Where Can I Search for Information About a License Plate Online?
All vehicle owners in the United States must have an up-to-date license plate or temporary license plate attached to their vehicles prior to driving on any road. License plates are issued by individual states, and each vehicle is given a unique license plate number. This license plate allows state governments to track vehicle ownership, which in turn means that you also have access to some of this information.
Why You Might Search for Information About a License Plate Number? Below is a look at the most common reasons a person might search for information about a license plate number.
What License Plate Information Can You Obtain Online?
The exact information you can obtain from an online license plate search depends on the specific state where the car is registered. Here's a look at the type of information available in most states.
Once you have the VIN number or verify that the VIN number matches the specific vehicle you are considering purchasing, you can obtain a wealth of information about the car itself, such as a complete vehicle history, accidents report, recall information and safety ratings.
How Can This Information Help You?
The last thing you want to do is to purchase a vehicle and find out later that the car was reported stolen, the title is fake, or there is a lien against the title. A license plate number search can prevent these types of issues by double-checking the seller's information. A license plate search also can help you get the justice you deserve if you have been involved in an accident, since it provides you with the name of the other party.
Where to Search Online
There are many online sites that offer free or affordable online license plate number searches. Some of these sites will provide the first search free of charge and make you pay for any additional searches. After the initial free search, most sites allow you to pay a minimal fee per search or a monthly fee for unlimited searches.
Read the fine print before ordering any license plate number searches online, to ensure it will provide the specific details you need. You also want to make sure you understand any associated fees and that you are not unwittingly entering into a monthly service plan with the provider.
If you want information about your own vehicle's license plate, you can typically find this information from your state's DMV online services. You will be prompted to enter personal information, such as your name, address, driver's license number, and make and model of vehicle to verify your identity. You should then have access to all the information you need.
Due to privacy laws, you may be unable to find all information you need about a license plate number and its owner online. If this is the case, you can contact your local DMV office to see what other options are available in your specific state. If your vehicle has been involved in an accident or your vehicle or license plate has been stolen, you can also contact your local police department. They will have the resources to find the information you need. If more assistance is needed, you should seek out professional help from a license private investigator; this route will take longer than online searches, but most investigators will be able to obtain accurate information.
Vehicle History Report