License Plate Owner Lookup

A license plate owner lookup is a tool that provides vehicle-related information using the license plate number. While a license plate search through FAXVIN can provide you with a detailed title history report, it typically does not include personal details of the car owner due to privacy regulations.

However, the report offers valuable insights into the vehicle's background that can help you make an informed decision when considering a used car purchase. Some details, such as the last registration change, including the date, location, and state, may provide clues to confirm ownership without revealing personally identifiable information.

How Does the License Plate Check Work?

A license plate check is simple. On your state's DMV website, you can request limited registration details (e.g., make, model year, registration date). Personal information is restricted under the DPPA. With FAXVIN, a free plate lookup confirms basic specs; a paid report adds title/brand/odometer and other records where available.

1. Check your DMV – Fees and availability vary by state. Visit your state DMV website and look for "Record Request," "Plate Inquiry," or similar.

2. Enter the plate number – In the search field, enter the plate and state to retrieve available non-PII registration details.

Note that FAXVIN provides a free and paid check. The free check reveals a few basic vehicle attributes, and you can use these details to confirm if they match the seller's description or to spot major modifications to the original specs.

All in all, consider getting the free license plate lookup, and if you want to dive deeper, you can get the paid report with historical data.

What Information is Provided in the Paid Report?

Although FAXVIN reports do not include personal contact information, they can surface vehicle-level records that help you make a safer, more informed purchase. After you run a paid license plate search, your report may include the following, depending on data availability:

• Owner-type and ownership-history indicators (e.g., personal vs. commercial/fleet; number of title transfers), where available. Names, addresses, phone numbers, and other PII are not included.
• Model year, make, and model, plus factory equipment/options, where available, and the vehicle's first titled state, where available.
• Title and brand history (e.g., salvage, rebuilt, flood).
• Reported accidents and damage events (including fire, flood/water, and hail), where available.
• Theft records and total-loss/junk/salvage designations, where available.
• Odometer readings and rollback/discrepancy indicators.
• Open safety recalls issued by the manufacturer.
• Selected service, inspection, and emissions/smog entries, where available.
• Possible lien/impound indicators, where available. Do not rely on a report as proof of lien status.
• The resolved VIN so you can continue your research (e.g., decode equipment and check additional records).

Which States Are Covered by Verification?

We support lookups across all 50 states, D.C., and select U.S. territories, subject to data availability and state rules. Update cadence and data availability vary by jurisdiction and source. Some states update in near real time, while others batch updates. Examples of large states with high transaction volumes include:

• Wisconsin
• California
• Texas
• Florida
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• Illinois
• Ohio
• Georgia
• North Carolina
• Michigan
• Arizona

Note that this doesn't mean you can't get updated information from other states. We incorporate data from NMVTIS, a national system that aggregates reports from state motor vehicle titling agencies, insurance carriers, and auto recyclers/junk & salvage yards. Coverage is broad, but completeness and recency vary by state and source.

What Alternatives Exist?

If you cannot find the license plate owner of a car through FAXVIN's license plate lookup, there are alternative methods you can try:

Online Check on the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Site

To use DMV services, go to the DMV website of the state you are interested in and enter the license plate into the search bar. The information you get is about the registration date of the vehicle, the model, and the year. However, this service comes at a fee. DMVs don't provide personal information such as contact details or the registered owner’s name.

In-Person Visit to the State's DMV Office

You can physically visit the DMV office to request vehicle information, but this method is time-consuming and may also require a fee. As with the online DMV search, personal information about the owner is not provided.

Hiring a Private Detective

If you prefer not to handle the search yourself, you can work with a licensed private investigator (PI). Under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), certain DMV records may be accessed only for specific, legally permissible purposes, and state law can impose additional limits.

Hiring a PI typically costs more, and neither access nor results are guaranteed. A PI can assess whether your purpose qualifies, request records where allowed, and compile findings from lawful sources, but they cannot obtain personal information beyond what the DPPA and state rules permit.

Asking Around

Sometimes, the simplest approach is to ask around. If you see the car parked regularly in a particular neighborhood, you could politely inquire with nearby residents or local businesses if they know who owns the vehicle. Keep in mind that people are not obligated to reveal this information, and it's essential to respect others' privacy.

Is It Illegal to Provide Personal Data?

In the United States, access to personal information from motor vehicle records is governed by the DPPA (Driver's Privacy Protection Act). The DPPA is designed to prevent misuse of DMV data and to limit how personal information can be disclosed.

To obtain personal information from a DMV, you must have a DPPA-permitted purpose. By law, disclosure is allowed only for specific uses – such as certain government functions, insurance matters, litigation, and – where permitted – work by licensed private investigators. It is never open-ended access.

The federal DPPA restricts the disclosure of personal information derived from license plate numbers and other DMV records; accordingly, personal data is not included in an online owner search by VIN.

There are strict limits on who may obtain this information and for what reasons. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2721 (the Driver's Privacy Protection Act), state motor vehicle departments may not release personal information from motor vehicle records except for the statute's enumerated permissible uses. Congress enacted the DPPA in 1994 after incidents in which DMV data was misused to target and harm individuals, including providers and patients at abortion clinics.

How to Look Up a License Plate Owner?

Initiating a license plate owner lookup on FAXVIN is a straightforward process:

1. Enter the license plate number in the search bar and choose your state.
2. Click the "Check Plate" button.
3. Obtain the free verification report that lists the VIN and a few basic vehicle attributes.
4. If there is historical data on the VIN, order a full report.

The information provided by our license plate owner lookup online is quite insightful. Here are the various ways you can use it:

1. Negotiating the best price: Use information from license plates to negotiate a fair price. If the license plate search owner report reveals any accidents, repairs, or other issues, you can use this knowledge to justify a lower offer.
2. Preparing for a mechanical inspection: Before having a professional mechanic inspect the car, review the online license plate search report to identify any potential problem areas. This will help you focus the inspection on specific issues and determine if previous repairs were done correctly.
3. Comparing similar vehicles: When choosing between two cars with similar features, use the FAXVIN reports to quickly compare their histories. This will help you make an informed decision based on factors like accident history, maintenance records, and potential hidden problems.

Before buying a used car, check the vehicle history report, mechanical condition, exterior and interior, mileage, and age, and compare prices.

Helpful Links

• Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 U.S.C. § 2721) – DPPA text, permissible uses, and restrictions.
• NMVTIS – DOJ/BJA Overview – official description and scope of NMVTIS.
• AAMVA: NMVTIS for Consumers – what NMVTIS includes and how it works.
• Find Your State DMV – official state motor-vehicle services directory.