Illinois License Plate Lookup

Check any Illinois License Plate online and get Information about the Vehicle

Example: CQ25876 IL

Buying a used car can be a great way to save money, but it's not always straightforward. You might save a few thousand dollars upfront, only to find yourself spending twice that amount or more on repairs and maintenance down the line. That's why it's crucial to know as much as you can about the car before making a purchase.

A number plate lookup tool is a powerful resource that helps you uncover vital information about a car's history, condition, and ownership. By cataloging data from over 900+ databases, FAXVIN's Illinois license plate lookup tool provides a comprehensive picture of the car's past, giving you the confidence to make an informed decision.

With our tool, you can verify the VIN and ensure it matches the physical sticker on the car, access detailed information about the vehicle’s specifications, check for any accidents, title changes, or service records, and get a clear understanding of the car's condition and potential issues

What are you waiting for? Enter any Illinois number plate and unlock a wealth of details about your next purchase.

What Information do you get with a Free Illinois License Plate Lookup?

Our free Illinois license plate lookup provides valuable details about a vehicle at no cost: Here are the details you’ll get:

  • VIN Number: The tool matches the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) from Illinois DMV records. This allows you to verify if the VIN on the registration matches the physical sticker, ensuring a legitimate transaction.
  • Vehicle Attributes: Our free tool returns the make, engine, trim, body, and age based on the number plate. This crucial information helps identify and authenticate the car.
  • VIN Verification: We perform a check digit calculation, comparing the ninth VIN digit to the others. This mathematical validation confirms if the VIN is legitimate.
  • History Reports: The free service indicates if the vehicle has paid history reports available. These full reports can reveal the service record, title changes, status, and accident details - crucial for a smart purchase.

By using our free Illinois license plate lookup, you can access these valuable details at no cost, empowering you to make informed decisions and ensure a safe and legitimate vehicle purchase.

Ensure the license plate number is entered correctly to receive accurate search results.

What you get with our Full Vehicle History Reports

Besides performing an Illinois license plate search, we advise you should do an in-depth check. It will bring you the following info that will be of great importance:

  • Accidents History. It may be the most important one. This section lets you know whether the car had any accidents.
  • Reported Odometer Readings: This part of the report will make you aware of the true mileage of the examined car. If you compare the number on the report with the one on the odometer in the car and find out that they are extremely different, this is a red flag. It's better to look elsewhere.
  • Recalls & Defects: This part of the vehicle history report will let you know if the car belongs to a recall lot or if it has any defects.
  • Lien & Repossession Records: Certainly you will not be happy if you discover that the vehicle you just bought was adopted in a loan and now you have to shell out money just because an imposter involved you in his financial mess. This section will help you avoid such a possibility.
  • Flood, Hail, and Fire Damage: Nature is, at times, hard on vehicles. For instance, flood damaged cars may have hidden rust that could comprise the integrity of the chassis.
  • Personal, Taxi, or Police Use: We check if the vehicle has had an intensive past from previous uses as a rental, police, or taxi.
  • Service, Inspection, and Registration History: Our Illinois license reports include a comprehensive list of all reported maintenance inspections, service records, and registration renewals and changes for the vehicle.
  • Comprehensive Vehicle Attributes and Manufacturer Specs: Our Illinois license reports detail the overall height, length, and width, as well as its rated highway and city mileage. This information helps you understand the specifications and capabilities.
  • Title Records: We provide a chronological history of the title events, including the date of purchase, initial titling or registration, and any changes in ownership or lease status.
  • Junk, Salvage & Insurance Records: We source data about any junk, salvage, or insurance-related records. This information helps identify if the vehicle has been involved in significant incidents or damage.
  • Theft Records: We scan for any active theft or theft recovery records based on the VIN, providing you with crucial information about the vehicle's security history.
  • Title Branding & Status Check: We check for any negative title brandings, such as non-compliant gray market origin, reconstructed, junk, rebuilt, totaled, reissued VIN, warranty return, or remanufactured status.

At FAXVIN, we understand that finding the right vehicle can be overwhelming. That's why we offer our exclusive CarRank tool, which allows you to compare vehicles based on their FAXVIN Points.

Our points system takes into account various factors that can impact a vehicle's reliability and value, including rollback mileage, accidents involved, title brands, past users, water and frame damages, inspection and service history, thefts and retrieval records, and defects and recalls.

Our goal is to provide you with the most up-to-date information to help you find the most hassle-free vehicle while saving money. Plus, we offer favorable pricing and discounts on multiple reports. Try our IL license plate lookup free.

Source of our Records

FAXVIN utilizes several sources of record to provide comprehensive Illinois license history reports. These sources include:

  • U.S. Motor Vehicle Title System (NMVTIS): This Department of Justice (DOJ) program is designed to protect Illinois vehicle owners from fraud and unsafe motor vehicles by providing data from state titling agencies and other reporting agencies.
  • Canadian Motor Vehicle Agencies: FAXVIN reports may include data on vehicles previously registered in Canada that have been imported to the US.
  • Auto Auctions: FAXVIN gathers data from various auto auctions to provide a detailed history of a vehicle's past sales listings.
  • Insurance Companies: Insurance companies provide information on vehicles involved in accidents or other incidents like theft.
  • Salvage Auctions: Data from salvage auctions helps identify vehicles that have been significantly damaged. We include details on the primary damage area and estimate repair cost.
  • Collision Repair Facilities: This information aids in identifying vehicles that have been in accidents.
  • Car Dealerships: Dealerships provide information on vehicles they have sold or traded.
  • Manufacturers: We source for data on recalls and motor vehicle specifications.
  • Rental/Fleet Vehicle Companies: Information from rental and fleet companies provides details on vehicles that have been used extensively in commercial settings.
  • State Inspection Stations: This information contains data about past inspections and maintenance checks.

NMVTIS is supported through user fees and is not dependent on federal funding.

Laws on Access to Personal Details from Illinois License Plates

In Illinois, license plate number information on motor vehicles is subject to specific laws and regulations. The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) ensures that personal information contained in state motor vehicle records is protected and used responsibly. The state's DPPA policy outlines procedures for accessing and using the plate information, restricting access to authorized entities and purposes, such as law enforcement agencies.

To ensure compliance and protect individual privacy, it is crucial to follow best practices when conducting number plate lookups, including verifying the legal purpose, obtaining necessary permissions, and using authorized sources.

Illinois Number Plate Designs and Formats

Design and Format

Illinois number plates feature a distinctive design that includes the state name "Illinois" at the top, followed by a combination of three letters and four numbers (e.g., ABC 1234). The plates are made of aluminum and have a reflective coating to enhance visibility at night. The standard plate size is 6 inches by 12 inches.

In Illinois, it is mandatory for all vehicles to display two license plates; one in the front and another in the rear; unless the vehicle is specifically exempted by law. Failure to display valid plates can result in fines and penalties.

Illinois License Plate Types

There are a variety of Illinois license plates to accommodate different vehicle types and owner preferences. These include:

  • Standard Passenger Plates: Issued to passenger vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and light trucks.
  • Specialty Plates: Illinois offers a wide range of specialty plates that support various causes, organizations, and interests, for instance, Persons with Disabilities, Alzheimer’s Awareness, Amateur Radio, Antique license plates, America Remembers, Autism Awareness, Retired Law Enforcement, Environmental plates, and more. You get these plates for an extra fee that goes into aiding affected groups.
  • Personalized Plate: If you need a unique phrase or combination in your plates, you can request a personalized license plate at Driver Service Facilities. You can also apply for a vanity plate, which is similar to personalized plates, but with flexibility for more character combinations and inclusion of spaces and symbols.
  • B-truck, Trucks & Trailer plates: The state offers specific plates for different classes of commercial vehicles.

If you need to apply for a new Illinois license or perform a license plate renewal, you only need to visit your nearest Secretary of State facility. After making an application, you get a Temporary Registration Permit (temporary plates) to use for the next 90 days or until the Illinois license plates arrive.

How to use License Plate Information in IL

When buying a used car, utilizing license plate lookup services can provide you with key details about the vehicle's history that can aid in negotiating the best possible price. You can uncover information about the car's accident history, recalls, inspections, and whether it has a clean title or has been salvaged. This knowledge gives you important bargaining chips to ensure you don't overpay for a vehicle with a troubled past.

Beyond just the purchase price, Illinois license data can also help you verify that the vehicle matches your specific needs. You can determine the car's fuel efficiency, color, and other specifications to confirm if aligns with your requirements. This can prevent you from buying a car that doesn't suit your needs, whether that's in terms of performance, economy, or aesthetics.

Additionally, the vehicle history information uncovered through an Illinois license number plate search can reveal any potential issues with the title or ownership status. You can check for things like flood damage, odometer rollback, or questionable sources, allowing you to steer clear of vehicles with a sketchy past. Ensuring the title is clean is crucial to avoid legal headaches down the road.

Get your License Plate Check Illinois here in a Matter of Seconds!

Any expert buyer will suggest that you conduct an IL license number lookup, because you really may never know who you are dealing with. Our number plate lookup Illinois free service is a great way to get the information on motor vehicles you need really quickly.

But we also suggest you perform a mechanical inspection. An honest seller will allow you to do so without much resistance and you will be able to find eventual problems that you can't see out by yourself. So, along with our Illinois license plate check, a visit to the mechanic is a smart investment if you are considering buying a car.

Our license lookup Illinois service is here to help people purchase a vehicle safely and quickly. So, don't wait any longer and try out our free great tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a vehicle history report be obtained with an Illinois license plate number?
Yes, you can carry out an Illinois license plate search. This report will provide you with valuable information about the vehicle's past, including accidents, recalls, and any potential red flags. This information can be crucial in making an informed decision when buying a used vehicle.
Is it legal to conduct a free license plate lookup in Illinois?
In Illinois, you can perform a free license plate lookup, but the information you receive will be limited to basic vehicle details. This basic information includes the make, model, year, and sometimes the color of the car. For more detailed information, you may need to use a paid service.
How to look up a license plate for free in Illinois?
To perform a free Illinois license plate lookup, you can use online tools like FAXVIN that provide basic vehicle information such as the VIN. These tools typically require only the number plate.
Is it possible to use an Illinois license plate check to identify a vehicle's owner?
You can’t use an online Illinois license plate lookup to identify a vehicle's owner. However, you can pull their records from the Illinois Secretary of State only if you have their written consent, and for that, you’ll need to have their personal details such as their name. 
What types of Illinois license plates are available?
Illinois offers a variety of number plates, including standard plates, personalized plates, and specialty plates. Standard plates are available for all vehicles, while personalized plates allow you to add custom characters to your plate number. Specialty plates are available for specific groups, such as people with disabilities and military personnel.

Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

213 State Capitol
Springfield, IL 62756
800-252-8980 (toll free in Illinois)
217-785-3000 (outside Illinois)

https://www.ilsos.gov/