do appear to have been ripped off and I am wanting to find out if the tags are expired or not. I will eventually get the vehicle switched over to my name of course, but in the meantime would like to know if I am okay to drive it or if I will get pulled over for expired/bad/no tags. The police obviously get this information when they run my plate number, how do I get this information?

  16. tim hoog windham ny says:

    I want to know what cars a person owns?

  17. squarryadministrator says:

    Julie, we understand your frustration but we cannot give out car owner information in this situation. If you are being harassed you can give the car license plate information to the police to have them follow up.

  18. Julie StJohn says:

    I have been harassed on and off by drivers. It appears more than average and spans across states and is always unnecessary since person does not have to be up against the back of my car because lane next to me always open. Today tried to find out owner of a particular plate that harassed me bad on road..but was told “ payed to remain private” but it gave me a vin number.

  19. squarryadministrator says:

    Brandon, you will need to go through the correct channels to transfer the title of an abandoned car on your property. The first step is to notify the police and file an abandoned car report with them. The police will then try to contact the owner of the vehicle. If they do not get a response or cannot find the previous owner you can file a claim to transfer the title into your name.

  20. Brandon ripley says:

    I found an abandoned vehicle and id like to know who owns it and if I can buy it

Author:
Last Updated: 2023-02-06

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