Can you look up someones address from their license plate

Have you ever wondered if it's possible for someone to track your license plate? 

Don't worry, it's not like a GPS. In fact, the vehicle history tied to your license plate can keep you safe from buying stolen vehicles or falling victim to fraud. 

But there are some things you should probably know about what your license plate can say about you. Make sure to read this post carefully to find out if your license plate can be used to track you.

License Plates

In the United States, you are required to display your license plate on your vehicle. The laws for obtaining information tied to a license plate can vary from state to state. However, all states through the DMV are required to protect personal information under the Driver Privacy Act (DPV). 

The DPV prevents people from accessing your private information. Except in specific circumstances, such as a court order, detailed information, such as addresses, will not be easy to gain access to. 

So don't worry! Your information is protected. 

Now, there is some information that a license plate number can convey, if you know the state it's from as well. Such as whether the vehicle is registered and what type of registration it is. It's also useful to learn if the vehicle is stolen. 

In the event that you need to look up a license plate because of a hit-and-run or similar problem, this information could help you. It's also useful if you are looking to buy a used car.

Be sure to learn more about how to find car owner registration details if you're in the market.

VIN Vehicle History 

If you are looking to buy a car, you should do a VIN lookup. This is typically much more useful than doing a search with only a license plate number. 

VIN stands for "Motor Vehicle Identification Number," a 17-digit number unique to a vehicle. The number is not randomly assigned, rather it contains key information about the model, year, country of origin, and more. VIN numbers are a serious matter—make sure your number follows local laws. 

If you are buying a used car, this information can be valuable. Perhaps the car was once used as a taxi, was previously in an accident, or has undisclosed damages that would come up in a VIN report. 

You can typically find a VIN number in these places: 

• Insurance Card
• Vehicle Title
• Lowest corner of the windshield on the driver's side
• Door frame upon opening
• Front engine block (under hood)

So, Can Your License Plate Track You?

In short, yes, your license plate can be used to find information about a person. But, that information is only accessible in specific, protected circumstances. 

A VIN, on the other hand, can provide much more information. Always check your vehicle history report with our free VIN check! 

With this information, you're sure to make informed choices in any situation involving a vehicle. 

Posting a picture of someone’s license plates online may get you in hot water, but can you really find a vehicle’s owner by their license plate?

And, is it that big of a deal? Could someone actually steal your identity if you post your license plates online? Today we’re going to see if you can even find a vehicle’s owner by their license plate.

Let’s get started!

Can You Find Vehicle Owner by License Plate?

Yes, it’s possible to find a vehicle’s owner by their license plate.

However, it may be harder than you think if you don’t have a good reason to access the information. Law enforcement will assist you with getting the information if you’re involved in a hit and run accident and file a police report.

Seeing a picture or video of someone’s car and wanting to track them down isn’t reason enough to get you access to the information. It may get you a restraining order instead.

Can You Find Vehicle Owner by VIN Number?

Yes, it’s possible to find a vehicle’s owner by using the VIN. Much like searching by license plate, you’ll need a reason, like a crime, to access personal information.

You can access information regarding the vehicle to verify its integrity. This is especially useful if you’re buying a used car. If a crime has been committed or a vehicle was abandoned, law enforcement will often assist you with finding that out.

How to Find a Vehicle Owner

If you need to find a vehicle owner, there are a few ways to accomplish this. Let’s take a look and see which might be your best option.

Use Online Databases

There are online databases that will assist you with locating publicly available information. Many of these resources aren’t cheap and don’t guarantee their results. You might get lucky with one of these resources, but the results can be flakey. 

Head to the DMV

If you have a legitimate reason for needing to access the information, the DMV will help you. While they’ll be willing to help you, they’re not going to do it for free.

You’ll likely have to sign several forms that affirm you’re not up to anything nefarious and also pay whatever fees they charge.

Things get trickier if the license plates are from a different state. You may have to reach out to the DMV in a different state. You also might have to mail in documents or apply online. 

If there’s a law broken or a public safety issue, you can reach out to the local authorities.

They may help with information to rectify the situation. They have more resources to help you track down the vehicle owner and assist in a legal situation. The police may not give you the information directly, but they can ensure it reaches the correct individuals.

Pro Tip: Should you find yourself in a situation where someone else causes damage to your vehicle, having a dashcam installed will help capture a license plate to give to the authorities. Read more about how a Man Throwing Rocks At RV Was Caught On Dashcamand find out what dashcam you should buy.

Is It Legal to Lookup a Vehicle Owner by Plate Number? 

Yes, it’s perfectly legal to look up car owners by plate number. There are only issues if you use the information improperly. You couldn’t use the information to stalk or harass someone, for example.

You also can’t use it for a background check, to screen tenants, or to determine eligibility for mortgages, credit checks, or insurance.

Reasons to Lookup Vehicle Owner by Number Plate

There are a few logical reasons you might need to look up a vehicle’s owner by the plate number. Let’s take a look!

Hit and Run Accidents

Did you know there’s more than one hit-and-run accident every minute? If you’re involved in a hit-and-run, you may get lucky and catch the offender’s license plates. Having the plate number can help with getting your vehicle fixed.

If you can get the license plate number, law enforcement will likely take care of it from there. They’ll likely use the plate information to track down the other individual involved in the incident.

You may not ever get any of the information, as it could go directly to your insurance company.

Strange Behavior

If someone’s acting weird, having their license plate number can help with tracking them down. Whether it’s racing down the road in front of your house or ignoring stop signs, getting a license plate number can help you identify the owner of the vehicle.

Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car involves a lot of trust, but having the license plate number can help confirm you’re buying the vehicle from the owner. You don’t want to find out that the person selling the car isn’t the owner. 

Pro Tip: Considering buying a used RV? Don’t over pay. Here is How to Determine the Value of Used RVs.

Finding the Vehicle Owner By a License Plate Isn’t All That Easy

While you’ll often see license plates blurred out in pictures, it’s not as easy as you’d think to find personal information that way.

It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions to protect your private information, but a picture of your license plate isn’t likely to result in a stolen identity. Have you ever blurred out your license plates in a picture you’ve posted online?

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