#1. Who Assigns Vehicle License Plate Numbers?
The state’s DMV usually assigns a license plate number upon a vehicle’s official registration, and it usually serves as the vehicle’s identification, hence the reason why it is printed on a metal or plastic plate and mounted on the front and rear of a car.
These plate numbers will usually be unified, based on state standards, and will also include the state’s name, slogan, and serial format. You can often use a VIN decoder service like VinPit to generate background reports on a vehicle as well as its owner. However, it is important to keep in mind that each state will usually come with its own license plate style, so keep this in mind when taking down a vehicle’s license plate details.
For instance, the state of California displays dark blue digits on a white background, with the state name set at the top and a red slogan placed at the bottom. Meanwhile, New Mexico utilizes yellow digits on a turquoise background, with the slogan placed at the top and the state name set at the bottom.
#2. What Is A License Plate Number Lookup & Is It Worth It?
Conducting a license plate lookup for free from VinPit can often help you learn a lot about a vehicle’s past, as the reports will often detail the vehicle’s specifications, condition, and, most importantly, the driver’s history. This can be especially helpful when you are looking to find the owner of a vehicle. For instance, some valid reasons that can explain why you may need this information include:
- You may discover that the driver is involved in a hit-and-run
- You may be looking to locate the ed owner of a dumped car
- You may want to identify the owner of a vehicle that happens to be parked on private property
- You may intend to send out a parking ticket to a driver as a business
In such instances, it often pays to have the details of the vehicle’s ed owner, and by using a license plate lookup tool, you can often make the process of finding that information much easier.
#3. What Information Does A Vehicle Check Provide?
Nowadays, you no longer have to go to the DMV in order to get license plate records, as there are a wide variety of online lookup tools that you can choose from. In most cases, this information will be compiled from multiple sources, such as insurance companies, car auctions, salvage companies, and even carmakers, just to name a few. As such, whenever you are conducting a license plate lookup with VinPit, you should be able to find any and all basic information that may be tied to a vehicle, such as;
- Accident history
- Driver background history
- Maintenance history
- History of repossession
- Fuel efficiency
- Salvage records
- Mileage
#4. How Can You Get Information On A Vehicle Owner Using A License Plate?
- Use an Online Lookup Service
One of the easiest ways to gather information on a license plate is to head over to an online lookup service like VinPit and input the vehicle’s number plate in the search bar of the license plate lookup section, select the state, and click on “Start Search.” You will receive the background result report, which tends to be short but covers a fair amount of information on the vehicle’s history.
- Head to the DMV
If you cannot pinpoint the information you are searching for online, then the next best option is to head over to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can provide them with the license plate number as well as any other information you may have on the vehicle in question.
However, the downside to this option is that you will need to have a legitimate reason for accessing that information, and even if they are willing to help you, you will need to sign several forms to confirm that you don’t intend to use that information for anything nefarious.
There is also a high chance that you will also need to pay whatever fees they charge. Plus, if the license plates are from a different state, things can get tricky, as you will need to reach out to the DMV offices in that specific state by mailing in documents or applying online.
- Request For Help From The Authorities
If there happens to be a public safety issue or law that’s been broken, like a hit-and-run, for example, then you can always reach out to the local authorities for help to rectify the situation. This is a practical option to consider, especially if you are unable to gather information on the driver from their license plate, as these agencies will have access to more resources. And while they may not provide you with the details directly, they will take the necessary action in that situation.
- Hire a private detective
Another option that you have to gather information on a license plate number is to utilize the services of a private detective. They will often be able to access the databases across different states and even use their connections to compile any information that is associated with the plate number that may not be publicly available. And while this method is the most expensive, you are at least guaranteed to get the best results.
#5. Is It Legal To Conduct An Online License Plate Check?
It is completely legal to carry out an online license plate check, as several legal statutes, such as the Freedom of Information Act, officially permit citizens to access data that the government collects. And since all the information that has been collected by these search platforms is public record, you have every right as a taxpayer to peruse this data at your own discretion.
#6. What Information Should I Prioritize In A License Plate Check?
The most important details that you should focus on when conducting a license plate check, especially when trying to identify the driver of a vehicle, are the sales records, lien records, title history, and vehicle registration history. These details should help you identify the vehicle’s driver, or at the very least, the vehicle’s ed owner, which is information you can use to trace the person who may be currently driving the vehicle.