How to search for license plates

People all over the country search for license plates every day. Some of the reasons to look for information related to a license plate include finding out the identity of a runaway or reckless driver, or even if you suspect a car you see in your area all the time. While there is a limit to what you can find out through sites on the Internet due to privacy concerns, you can pay a service or private investigator to get more information for you.

Method 1 of 3: Do a simple search

Necessary materials

• Desktop or laptop
• License plate
• Paper and pencil

Doing an internet search on your own can help you gather some license plate related information. Using a website, such as your state's DMV, will let you know the date of registration of the vehicle, the make of the vehicle, and the year of manufacture of the vehicle. However, personal information is protected by federal laws.

Step 1: Check your DMV. Depending on the state, the DMV may offer license plate request information for a fee. In cases where this is the case, go to the DMV website for your state and look for a link titled License Plate Request, Entry Information Request, or something similar.

Step 2: Enter your license plate. Once in the appropriate section of the DMV website, enter your license plate number into the search box. Then you can find out information mainly related to the vehicle attached to the license plate. However, you cannot find out personal information such as the name of the person associated with the vehicle or their address.

Step 3. Search the Internet. Another basic license plate search option involves going to various online search sites. There is always a fee associated with such a search, but they may collect more information than a DMV search will reveal. Some of the search sites available include AutoCheck, PeoplePublicRecords.org, and DMVFiles.org.

• A warningA: When using an online search company, use only reliable services. Services that promise you instant results usually don't have up-to-date information. A sure sign of reliability are firms that announce their fees up front and let you know how long it will take to find the information you're looking for.

Method 2 of 3: Hire a Certified Information Broker

Necessary materials

• Cellular telephone
• Desktop or laptop
• License plate
• Paper and pencil

Another option to find information related to a license plate is to use the services of a license plate search company. Similar to search sites on the Internet, a search company offers more comprehensive services and information that is actually researched. And while the license plate lookup company does not offer instant results, the information provided to you will be the correct information related to that license plate.

Step 1. Make a List of Search Companies. Look up a list of various license plate companies online or in the yellow pages of your local phone book. One such company is Docusearch. Be sure to check all available reviews to try and determine if a particular company deserves credibility or not.

Step 2: Contact each search company. Contact a license plate company online through the contact form on their website or by phone. Before agreeing to their services, make sure you understand what fees they charge and how long it may take to find information.

Step 3: Enter your license plate. Give them the license plate and wait. When the company has the information, they will contact you.

Method 3 of 3: Hire a Private Investigator

Necessary materials

• Cellular telephone
• Desktop or laptop
• License plate
• Paper and pencil

The third option is to hire a private detective to find information for you. Fortunately, the Driver Privacy Protection Act gives private detectives the ability to access a database in various states that track license plates and who owns the vehicles they are attached to. Although this method is the most expensive of the three, you are guaranteed the best results.

• FunctionsA: Be sure to ask the private detective to guarantee the information they provide you before you pay.

Step 1: Make a List. Find a list of local private detectives in your local phone book or online. Be sure to read any reviews to see what others have experienced when using the services of a private detective.

Step 2: Contact each service. Contact a private detective service by phone or via the Internet. Let them know what information you need and discuss the fees associated with the search, as well as the expected timeframe for completing the search.

Step 3: Enter your license plate. Give them the license plate of the vehicle in question and then wait for them to contact you. Finding information is relatively easy and shouldn't take too long, so the search should be relatively fast.

Using the service or even searching for information yourself, you can find out various information related to the license plate. In this way, you can find out what you need to know when looking for a driver associated with a vehicle involved in a collision, reckless driving, or just a suspicious vehicle that you spotted in your area.