It’s perfectly normal to want to know the owner of a motor vehicle, be it out of curiosity or running a little background check before purchasing a new car.

If you are looking for ways to quickly find out ownership information about a car, and all you have is just a license plate, you’re at the right place. Here are our favorite ways to do a license plate lookup!

Method 1: Contact Your Local DMV (Free)

Check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to look up a license plate and find its owner. The DMV keeps a record of every vehicle in the state. The next step is to find a DMV in your local area and submit your request online, by mail, or in person.

Note that the DMV has rigid rules on license plate lookups. They may even require a totally separate process for that, which would ask you for documentation indicating what the information will be used for. Also, searching for the owner of a license plate at the DMV office is free in most states; however, printed copies of the documents may require a small fee.

Method 2: Manually Search It on Internet/Social Media Platforms (Free)

Another way to find the owner of a license plate is to take a shot at internet search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo…) or social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube…). It usually works when this license plate has been transferred online, in a major accident, or belongs to a famous person.

However, it’s essential to note that using this method might not always yield accurate or updated information. Privacy concerns and legal limitations also dictate the availability and accuracy of license plate owner information online. Moreover, relying on unverified information found through internet searches should be done cautiously and ethically, respecting the privacy of others.

Method 3: License Plate Lookup with EpicVIN (easy & quick)

EpicVIN is best known for reverse vehicle lookups. By conducting a search on it, you will be presented with a comprehensive report that may include:

• Owner details
• Accidents and salvage records
• Vehicle specifications
• Ownership costs
• Sale listings
• Market value
• Theft records
• Recalls and warranties

Here’s how to search for a vehicle owner by license plate with EpicVIN:

1. Go to the search page of EpicVIN.
2. Select to search by US license plate, enter a license plate and click Check Plate.
3. Sit tight as EpicVIN scours billions of public records in its database and gathers them into a report for you. Depending on the wealth of information, the whole process could take up to a few minutes.

Method 4: Search a License Plate with BeenVerified

Another popular destination for detailed and up-to-date vehicle information is BeenVerified. It allows you to enter a license plate and locate its linked vehicle information. BeenVerified is the most affordable vehicle search engine in the long run with user-friendly interfaces. Moreover, it keeps track of the status of a vehicle report and gives instant notifications whenever a detail about the subject is changed.

Follow the steps below to look up a license plate:

1. Go to the official website of BeenVerified.
2. Choose to search by license plate, enter it and click SEARCH.
3. Wait a few seconds for BeenVerified to scan its database. Once it locates a match, it’ll generate an in-depth report revealing associated vehicle information.

Fun facts about license plates:

• Oldest Plate: The first-ever license plate in the U.S. was issued in 1903 by the state of New York. It was made of iron and measured 3 inches by 6 inches.
• Different Designs: Each state in the U.S. has its own unique license plate design. These designs often reflect the state’s culture, history, or natural features. Some states even offer specialized plates for various causes or organizations.
• Variety of Materials: License plates have been made from various materials over time, including porcelain, steel, aluminum, and plastic. This shift in materials was partly due to durability and cost considerations.
• Specialty Plates: Many states offer specialty or vanity plates that allow drivers to customize their plates with personalized messages or symbols, contributing to revenue for specific causes or organizations.
• Digital License Plates: Some states in the U.S. have begun experimenting with digital license plates that can display messages, track vehicles, or change registration details electronically.
• Most Stolen Plate: Colorado, District of Columbia, and Washington had the highest rates of stolen license plates in the U.S.
• Collectors’ Items: Old or rare license plates have become collectors’ items, and there is a vibrant market for vintage or specialty plates among enthusiasts.

FAQ

That’s the end of this post. Hope you’ll find these methods helpful in finding a vehicle owner by license plate. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to leave us a comment below, thanks!