Illinois License Plate Lookup

How To Run an Illinois License Plate Lookup

Illinois, one of the most populated states in the US, also has one of the largest vehicle markets. With over 10 million cars, trucks and SUVs on the road. vehicle resources are at an all time high. One of the most popular resources has been an Illinois license plate lookup. With lightning fast wireless broad band and ubiquitous smartphones, accessing vehicle information is faster and more convenient than ever. Using online public record websites offer people the ability to run a license plate lookup in Illinois on the fly. Whether they’re looking up a vehicle’s history or license plate owner information, they can securely reach these resources from anywhere in the United States. The first step to running a plate search is knowing the full Illinois license plate number and then entering into the search fields. Next, there will be a few small steps to verify the usage of the plate search to make sure it complies with the relevant privacy laws and then results will be made available. This is a public record search service not offered by any motor vehicle departments or government agencies. It is intended for unofficial uses such as verification or research uses. It is also important to verify the information and double check your plate numbers and that the vehicle description matches what you find in your results.

Popular Uses For an Illinois License Plate Search

There are a multitude of popular uses for Illinois vehicle records. In order to locate an Illinois vehicle record you will need to know either the full license plate number or the 17 digit vehicle identification number. Here are some of the popular utilities for this type of search:

  1. People wanting to research a used car before purchasing it. It is prudent to conduct a license plate lookup to obtain a vehicle’s history, check the vehicle title status and verify the odometer. This can also help you verify important details, such as whether the car has been involved in any major accidents, if there are any liens against it, or if it has a salvage or junked title. Such information can significantly impact your decision to proceed with the purchase of the used vehicle as well as the actual value. Some issues go un noticed or are not disclosed so a quick plate search can help to uncover any potential pitfalls in this process.
  2. Accident investigation is a very common use for an Illinois license plate search. If you were involved in a hit-and-run incident or witnessed an accident and noted down the license plate number, the license plate number can aid in identifying the vehicle owner when shared with law enforcement authorities to assist in their investigation. This information is also used by auto insurance companies that will do their own accident investigations. They will typically need a statement from those involved in an accident and a copy of the police report if one is available.
  3. Fraud prevention reasons are another common use of a plate search in Illinois. In some cases, people may use false license plates or engage in fraudulent activities, such as vehicle cloning or insurance scams. Other scams might include someone trying to sell a stolen vehicle. An Illinois license plate number search can help law enforcement or  any inconsistencies or discrepancies, allowing you to take appropriate action to protect yourself from potential fraud. You can also use the NCIB, free online government resource, to find out if a vehicle has been stolen. You will need the complete 17-dgit VIN to do this.

Privacy concerns are an important aspect to consider when conducting a license plate lookup. Make sure that if you are performing a license plate number lookup in Illinois that you abide by state and federal privacy laws. It is your responsibility to use the vehicle related information you obtain as intended.

Car Owner Search

The History of License Plate in Illinois

As many states in the US, Illinois started issuing license plates in the early 1900’s. Beginning in 1907, Illinois began making it mandatory that people register their vehicles with the state and place a license plate on their vehicle however the state did not issue the plates themselves. People were required to provide their own license plates until 1911 when the state finally issued them to registered car, truck and motorcycle owners. In the early days the state also required people to carry an registered aluminum disc on their front dashboard which was their vehicle registration. It was supposed to match the license plate they had on the back of the vehicle. The aluminum registration disc were discontinued in 1917. Today, each Illinois registered driver must have 2 license plates, registration stickers on the rear plate and a registration card, valid driver’s license and current auto insurance all in the vehicle when it’s being driven. According to the Illinois Secretary of State, there were over 4.6 million vehicle registered in the state in 2022. With that many vehicle on the road, there are a lot of license plate options available.

License Plate Requirements in Illinois

License plates are issued to all vehicle owners in the state of Illinois. The state law requires vehicle owners to have two license plates: one on the front and another on the rear. Apart from the standard plates, you can also apply for specialty plates and plates for disabled people. There is an added fee for the customized plates. Every vehicle owner in Illinois is required to apply for a license plate within 30 days after buying the vehicle. Vehicle owners in Illinois can apply for license plates in person, via mail or online.

Illinois License Plate Lookup Privacy Concerns

Privacy concerns are an important aspect to consider when conducting an Illinois license plate number lookup. Here are a few key points to keep in mind: 

  1. Some license plate information falls under personal data protection regulations, and in many jurisdictions, access to personal information is restricted to authorized entities, such as law enforcement agencies or licensed investigators. It is crucial to ensure that the license plate lookup service you use operates within the boundaries of applicable laws and regulations. 
  2. Obtaining certain personal information about someone without their consent is considered a breach of privacy. Ensure that you have a legitimate reason for accessing the information and that it aligns with state and federal laws and regulations. 
  3. Make sure that the information obtained through a license plate lookup is used responsibly and ethically. Sharing or misusing personal information can have serious legal consequences and may harm an individuals’ privacy. 
  4. While license plate lookup services strive to provide accurate information, errors can still occur. It’s important to cross-reference any information obtained from an license plate lookup with other reliable sources before making any conclusions or taking action. 

Conducting an Illinois license plate lookup should be done within the guidelines of the state and federal privacy laws, and the intention of legitimate use. It is illegal to misuse the information you obtain and it is also illegal to harass or intimidate anyone with the information you obtain.

License Plate Searches In Other States

Illinois License Plate Lookup

Illinois License Plate FAQs

What is an Illinois license plate number search?

An Illinois license plate number search is a process of searching a database obtain information about a vehicle registered in the state of Illinois. This search can provide details such as the vehicle's make, model, year, color, vehicle history, accidents and limited owner information

Can anyone run an Illinois license plate search?

Yes, anyone can run a license plate search in Illinois however, some owner information may be restricted and limited depending on who is performing the search and for what reasons.

What can I find with an Illinois license plate lookup?

Depending on what service you use, there is a lot of information available from a plate search. You can find the vehicle history, accidents and recalls, the vehicle title status, if the vehicle has been stolen, odometer verification, and possible owner information depending on what is allowed by state privacy laws.

Why run an Illinois license plate search?

Researching a used vehicle to buy, accident situations, obtaining a vehicle history report, looking up recalls and safety issues, liens or who owns the vehicle, as well as the breakdown of all the vehicle components and options. Personal information may be limited for privacy reasons.

Can I run a free license plate lookup in Illinois?

Yes, but some resources will only give you very basic information for free. You will most likely need to pay for a vehicle history report or more detailed vehicle ifnormation.

Is it legal to run an Illinois license plate number lookup?

Yes, it is totally legal to run a license plate lookup in Illinois as long as you obey the strict privacy laws set by the state and federal government.

Can I find the owner of a vehicle in Illinois?

You can run a license plate search or VIN search for a vehicle in Illinois however the vehicle owner information may be limited to only specific reasons allowed by the state and the DPPA. You should first review what information is allowable for the reasons you are searching.

Can I report an Illinois license plate number to the police?

Absolutely, if you feel like a vehicle is suspicious or you witnessed a hit-and-run accident, for example, you can report the vehicle to the police.

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Responses to “Illinois License Plate Lookup”

  1. Looking for information on a car I’m looking to buy. Looking for vin vn number has Illinois plates says on plate 1964 number G17 177 on rear but front plate has 70 990 . Motor brass stamp says 89245. Car is said to be a 1937 packard sedan. When I research motor number it comes back as a 1926 motor which we’re not used in 1937 models. Locating the vin from license plate plates would help out a lot
    Thanks in advance

    Reply

  2. I have an old family group photo with two vehicles in the background. The license plate of one is clear: 62397. It may be a truck. I believe the photo was taken between 1922 and 1930, probably in Kankakee County, Illinois. Is there any way to learn the owner’s name?

    Reply

    1. Unfortunately those are much older Illinois license plate records than are available online. Most of those much older vehicle records did not make it to a digital format that is searchable online

      Reply

  3. My husband forgot license plate number how can he get it

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    1. Beverly, your husband will need to contact the Illinois DMV directly to inquire about his Illinois license plate number. Unfortunately we cannot lookup license plate information by name

      Reply

  4. License plate P21 3292 (expired 8/2020) on a red Chevy Cobalt. Car appears to be abandoned in a Family Dollar Store parking lot of the Lakeshore area in Monroe, Louisiana. It’s been there quite a long time. I was just wondering if it had been reported as stolen.

    Reply

    1. Lloyd, you will want to contact the police and let them know there is an abandoned vehicle. Unfortunately this is not something we can assist you with. Please reach out if we can assist you with any public record inquiries in the future.

      Reply

  5. Waiting for new B plates for my truck.

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    1. Larry, how can we assist you with our Illinois vehicle record resources?

      Reply

  6. How can I track where my vertical is by licence plate number?.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for reaching out about our Illinois license plate blog. It’s unclear what you mean by vertical. Can you rephrase or elaborate on this so we can better assist you?

      Reply

  7. How would I get the owner\’s name of a rv? I have the plate# and also a vin#. Thanks

    Reply

    1. Unfortunately we cannot assist you with your Illinois license plate lookup inquiry, you will need to go through your state’s DMV directly with you concern.

      Reply

  8. Can you please let me know who this plate belongs to?

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    1. Unfortunately we cannot provide that information for you “Legal Shield”. Please read through the DPPA and the Illinois privacy information and restrictions to find out more about our Illinois license plate lookup and vehicle records

      Reply

  9. I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCEDES S CLASS S430 FROM MY FATHER IN LAW A WEEK AGO, IN DOING A CAR FAX IT SHOWED A DISCREPENCY IN THE MILEAGE. ON 8/31/11 THE CAR WAS SOLD TO SOMEONE IN YOUR STATE WHEN IT WAS SOLD CAR SHOWED 51,702 MILES ON IT. 7 DAYS LATER I BELIVE THERE WAS A TYPO AT YOUR OFFICE AND 72,221 WAS ENTERED. I AM NOT POSITIVE OF THAT , BUT I DONT THINK THE CAR COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN 20,519 MILES IN 7 DAYS. I AM TRYING TO GET THIS SITUATION FIXED BEFORE I GET IT REGISTERED IN INDIANA. CURRENTLY I HAVE A TITLE THAT SAYS THAT IT IS ”BRANDED VEHICLE” WHICH COULD MEAN THAT IT WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT, OR MILEAGE ISSUE WHICH I KNOW IS THE PROBLEM. CAR FAX EVEN SAYS WITH ALL THE VEHICLES HISTORY THAT IT IS A CLERICAL ERROR. IF IT HELPS OUT ANY A TITLE NUMBER SHOWING ON CAR FAX IS ”’X1249685331”’ I AM SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION ON THIS MATTER SINCE THIS TYPE OF TITLE WILL DECREASE THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU FEEL AS IF THIS SITUATION CAN BE FIXED, BY ME SENDING YOU THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, AND ALL MILEAGES AT EACH DEALER. THANK YOU. I KNOW WITH THE COVID 19 SITUATION THIS CANNOT BE DONE OVERNIGHT, BUT I AM SURE YOU CAN GET ME STARTE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

    Reply

    1. Barry, thank you for reaching out about our Illinois license plate lookup blog. Your issue is not uncommon, this sounds like a data entry issue where someone from the DMV incorrectly entered the information from the sale of the vehicle which has resulted in incorrect information on your vehicle title. That being said, to correct this issue you can visit the CybervilleIllinois.com website, which is the official Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles website, download a form to correct your Illinois title information and mail it back in. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance

      Reply

  10. This morning (10/10/2019) someone put a lost dog in their car on southbound route 45 close to the cross street of 45 and Townline Road. It was a black Infinity with a vanity plate that looks similar to GRFFFF or GRRRF. (He said he was a veterinarian.) Is there a way to track this person down? I’m concerned that he may have stolen this dog.

    Reply

    1. Michelle, if you are concerned about a theft with a vehicle you should contact the police and file a report with the limited license plate information you have. Unfortunately we cannot assist you with this matter.

      Reply

  11. Found keys with tag from a repair shop which had the Illinois lisvrncr numbet

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    1. You will want to contact the Illinois DMV about returning a set of keys with the license plate number you mentioned. Unfortunately we cannot supply you with any information with the information you’ve given us. You must read and agree to one of the select reasons in our DPPA in order to obtain any Illinois license plate information.

      Reply

  12. It has been over 8 weeks for police memorial plates. My car has been parked for over 5 years I paid and the currency exchange said they should be here?

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    1. John, it definitely sounds like you should have obtained your Illinois Police Memorial Plates by now. Your best option to find out what has happened to your Illinois specialty license plates is to contact the Illinois DMV directly. They will be able to better assist you and if need be, issue you replacement Illinois specialty platesIllinois specialty platesIllinois specialty plates.

      Reply

  13. I still have not received my license plates. They only gave me a temporary sticker. Plate number 3177775

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    1. Unfortunately we do not have any affiliation with the Illinois motor vehicle department which is managed by the Illinois department of state. You will have to contact them directly regarding your missing Illinois license plates.

      Reply

  14. I close a business late at night and have had a vehicle sitting in the parking lot with its lights off 2 times in the last week. I had my husband come up and he got his plate # and he took off. I’m concerned for my safety and the safety of my coworkers. The plate # 32615T it is a red chevy truck. Thank you

    Reply

    1. Kellie,

      I understand your concern. If you’re interested in running an Illinois license plate search you will need to agree to our terms and conditions first. You might also consider contacting your local Illinois Police to report this vehicle. Below is a link to perform a free Illinois license plate check.

      Illinois License Plate Number Lookup
      – Read and agree to terms and conditions of the license plate search
      – Enter the full license plate number and state of registration
      – Search results

      Reply

  15. Just saw a municipal silver ford escape. It had a dog in back and a passenger in it also. If it is a municipal vehicle is this ok for it to be used as personal vehicle? Licence plate M186536. If its ok, disregard.

    Reply

    1. Hello Murphy,

      You are correct, a municipal or government vehicle is typically not to be driven for personal use. That being said, how are you certain it was being driven for personal use? Unfortunately our databases information on Illinois license plate numbers does not include government or municipal vehicles. Below is a link to better explain the uses of a government vehicle.

      https://www.usbr.gov/recman/FPMR/38-301.html

      Best Regards,

      The Search Quarry Team

      Reply

  16. Im interested in buying this vehicle and just curious on the past history

    Reply

    1. Murry.Mack died 06/21/23. I buried my husband 07/03/23. I would like to know if he registered this truck. 1B7HC13Y1VJ557115?

      Reply

      1. Helen, we cannot lookup Illinois registration information for you however, you can call the Illinois SOS vehicle registration department @ 800-252-8980 to inquire about your husband’s truck registration

        Reply

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Last Updated: 2023-04-18

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