DMV VIN Check

DMV VIN Lookup – What is It?

When a vehicle is manufactured, it’s issued a 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number. This number is unique to the vehicle and contains information on where and who built the car, as well as its standard equipment. On its own, this information is useful for verifying the vehicle’s authenticity.

This number is also used to identify the vehicle on all official paperwork, including documents issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and insurance companies. By searching through official databases, our site can put together a history of the vehicle. This includes vehicle registrations, insurance claims, and more. While a decoded VIN tells you how the vehicle was built, a VIN report tells you what happened between now and when the vehicle rolled off the assembly line.

Reasons You Should Get a Registration VIN Lookup

Unscrupulous sellers may misrepresent the cars they’re selling, which can lead you to buying a lemon. Some sellers may try to hide damage from accidents and natural disasters. Other times, a seller ends up with what they think is a clean vehicle, but there are hidden parts of its history that can cause problems down the road. If the vehicle is stolen, it can be recovered and returned to the original owner. If the vehicle has a lien on it, the car can be confiscated, so the loan issuer can recover their money. There’s also title washing, where a car is registered in a different state to remove title brands. These indicate serious problems, like the car being written off by the insurance. If you VIN check DMV information, you will get the car’s full legal history, so you can better judge whether the vehicle’s safe to buy.

Of course, this information is also helpful for sellers. While you can’t get a free VIN check DMV report, spending a few dollars on one lets you show buyers exactly what they’re buying. This helps you sell the vehicle for a higher price than a car with an unknown history.

How Do I Look Up My VIN Number and Get DMV VIN Verification on the Vehicle’s History?

Of course, you will need the VIN to get a VIN lookup DMV report. Here’s where you can find this number on the vehicle:

• Look at the lower corner of the dashboard on the driver’s side. The VIN is printed on a metal tag and can be viewed from the outside of the vehicle through the windshield.
• Check the driver’s side B-pillar. Open the door and look below the door latch. If you don’t find it here, look at the side of the pillar between the front and rear doors. The VIN is usually printed on a sticker alongside other information, like paint codes and tire pressure recommendations.
• Open the hood and look around in the engine compartment. The most common locations for the VIN are on the firewall near the windshield, on the sides of the strut towers, on top of the radiator support, and on the engine block. This number might be engraved on these parts, or printed on a sticker or metal plate.
• Check major body components, like hoods, trunk lids, and windows. Some companies add the VIN on these components to make it easier to track stolen parts. Body part VINs are usually printed on tamper-proof stickers. Windows have the number engraved in them. Keep in mind these VINs might be for a different vehicle, if the car was repaired with salvage parts.
• The VIN is also printed on official documents to identify the vehicle. You can find the VIN on the title, insurance policies, inspection receipts and some service receipts. If you have factory documents for the car, you will also find it printed on the original window sticker and the build sheet.

Once you have the VIN, type it into our website. Our DMV VIN decoder will use the VIN to give you factory information about the vehicle, including the year, make, model and engine. This way you can verify the VIN matches the vehicle. From there, you can purchase a DMV check. This will give you a complete history of the vehicle, based on official information from private and state agencies.

Are you shopping around for your next vehicle? We offer packages for multiple checks, saving you money when you need to verify every vehicle you’re looking at buying.

DMV History Reports: What Information is Included?

While a free check DMV report just gives you a basic VIN report, spending a little money on a full report gives you the vehicle’s full history. Here’s the information you can expect to find in one of these reports:

• Information on past owners, including when and where the vehicle was sold with each change of ownership
• Title brands, including write-offs from flooding and natural disasters, as well as salvage titles and use as a taxi or emergency response vehicle
• Accident claim information, including whether the vehicle was repaired or written off
• Insurance claims due to fires, flooding and other natural disasters
• The estimated market value of the vehicle, based on sales of vehicles in similar condition with a similar ownership history
• Theft reports, including if the vehicle was recovered, or if it’s still considered stolen
• Outstanding lien information, which may lead to the vehicle being repossessed to the lien holder
• Manufacturer information, including active warranties and recalls
• Reports on possible odometer discrepancies

While you may be able to find bits and pieces of this information on your own, getting a VIN report gives you access to all this information across multiple states almost instantly.