Have you ever come across a North Carolina-registered vehicle that intrigued you? Whether you’re on the lookout for a used car and want to unravel its history, trace the owner of an abandoned vehicle, or identify the culprit in a hit-and-run incident, running a license plate lookup could give you the answer. In this article, we’re showing you 3 ways to run a North Carolina license plate lookup. Read on…
1. BeenVerified
BeenVerified is a powerful license plate lookup tool. With millions of records sourced from the North California Division of Motor Vehicles, NMVTIS, and other legit sources, it is a popular go-to for vehicle history reports.
A BeenVerified vehicle history report may include a car’s previous ownership, title status, photos, vehicle specs, market value, accident history, service records, and more when available.
- Go to BeenVerified Vehicle Search.
- In the Search by License Plate section, enter the license plate number to click SEARCH.
- Wait for BeenVerified to scan its data sources. Once it locates a match, it’ll generate a report containing all available information about the vehicle.
2. Bumper
Got your eyes on a car but the deal seems too good to be true? Just Bumper before you buy. Bumper is a professional vehicle search tool designed to take care of your vehicle-related needs. With Bumper, you can run a license plate lookup not only to gain insights into a vehicle’s specs, ownership, history, and market value but also to compare vehicles side-by-side.
- Head to Bumper License Plate Lookup.
- Pop in your car’s plate number, select North Carolina, and then click SEARCH.
- Sit tight as Bumper builds a report based on the vehicle. You can also download its mobile app so that you can view the results on the go.
3. NCDMV
N.C.DMV (North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles) is the official source for accessing information related to vehicle registrations and license plates. To run a license plate lookup with NCDMV though, you may typically need to provide a valid ID:
- If you’re ordering personal motor vehicle records in person, you should fill out the necessary forms and present a valid identification document;
- If you’re requesting the records on another’s behalf, you will need both your ID and an additional written and notarized statement that grants you permission to access the records.
With this information, there are two methods you can obtain vehicle records: by Mail or in Person. Also, depending on the amount of information requested, you may be charged up to $14 in the process.
FAQs
Running a North Carolina license plate lookup can provide useful information about a vehicle, but you may still have some questions. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
- What information can I get from a North Carolina license plate lookup?
A North Carolina license plate lookup can provide information such as the vehicle’s registration status, ownership history, title status, accident history, photos, vehicle specifications, and more, depending on the source.
2. Can anyone run a license plate search?
Third-party sites allow anyone to search for a license plate to access public information about a vehicle. However, private motor vehicle records from NCDMV require proof of consent or a valid ID.
- Is the information from a license plate lookup guaranteed to be accurate and up-to-date?
While reputable sites like BeenVerified and Bumper source information from reliable providers like NCDMV and NMVTIS, they cannot guarantee 100% accuracy and recency of all records. Officially, NCDMV provides the most up-to-date information.
4. How can I check if a particular vanity plate (NC) is available online? (from Reddit[1])
According to the NCDMV, you can check personalized/vanity plate availability using the Online Special Plate Search tool or Personalized Plates on their website. However, fully custom vanity plates still need approval and are not guaranteed to be available.
5. Can people find my home address, phone number or other personal contact information from my North Carolina license plate? (from Reddit[2])
No. Public third-party services do not provide private contact information in license plate search results. The NCDMV requires consent before releasing vehicle records containing personal details. So your contact information remains protected from random searches through your plate number.
That’s it – three ways to help you research a vehicle that is registered in the state of North Carolina. Hopefully, they’ve helped. If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, you’re more than welcome to leave us a comment below.
Credits:
Image by pch.vector on Freepik
References:
[1]: [winedine619]. (2019, September 07) Anyone knows how to check if a particular vanity plate (NC) is available online? I know you can check for certain specialists plates like Duke or Durham bulls, but what about a fully customized vanity plate? [Online forum post]. Reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NorthCarolina/comments/d0puua/anyone_knows_how_to_check_if_a_particular_vanity/
[2]: [gabe9000]. (2022, November 07) Can people look up your identity from your license plate in NC? [Online forum post]. Reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NorthCarolina/comments/yojp97/can_people_look_up_your_identity_from_your/