There are many different reasons why you may want to find the registered owner of a vehicle. Perhaps you’re looking to buy a car and want to check into the vehicle’s – and owner’s – history. Maybe something happened, and you have footage of an accident or crime and want to find the vehicle’s owner.
Whatever the reason you want to understand a vehicle’s ownership, you have options. You may not be able to get the full picture, but you should be able to learn information that can help. Here are three different ways you can learn the owner of a vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- Finding the registered owner of a vehicle may be necessary for various reasons, such as verifying ownership before purchasing a car or reporting a crime involving the vehicle.
- VIN checks can provide valuable information about a vehicle’s history, including make, model, accident history, and more, but may not directly reveal the owner’s information.
- License plate lookups can be used to find the registered owner of a vehicle, but limitations may include inaccuracies due to improper plate transfers and varying laws and regulations by state or country.
- The Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) protects the personal information of drivers in the United States, making it necessary to have a legitimate reason and follow proper procedures when seeking owner information.
- To find the registered owner of a vehicle legally, you can run a VIN check, perform a license plate lookup, or submit a formal request to the local DMV, ensuring that you have a valid reason and adhere to the guidelines in your jurisdiction.
VIN Check
A VIN check won’t tell you the owner of a car per se, but it will tell you critical information about the car that can help you find out more information about the owner! You will learn the car’s history when you run this report, including its origins, type, accident history, and more. It should tell you the odometer reads for key moments, as well as any damage, lien information, and registration.
There are free and paid VIN checks that you can run, but keep in mind that a paid report will return much more information, so it’s worth the investment if you are serious about finding a vehicle’s owner. Running a VIN check and vehicle history report are great ways to learn more about a car, though full ownership information is protected in many cases.
License Plate Lookup
Laws vary by state and country, but if you have a car’s license plate, you can run a plate check. This will pull up information that’s associated with the plate, including the owner of the plate and the vehicle that that license plate is currently associated with.
Now, sometimes people move cars without properly transferring the plates, so that’s not always going to be accurate, but it’s definitely a start. Some places, like the Illinois Vehicle Service department, will allow you to look up Illinois plates, though the information you want to receive may cost you up to $10. This is only good in Illinois, though there are other websites that you can use for other states or countries. The cost will vary.
DMV Request
The registered owner of a car is sensitive information, and if you want to obtain it, you have to submit a formal request and have a legitimate need to do so. Wanting to because the car is causing you trouble is not a legitimate reason.
This is because the registered owner of a vehicle is covered under the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). It is a law that’s in place to protect the personal information of drivers throughout the United States, though there may be other regulations in place in your local area, so make sure you do your research in order to properly submit a request.
When you submit your request, make sure to include the car’s VIN and ensure that you have a valid reason to receive the information.
Conclusion
Depending on where you live, you may be able to find the registered owner of a car by running a VIN check; however, in some countries, this information is protected by privacy laws. You have options if you are trying to find the owner of a car.
In addition to a VIN check, you can run a license plate check or contact the local DMV. As long as you have a legitimate reason to learn the registered owner of a car, you should be able to receive that information with a small fee.
FAQ
What information can I expect to obtain from a VIN check about a vehicle and its history?
From a VIN check, you can expect to obtain information about the vehicle’s history, including its make, model, year, accident history, any reported damages, lien information, and registration details. Additionally, the VIN check will provide odometer readings for key moments in the vehicle’s life. While a VIN check may not directly reveal the owner’s information, it can offer valuable insights into the vehicle’s past.
Are there any limitations to using a license plate lookup to find the registered owner of a vehicle?
Limitations to using a license plate lookup to find the registered owner of a vehicle may include inaccuracies due to improper transfer of plates between vehicles, and varying laws and regulations by state or country that govern access to such information. In some cases, you might be required to pay a fee to access plate information, and the information you receive could be limited or restricted.
How can I ensure that my request to the DMV for the registered owner’s information is legitimate and will be accepted?
To ensure that your request to the DMV for the registered owner’s information is legitimate and will be accepted, you need to have a valid reason for seeking the information, such as being involved in an accident or having a legal claim against the owner. Be sure to include the car’s VIN in your request and check the specific requirements of your local DMV or governing body to understand the necessary steps and documentation needed to submit a valid request.
What is the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), and how does it affect my ability to find the registered owner of a vehicle?
The Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) is a law in place to protect the personal information of drivers in the United States. The act restricts the release of personal information held by motor vehicle departments without the driver’s consent, limiting the circumstances under which this information can be accessed. This affects your ability to find the registered owner of a vehicle, as you must have a legitimate reason and follow proper procedures to obtain such information.
What are some common reasons someone might need to find the registered owner of a vehicle, and how can they do so legally?
Common reasons someone might need to find the registered owner of a vehicle include verifying the owner’s information before purchasing a car, seeking compensation for damages caused by the vehicle, or reporting a crime or accident involving the vehicle. To find the registered owner legally, you can run a VIN check, perform a license plate lookup, or submit a formal request to the local DMV, providing that you have a legitimate reason for seeking the information and follow the appropriate guidelines in your jurisdiction.
