For many used car shoppers, a car is a high-dollar investment that must be made with caution. The last thing you want is to buy a car in the heat of the moment and later discover that it was overcharged, stolen, damaged, or in other ways unreliable.
Luckily, one way to avoid these unpleasant surprises is to run a DMV VIN lookup before jumping into ownership. In this article, we’re showing you exactly how…
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What is DMV VIN lookup?
Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV, is a state-level government agency. It is responsible for handling various vehicle-related services and issues within each state. As part of its range of services, the DMV offers a VIN lookup, which allows you to submit a VIN lookup request to access vehicle records associated with the given vehicle.
A DMV VIN lookup may give you insights into a car’s status and history, which may include the following when available:
- Ownership information
- Title information (e.g., salvage, rebuilt, Lemon Buyback, or clean title)
- Accident history
- Odometer readings
- Recall information
- Previous use (e.g., rental, fleet, or personal)
- Flood damage records
- Manufacturer’s recalls and service campaigns
1. Submit a request from the state DMV
Running a VIN lookup with your local DMV is pretty straightforward. Typically, you’ll need to enter your VIN, provide additional details (if required), and pay a nominal fee. But the exact process, the type, and the amount of available information may vary slightly depending on the state.
- In the browser of your choice, enter your state name + DMV + vehicle records.
- Navigate through the DMV website to find the specific section or page dedicated to VIN lookup services, which could be labeled as “Vehicle History,” “VIN Check” , “Vehicle Records” or similar.
- Enter your VIN and run the search.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to obtain a vehicle history report. In some cases, the DMV may ask for additional information or proof of identity to confirm the legitimacy of the request. Also, if you’re running a VIN lookup on another’s behalf, you may need to provide your reasons (along with verification of identity) why you do so.
2. BeenVerified (50 states)
BeenVerified is a reputable vehicle records provider that gets its data from DMVs, J.D Power, NMVTIS, as well as leading sources. With billions of records in its database, it may be able to provide you with valuable information about a car’s specs, title, history, mileage, past ownership, market value, and more.
- Go to BeenVerified VIN Lookup.
- Enter a VIN number and click SEARCH.
- Wait a few seconds as BeenVerified taps into its database. Once it identifies a match, it will gather the associated records into a report for you.
3. Bumper
Bumper is another legit source where you can run a VIN lookup to access vehicle records. As a certified NMVTIS data provider, Bumper aims to protect you from unsafe or stolen vehicles.
A Bumper report may not only give you a rundown of your car’s facts and history, but also clue you in on underlying issues – such as theft records, remodification, odometer manipulation, and hidden damages – which could make it a safety risk or bring down the value of the vehicle.
- Head to Bumper Vehicle Search.
- Pop in your vehicle’s digits, then click SEARCH.
- Sit tight as Bumper searches its data sources. Once finished, it will generate a neat report, which consists of 15 categories, allowing you to explore in-depth.
What is VIN？
A VIN is an abbreviation for Vehicle Identification Number. It is a unique identifier that stays with a vehicle throughout its lifespan and can be used to track important events that happen to the vehicle.
A modern VIN is a 17-digit code, comprised of capital letters and numbers. It can usually be found on the driver’s side interior dashboard or the driver’s side door post, like this:
Alternatively, you may find it on the vehicle’s insurance and ownership documents.
That’s it – three methods to help you run a DMV VIN number lookup. Hopefully, they’ve helped. If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, you’re more than welcome to leave us a comment below, thanks!
There’s no guarantee you’ll find the information you’re looking for with the tools discussed in this article. They all source their information from publicly available data sources, such as county, state and federal courts, government departments, and police records, and those sources may contain incorrect or incomplete data. It’s illegal to use these tools to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act to learn more....About this article
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