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Smart VIN Check

License plate lookup

Enter a US plate and the state that issued it. We find the car’s VIN and decode it: year, make, model, engine and open recalls.

Plate search opens soon. Until then, enter the VIN: it’s on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver’s door frame.

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Letters and numbers, no I, O or Q. It decodes as soon as all 17 are in.

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How plate lookup works

  1. 01

    Choose the state and enter the plate

    Spaces and dashes don’t matter. Plates are 1 to 8 letters and numbers.

  2. 02

    We find the VIN

    A vehicle-data provider matches the plate to the VIN of the car it’s registered to.

  3. 03

    The VIN is decoded

    You see the year, make, model, engine and recalls, and can order a history report for that VIN.

What you won’t see: the owner

Owner names and addresses from motor vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. States release them only for permitted uses, such as to insurers or the courts. Our lookup shows the vehicle, never the person.

License plate lookup by state

License plate lookup questions

Is the license plate lookup free?

Finding and decoding the VIN is free. History reports for that VIN are paid, and you choose which one you want.

Can I find the owner of a plate?

No. Owner details are protected by the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and we never show them. The state’s motor vehicle agency handles requests with a permitted use.

Why wasn’t my plate found?

Check the state and the plate, including letters that look like numbers. New, temporary and some specialty plates may not be on file yet. Entering the VIN always works.

Which plates are covered?

US plates from the 50 states and the District of Columbia.