Florida License Plate Lookup

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

How To Run a Florida License Plate Lookup

In the state of Florida license plate information can be easily performed with the full license plate number of a vehicle and a valid reason for accessing this information. The Florida license plate number lookup can reveal the vehicle history, owner contact information, if the vehicle title is clean, vehicle specs and much more. Using a public record website, a person can also cross reference the owner information with a criminal record, traffic citations, background records, DUIs, arrests, jail records and active warrants. This gives people the ability to research for motor vehicle and driver safety, theft or civil and criminal processing as outlined in the terms of the license plate search for Florida. The only caveat to running this search is making sure that you abide by all the safety and privacy laws set out by the state of Florida, and the federal government. Once you verify that your reason is valid, you can begin your search can obtain the vehicle information you’re interested in. If you are using a public record website to view unofficial Florida vehicle records then it’s important to note that these can be used for verification purposes only. Certain plate searches are commonly used for purchasing a used vehicle in Florida and verifying it’s title is clean, vehicle owner verification, odometer verification and finding the options and manufacturer specs that the vehicle has to offer. Other plate searches can be used as outlined in the 2023 updated Driver Privacy Protection Act of Florida

Car Owner Search

The Purpose of a Florida License Plate

Florida license plate are required on every vehicle registered in the state. Vehicle owners are required to have only one license plate, which would be located in the rear of the vehicle. Having a second license plate on the front of the vehicle is recommended but not necessary, as the rear plates have the registration tags on them. Vehicle owners in Florida can apply for several different types of license plates however, the most commonly used license plates in Florida include a license plate that has a combination of numbers and letters and another one that has either “in God we trust” or “Sunshine State” at the bottom. The license plate also serves as a visual registration for law enforcement and can be used as an identifying piece of evidence in a car accident or a moving violation that is caught on camera. The license plate number must be clearly visible without any shielding or tinted glass covering it that may obscure it from being clearly viewed. Many metropolitan traffic cameras and police car cameras are now outfitted with Florida license plate recognition software to quickly read your rear plate and show law enforcement who the vehicle is registered to. At night it’s important to have a working license plate light to illuminate the plate numbers. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t easily read your own Florida plate number then the police can’t read and run a Florida license plate search, you can get pulled over for it being obscured and receive a citation.

How To Get a New Florida License Plate

Getting a new Florida license plate for that car, truck or SUV you just purchased, is a simple process but make sure to order them ASAP as there are time requirements. You will need to apply for a license plate in Florida within thirty days after purchasing a vehicle or run the risk of penalties and if you get pulled over without completing this in the tame frame allowed, you can have your vehicle impounded. If you purchase a new car, truck, SUV or motorcycle in the state, you will be provided with temporary plates until your actual FL license plate arrives in the mail. As of 2022, The FLHSMV allows temporary license plates to be printed on paper by authorized dealerships. These temporary Florida plates will not have registration stickers on them, you will also be provided with a window registration card that has all your relevant registration information visible for law enforcement until you receive your permanent Florida plates.

Different Types of Florida Personalized License Plates

There are a multitude of personalized license plate options in Florida, for an extra fee of course. These are also known as vanity plates and they allow the registered owner of a vehicle to choose specific letters, numbers and special characters on the license plate. You will first need pick what you want your Florida personalized license plates to say with the available characters. Typically there are 7 characters on a car, truck and SUV and only 5 characters on a motorcycle. Your personalized plate must also be unique, which is to say it’s not being used on another vehicle. Then the last step is to submit it to go through the editorial process by the FLHSMV before being approved, as they try to eliminate offensive or inappropriate messages on someone’s plate. Then after you’ve received your new Florida personalized license plates in the mail, you’ll need to apply the registration tags and then you’ll pay that a little bit extra every year to keep that personalized message. As of 2023, there is an additional cost of $15 annually to register a personalized plate in Florida.

History of License Plates In Florida

Florida started issuing license plates later than a lot of east coast states in the US. It was in 1918 that this state started to issue physical license plates to everyone that had a vehicle. Before then, starting in 1905, Florida required anyone with a vehicle to provide their own identification plate for display and it was only required on the rear of the vehicle. Then starting in 1938, the state issued state-manufactured plates and sending them out to every registered vehicle owner in the state. Then in the early 1970’s there became more variation on plate options and specialty Florida license plates that could be customized. The last major design changes to the Florida plates were made in 1986 where the state adopted and printed the sunshine state on their plates. This remains the standard issued license plate in 2023 and the FLHSMV still requires just the rear plate with the tags. Moving forward there are plans on adopting a digital Florida license plate that will automatically update the registration tags instead of them being sent out in the mail. Most states in the US are considering switching to a digital plate as it’s the way of the future and it can help prevent theft and fraud as the digital plates are dynamic and updated in real time with messages such as “stolen” or “registration expired”.

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Florida License Plate Lookup

 


Florida License Plate Lookup - FAQs

Can I lookup a Florida license plate number?

You can lookup a Florida license plate number if you have the full plate number and a valid reason to lookup the Florida license plate according to the rules and regulations of the DMV. It's also possible to look up a license plate using 3rd party search engines as long as you have a valid Florida DPPA reason

Can I lookup someone by their Florida license plate number?

Yes, it is possible to lookup someone by their Florida license plate number if you have the full plate number and have a valid reason via the Florida DPPA. You can also obtain a vehicle history report with a Florida license plate number.

What can I say on a personalized Florida license plate?

You must have something unique to display and it cannot be vulgar or offensive as it will be reviewed before being approved. You must also stick to 7 characters, numbers or special characters depending on what is available

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Responses to “Florida License Plate Lookup

  1. squarryadministrator says:

    You might want to reach out to the Florida FLHSMV to inquire about the status of your vehicle title. This process often takes several weeks for them to send your FL vehicle title after it has been transferred by the dealership.

  2. Heather Marie Aguiniga says:

    I got a car almost 3 months ago now from a dealership but still have not received my tags and they kept my license plate what do I do

  3. squarryadministrator says:

    Michelle, if you fell that a vehicle has been abandoned in front of your Florida home, you can contact the police and give them the vehicle description and Florida license plate number so they can contact the owner of the vehicle to find out why they left the vehicle there. If they are unable to contact the owner of the Florida registered vehicle you can have it towed at the owner’s expense.

  4. Michelle DeVore says:

    KL8CD6SA8MC717575 VIN Number left near my property FL license plate

  5. Judy D Johnson says:

    My car has been stolen and I dont have the tag number for law enforcement

  6. squarryadministrator says:

    Mark, we do not have information relevant to Florida auto parts

  7. Mark Cheaney says:

    I am trying to buy or find used parts for a 1990 GMC C7000 bucket truck as a contract job for a tree service company. GMC lists it as “incomplete vehicle”. I have a tag number but there is no VIN number on the vehicle. I do not need the owner’s name or other information, only the VIN number for parts location. I do not have the truck with me. It is down in the Florida Keys where replacement parts are limited.

  8. squarryadministrator says:

    Janice, we do not have such information in our public record search resources. You’ll need to contact the motor vehicle department in Florida to find out how much you paid for your personalized Florida license plates

  9. Janice Hippe says:

    I am filing my 2021 tax return and do not recall what we paid for our customized license plate 2HIPPES? Can I get that info?

  10. squarryadministrator says:

    Elena, in this situation, where you need to renew your Florida disabled license plate for your mother, you will need to contact the Florida FLHSMV directly.

  11. Elena K Kontinos says:

    I need to renew the Handi-cap tag for my Mother’s vehicle. I don’t know the tag number. It is a 2016 Toyota Rav 4.

  12. William Fanklin Vibbert says:

    I need to lookup tag # to see if the tag is on the correct trailer?

  13. Allison says:

    I lived in Florida in 2015. I moved out of state and did not surrender my plates. I am not sure where the plates are, most likely in my parents basement. I don’t have the license plate number.

    I moved back to Florida this year. My question is how do I go about getting my Florida plates? Can I reissue my old Florida plates. or should I go about getting new plate number. Please advise how I should proceed… Thank you

  14. Sharon Jacobs says:

    A truck that was in my name has been transferred to another person. He said that he turned in the plate. I need to make sure that it is not in my name any more.

  15. William Howell says:

    Hello; About 2 years ago I had 2 vehicles. I sold one. I am now purchasing a second vehicle tomorrow. I’ve lived in Florida all my life. The past six years I’ve lived in Lake County and now Seminole. Just hoping I can reactive a tag. Thank you!

  16. squarryadministrator says:

    Candice, it’s best practice to hand over the Florida trailer license plate over to the police and let them locate the owner

  17. Candice Stidham says:

    I found a trailer gate with a tag on it in the road. Trying to locate owner so they can pick it up.

  18. James says:

    Can I use an old plate I had on my car 3 years ago on a used car I’m about to buy from someone? Are these old plates still good or do they have an expiration date?

  19. Joseph Freedman says:

    I had my tag and registration stolen out of my truck I need new license plate number so I can put a cardboard and write the tag number on it so I have to pull over my name is Joseph j Freedman 2121 Jackson Street Hollywood FL the tag for 2002 Ford F-250 super duty

  20. squarryadministrator says:

    Leo, you should call the police and file a hit and run report. Unfortunately we cannot give out Florida license plate or Florida vehicle owner information through our blog. You must first read and agree to the terms and conditions of our search as well as the privacy laws we out line for your state of residence

Reviews

FAST RESULTS
Reviewed 2018-04-16T10:54:38, by Maria G   4/5 Stars

I’ve used this site search several times now to run a plate search on a car I was considering,  I am very satisfied. The process is very simple and the results come in quickly.

quick and easy
Reviewed 2018-04-16T10:56:03, by Nancy S   4/5 Stars

Quick and easy lookup, yes I would recommend but could have some additional information, was missing a few pieces on the report I wanted to find out when running a license plate search.

Excellent Florida results
Reviewed 2018-05-15T14:10:08, by Claudia J   5/5 Stars

Excellent tool. Gave detailed information about the license plate search I was trying to run in Florida. I strongly recommend this to anyone looking for detailed information about their vehicle.

Good Info
Reviewed 2018-04-16T10:53:49, by Paul D.   5/5 Stars

I found what I was looking for when running a plate search for a Florida vehicle.

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Last Updated: 2023-03-17

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