Find a Vehicle's Registered Owner Using a License Plate Number

Hit and runs are an all-too-common problem. However, in the split second before the other car screeches away from the scene of the accident, you may have the opportunity to write down the license plate number. If you can do this, you may be able to find the person that the car is registered to. Scroll down to Step 1 to learn how you can use a license plate number to find the vehicle's owner.

Steps

Finding the Owner of a U.S. License Plate

  1. Know what is possible. In order to prevent stalkers or angry drivers from showing up in person, federal and state governments heavily regulate who has access to this information. The Drivers Privacy Protection Act is especially strict, and individual state laws may make this task even harder. Here are some common scenarios:
    • If you were affected by a hit-and-run accident, some states will give you the name and address. Others will only provide this information to the police.
    • If you are filing an insurance claim due to a car accident, the information will typically be sent directly to the insurance company, not to you yourself.
    • In many states or situations, only the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) will be released, and even then not always to your personally. Your insurance company can still use this number to file a claim on your behalf.
  2. Contact the DMV. The nearest Department of Motor Vehicles can begin processing your request, and answer your questions about the legality and logistics of your situation. Contact a DMV within your state, or the state that issued the license plate you are tracking, since state laws may restrict your access or require additional information from you.
  3. Submit a DMV information request form. Each state has a different form and different laws, which is why contacting the DMV in person or over the phone is recommended. However, if you search online for "record information request" and the name of your state, you might locate the correct form. Fill this out and follow the included instructions to mail it to a DMV office in your state.
  4. Find a private investigation service online. You can find state-licensed investigators online who offer license plate look-up services. Search for the name of the state that issued the license plate and "private investigator license plate look-up." These services typically cost approximately $40 per license plate, require you to submit a legally acceptable reason for investigating, and can take one or two business days to deliver the results. If the service does not match this description, look below for tips on avoiding scams.
  5. Avoid online scams. There are many online services that request information from court records, department of motor vehicles' records, and other databases to find information on a given license plate number. However, most of these use misleading payment schemes, deliver out-of-date information, or fail to deliver the information at all. If possible, look up the website on a scam review site. You should also check for the following signs of a reputable service:
    • The company name, address, and phone numbers should all be listed on the website.
    • The service you are paying for should be clearly described. "Access to databases" may just mean a link to other websites. Subscription services are highly likely to be scams.
    • A delayed processing time before you can get the information. Don't believe promises of "instant" results; even if delivered, these are typically out-of-date.[1]
  6. Report car accidents and crimes to the police. If you witnessed a car flee the scene of an accident or a crime, report the incident and license plate number to the police. While you will not necessarily be given access to the driver's personal information, the investigation may provide evidence for insurance claims and legal disputes.

Finding the Owner of a non-U.S. License Plate

  1. Find the owner of a UK vehicle. If the car was registered in the United Kingdom, contact the DVLA, or Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. You will need to have "reasonable cause" to access the information, such as tracing a car involved in an accident or crime.[2] Print and fill out one of the following forms, then mail it to the address on the last page of the form:
  2. Find the owner of a Canadian vehicle. Canadian law differs from province to province. Contact a Service Canada office in the province that issued the license plate to find out more.
    • In Ontario, the name of the owner will not be made available to a stranger for any reason.[3]
    • In Alberta, a significant number of documents must be filled out, as detailed on Service Alberta's website.
  3. Contact a motor vehicle office. In any country, the easiest way to request information is through a government office that handles driver and vehicle registration. Privacy laws in some countries may require you to submit a valid reason for requesting the information, or bar you from accessing it at all.
  4. Hire a private investigator. If the government office does not provide the information, a private investigator may be able to submit a request to other databases. Follow the advice at the end of the US section to avoid online scams.

Tips

  • You might want to avoid any services appearing on this list of scam sites, but note that the list is maintained by a rival service and may not be completely reliable.

Warnings

  • You must have a legally valid reason to access this information, even if you are receiving it through a private investigator. Honesty is recommended when stating the reason for your request.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.webscams.org/license-plate-lookups/
  2. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/request-information-from-dvla
  3. ↑ http://www.ontario.ca/driving-and-roads/why-address-information-not-available-drivervehicle-records
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