It’s important to run a license plate lookup to obtain a vehicle report before buying or selling a used car. If you possess a vehicle in Texas, and wan to run a TxDOT license plate lookup, look no further. This post will introduce many details about TxDOT, TxDMV, license lookup tools, and development of Texas license plate.

What information can you get from TxDOT?

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is a government agency formed in 1991. It used to manage administer vehicle registration, but this function has been transferred to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Currently, TxDOT is associated with the construction and maintenance of the state’s immense state highway system, rail, and public transportation systems. Though most vehicle-related functions have been unavailable, you can still find the open records request on its webpage.

If you want to send an open records request online, you need to login with an email address and password, or create an account if you don’t have one. You need to offer your contact information as well as clear description of the documents or information you are seeking.

Besides, you can also get crash reports and records from TxDOT.

What information can you get from Texas DMV?

But, if you prefer other services involving vehicles, check Texas DMV. TxDMV is a state agency in Texas responsible for various motor vehicle-related services, including vehicle registration, licensing, and oversight of motor vehicle dealers.

Here are the services provided on this website:

• Vehicle registration;
• Renew driver’s license at DPS;
• Buying or selling a vehicle;
• Get a copy of your vehicle title;
• License plates;
• Regional service center appointments;
• Address change;
• File a complaint.

However, TxDOT’s website doesn’t offer a direct license plate lookup service or provide detailed vehicle history information. The only function related to it is that you can roughly calculate your vehicle’s value by entering a VIN and odometer.

Furthermore, in terms of driver’s licenses and driver records, you need to turn to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which may charge you fees.

Texas license plate lookup tools

Government websites may provide some vehicle information. However, the process can be arduous due to the necessity of navigating various portals. And you’ll find details involving a specific vehicle are rare. Therefore, in addition to these official sources, consider utilizing third-party tools.

Option 1 BeenVerified

As an accredited NMVTIS (National Motor Vehicle Title Information System) data provider, BeenVerified enables users access public information with one webpage. 

By running a license plate search, you will get a detailed vehicle history report. Part of the report may include accidents & salvage records, vehicle specifications, market value, theft records, recalls & warranties.

Here is how to generate your unique report:

1. Go to BeenVerified website. Fill in the license plate, choose Texas from a drop-down list, and click Search.
   (You can also search for other license plates registered outside Texas.)
   
2. Wait for a while until your report is ready. You need to purchase a membership plan to access the full report. After that, you can use other search options like reverse phone number lookup, reverse address search, reverse username lookup, and more.
   

If you’re going to buy or sell a used car, this report will absolutely help you price this car better because you can have a well-rounded understanding of the car’s situation.

Option 2 Bumper

Bumper is another choice to run a TxDOT license plate lookup. You can start the research by entering a VIN, license plate, or vehicle’s year, make, and model. Every week, thousands of people run reports on it to access public data collected from authorized providers such as NMVTIS, JD Power, and NHTSA.

Enter a license plate in the above search box, select a state, and click Search. Its system will sort through the large data sources and return any info matching your search. You’ll get a well-organized report to find out vehicle details.

Changes in Texas license plate

The first license plates in Texas emerged in 1917. Back in 2000, the Texas license plate contains only 6 characters.

The first digital, general-issue license plate was launched in June 2009, marking the beginning of the 7-character plate number with full color and full-plate graphics.

However, law enforcement does not favor this design. So in July 2012, they introduced The Texas Classic to provide the highest public safety protection. Its two highly visible security threads are embedded into the plate sheeting, making it easier for law enforcement to spot legitimate plates.

Nowadays, Texas allows vehicle owners to personalize their license plates with custom messages within certain character limits. Personalized plates have become a popular option for individuals who want to add a personal touch to their vehicles.

FAQs

Are there costs related to fulfilling a public information request from government websites?
Maybe. Charges for your public information request may vary depending on the number of responsive documents and personnel time required to process your request. If the cost of reproducing copies of the requested information is estimated to exceed $40, you will be provided a cost estimate of the paper copy charges prior to TXDOT staff processing your request.

What information do I need to provide in my public information request from government websites?

Provide as much description as possible about the documents you are seeking, such as the document type, date range, etc. If further clarification is needed, the Public Information Coordinator will contact you by email or by the contact information you provide. Please note that if you receive a request for clarification, you must respond to assist TXDOT staff in locating and compiling the records you have requested. Otherwise, your request will be considered withdrawn after 61 days.

How long will it take to receive a response to my public information request?

A governmental body must promptly produce public information in response to your request. Promptly means that a governmental body may take a reasonable amount of time to produce the information and may not delay. The amount of time reasonably necessary to release information may vary depending on the nature of the request. If a governmental body will take longer than 10 business days to produce the requested information, the governmental body must notify you by the 10th business day when the information will be released.

So far, we hope you have obtained all the information you want about your vehicle through the websites above. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to leave a word below.