DMV VIN Check and Lookup – Free VIN Search

The Department of Motor Vehicles maintains records related to vehicles, such as who owns them, any reported accidents, title transfers, and more. This information is essential for anyone considering a used car purchase, as it can reveal hidden problems or defects that may affect value, performance, or safety.

Savvy buyers protect themselves by ordering a DMV VIN check to determine whether they're buying a lemon. Our comprehensive DMV lookup service covers all 50 states and Canada, giving you access to reliable, detailed insights.

What is the DMV?

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is a government agency that oversees motor vehicle registration and driver licensing. Depending on the state, the DMV may be known as the "Division of Motor Vehicles," "Bureau of Motor Vehicles," "Motor Vehicle Administration," "Registry of Motor Vehicles," or similar.

The DMV's role is to administer and enforce state (and applicable federal) laws regarding motor vehicles. It provides services such as non-driver ID cards, driving permits and licenses, vehicle registrations and renewals, and – where required – inspections and emissions testing.

The information you can obtain from a DMV depends on the type of request and legal restrictions. For example, you must have a permissible purpose before the DMV releases ownership records due to privacy laws.

What Is a DMV VIN Check and How It Helps Used-Car Buyers

A DMV VIN check is a service from a state DMV (or equivalent agency) that may allow you to request certain details about a vehicle using its VIN or license plate number.

Because a state DMV lookup typically returns records from that state's systems, it may not provide all the cross-state insights you need to make a fully informed purchase. That's why you should try the FAXVIN VIN check – a comprehensive, reliable service that aggregates data from multiple sources, including government databases.

With our VIN check, you can enjoy the following advantages:

All key data in one place: no need to check multiple sources or visit your local DMV;
Actionable insights for a smart purchase: accident history, recalls, lien and repossession records, theft and recovery records, flood, hail, and fire damage, mileage rollback indicators, vehicle specifications, prior use type (personal, taxi, or police), service and registration history, and much more;
Manufacturer specs (decoded from the VIN and OEM data): engine specifications, transmission, body type, model year, and original plant location.

VIN Guide: Meaning, Format & Locations

A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique code that identifies a vehicle and provides information about its manufacturer, model, year, and certain attributes. North American VINs consist of 17 characters (letters and digits); the letters I, O, and Q are excluded because they can be confused with numbers.

When inspecting a car, look for the VIN on the dashboard on the driver's side (visible through the windshield). Many vehicles also repeat the VIN on a label in the driver's or passenger's door jamb. The number may appear on a metal plate at the base of the windshield and on a manufacturer label inside the door.

To check authenticity, look for signs of tampering – scratches, mismatched labels, or altered characters. The physical VIN should match the VIN on the manual and registration/title records.

Can't find the VIN on your vehicle? Download the PDF version of your owner's manual and check the VIN locations listed there.

Common Risks of Buying a Used Vehicle

Buying a used vehicle can save money, but it also comes with risks to watch for:

Car-Specific Concerns

Don't take claims at face value. Research safety ratings, recalls, independent reviews, and current market values to compare models and trims and understand what you're buying.

Dishonest Sellers

Some sellers may hide or omit important history that affects price and safety. For example, prior accidents can reduce long-term reliability even after professional repairs. Protect yourself by getting a professional inspection, requesting a vehicle history report, and scrutinizing the title.

Location-Related Risks

Some regions have higher rates of accidents, theft, hail, or flooding. Such events can damage the body, engine, electrical systems, or interior.

Different Branding Rules by State

Each state defines and applies title brands (salvage, rebuilt, total loss, flood) differently. This can create inconsistencies across state lines. Verify title status across states and review the car's title carefully; check national title databases before you buy.

Title Washing

Title washing is the fraudulent removal or alteration of negative title brands (e.g., salvage or flood) by moving a car to another jurisdiction or altering documents. Guard against it by verifying the title and history through trusted databases and being especially cautious after major flooding events.

DMV Registration Check by VIN

A DMV registration check (vehicle record request) is a service provided by many state DMVs that lets you obtain information about a vehicle based on its license plate or VIN, subject to legal restrictions.

Depending on your state, you may access this service online or in person. Examples of details that may be available include:

Vehicle title and lien information;
Certain history elements (e.g., reported theft or total loss);
The owner's name and address (only for permissible uses under the law, e.g., under the DPPA);
Vehicle make, model, year, color (if recorded), and VIN;
Registration status and expiration date;
Inspection and emissions history (in states that require it);
Insurance status/verification (where available to authorized requesters).

DMV Data Access & Privacy

Some states restrict sharing personal data; you may need to provide a valid reason or proof of identity to access certain information. In California, for example, permissible uses include:

Motor vehicle safety and theft investigations;
Legitimate business needs;
Civil, arbitral, or criminal proceedings;
Insurance purposes;
Employment of commercial drivers;
Other authorized uses, such as requests by immediate family for a deceased person's records.

In most private-party sales, requesting another person's DMV records is not applicable. An alternative is to obtain online vehicle history reports based on DMV and other records.

What Else Will the Report Show?

Wondering what information appears in a DMV/VIN history lookup? Key categories often include:

Information provided	Why it is important
Make, model, type, and (if recorded) color	Verify that the current vehicle matches official records. Severe crash or flood damage followed by rebuilding can leave inconsistencies; a VIN lookup helps surface discrepancies.
Manufacturer recalls	Even after testing, defects sometimes appear in real-world use. Check if recalls exist and whether repairs were completed.
Number of past owners	Frequent ownership changes can be a red flag.
Registration locations	Helps assess how and where the vehicle was used, especially for imports or cross-state moves.
Use type (e.g., personal, taxi, police)	Use patterns affect wear and tear.
Accident history	Assess condition and repair quality; repeated collisions may indicate heavier use than claimed.
Mileage and odometer consistency	Odometer fraud remains a risk; compare reported readings across time and documents.
Theft & recovery history	Confirms whether the vehicle was ever reported stolen, if recovered, and where.
Last recorded odometer readings	Low mileage commands higher prices; ensure reported readings make sense for the vehicle's age and usage.
Natural-disaster damage (floods, fires, hurricanes, etc.)	Such damage can affect value, reliability, and safety; check for flood/salvage brands and related records.
Registration & inspection history	Shows locations and dates of registrations and, where applicable, inspection results.

Can You Trust a VIN Report?

Our VIN reports synthesize data from reputable companies, government agencies, and other trusted sources. Information is automatically pulled and often cross-checked across databases to maximize accuracy and completeness, providing up-to-date details on a vehicle's history, condition, and features.

Also note: the DMV, insurers, and other entities require proper disclosures (for example, misstating mileage on title documents is a crime). Some data is reported directly by experts who inspected or serviced the vehicle.

Even so, every used-car purchase should include an in-person inspection by a qualified technician. No database can capture every unreported or minor incident.

Be alert to issues like mileage rollback, and verify that reported details align with the car's apparent usage history.

Free DMV VIN Lookup: What's Included

FAXVIN provides a free VIN lookup for any qualifying vehicle. The free report includes basic information derived from the VIN and manufacturer data – such as model year, engine specifications, and plant location – and may include factory color information when available from OEM build data.

To get a free report, enter the VIN into the free DMV VIN check tool on our website. For deeper history – accidents, repairs, recalls, mileage, title brands, liens, and ownership records – order a paid full report for a comprehensive overview to support an informed decision.

If you're comparing multiple vehicles, start with the free report to narrow options by basic facts, then purchase full reports for the finalists.

We also offer discount packages for multiple reports so you can save money while getting more information. Choose a plan based on how many reports you need.

How to Get a DMV VIN Report in Minutes

Using our tool is straightforward. From this page, scroll to the top and enter the VIN into the search bar; initial VIN information is generated and displayed quickly.

Steps:

Enter the VIN into our online checker and click "Check VIN."
View the preliminary results (typically manufacturer specs and basic checks).
If history entries are available, choose a paid package to unlock the full report and confirm payment.
The system usually compiles all available records within minutes.

Now that you know how to run a DMV check, use our DMV VIN finder to get your vehicle history report in minutes.

Official DMV Websites by State

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