Free License Plate Lookup

Enter a license plate number, and EpicVIN instantly shows key facts from the vehicle history: learn everything from accident history and mileage to lien records and restrictions.

Where to find the VIN?

Looking for the VIN?

Here is there you’ll find it:

  • On the driver’s side dashboard near the windshield
  • Inside the driver’s side door near the latch
  • On the owners insurance card or other docs
Looking for the VIN
• No VIN?
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  1. Home
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Author avatar by Robert P Allred
5 min read

Why Trust EpicVIN’s License Plate Lookup

  1. Over 500+ million vehicle records - EpicVIN maintains one of the largest databases covering vehicles from 1981 to the present.
  2. 99%+ plate-to-VIN match rate across 50 states - Our license plate lookup service achieves near-perfect accuracy for registered vehicles.
  3. Official NMVTIS-approved provider - EpicVIN operates as an authorized provider compliant with the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

What Is a Reverse License Plate Lookup and How Does It Work?

Plate-to-VIN Match

EpicVIN instantly interprets the tag into the car’s 17-character VIN—no manual decoding needed.

Instant Check

The system analyzes records from DMVs, NMVTIS, insurance companies, and salvage auctions.

Vehicle History Report

Get a quick, free snapshot of accidents, titles, mileage, and recalls.

License plate lookup finds vehicle information using registration numbers. License plates are linked to VINs in government databases. This process is equal to a reverse VIN lookup and involves entering the plate number and state. Then, the system accesses DMV/NMVTIS information and provides the vehicle's history.

EpicVIN's automated searches take seconds with no fees or paperwork, unlike visiting DMV offices.

EpicVIN's plate search covers vehicles from 1981 to 2025, including nearly the entire active US fleet.

How to Use EpicVIN's Free License Plate Lookup

The following steps help identify the license plate number and obtain instant vehicle facts:

Enter the License Plate Number
Select State
Click the "Check Plate" Button
Review the Report

Enter the License Plate Number

Type it exactly the same as on the vehicle. Include all symbols – our system recognizes formats with or without spaces and dashes automatically.

Select State

Choose where the license plate number was issued, including vanity plates. This step is crucial for accurate results since identical plate combinations can exist in different states.

Click the "Check Plate" Button

Wait a few seconds while our system processes your request. The basic vehicle information will appear on your screen immediately.

Review the Report

The results will include car specifications and key categories. You can scroll through different sections or order a more extensive report if needed.

States Base

H
U

Why Run a License Plate Search?

  • Buying a Used Vehicle
    Protect yourself from hidden problems before buying. A license plate check reveals accident history, rebuilt titles, and liens that private sellers or dealers might not disclose during a sale.
  • Selling a Car
    Show potential buyers that you have nothing to hide. Providing a clean vehicle history report builds trust and can help you sell faster at your asking price.
  • Car Owners Monitoring
    Check your own car periodically to ensure the accuracy of records. Drivers should search for any discrepancies between the theft status or title on each report page.
  • Dealers and Business Use
    Dealerships can quickly evaluate trade-ins and provide transparency to customers. Insurance companies and lenders assess risks before issuing policies or loans.
  • Report a Bad Driver Incident
    A license plate lookup can provide vehicle details to share with police. Drivers can obtain the car's make, color, model, and service history.
  • Curiosity and Verification
    Sometimes, people want to verify detailed information about cars they're interested in, including vanity plates. Our site satisfies this curiosity legally and safely.

According to EpicVIN data, approximately 20% of plate lookups reveal salvage or rebuilt titles, helping buyers avoid potentially dangerous vehicles.

NHTSA and EpicVIN Data on Vehicles with Rolled-Back Odometers

The number of vehicles with rolled-back odometers in the U.S. has been growing for the fourth year in a row. Additionally, according to NHTSA, over 450,000 of these cars are sold each year, causing more than $1 billion in total losses for American buyers — an average of about $4,000 per rollback. The chance of encountering odometer fraud within the first 11 years of a car’s life is 3.5%.

The top states for odometer fraud in 2024 were California (≈484,500 vehicles), Texas (≈294,200), New York (≈97,400), Florida (≈90,900), and Illinois (≈79,200).

YearCars with Rolled-Back OdometersChange from the Previous Year
2020> 1.8 million+13% from 2019
20221.9 million+7% from 2021
2023≈2.1 million+≈11% from 2022
20242.14 million+4% from 2023

How Buyers Can Protect Themselves (NHTSA and EpicVIN Recommendations)

  • Cross-check mileage in the title, maintenance records, and VIN.
  • Compare wear on pedals, steering wheel, and seats with stated mileage.
  • Have the car inspected by an independent mechanic before purchase.
  • Use EpicVIN Free Odometer Check and other reports.
  • If you suspect fraud, share your concerns with your state agency or the NHTSA hotline at 888-327-4236.

Is It Legal to Look Up a License Plate?

Yes, license plate lookups are completely legal. Vehicle facts (excluding personal contacts) are accessible under federal law. The DPPA protects names and addresses. Our service never reveals personal details through license plate searches.

Legitimate uses include vehicle purchasing, insurance verification, business transactions, and personal safety. Using plate information to harass or stalk someone violates the law and can result in fines and penalties.

Your searches remain anonymous – vehicle owners never know someone looked up their plate.

What Information Can You Get from a License Plate Search?

Results for VIN Decoding for
VIN# 1FA6P8TH1L5130730

2020 FORD Mustang

BLOCKCHAIN Confirmed Data Approved NMVTIS Data Provider
2020 FORD Mustang

  • Odometer

    No problems

  • Safety Recalls

    9 record

  • Accidents

    1 problem

  • Last mileage

    16,457mi

  • Auction Sales

    1 sale found

  • Owners

    3 owners
  • Year

    Year 2020

  • Make

    Make FORD

  • Model

    Model Mustang

  • Fuel Type

    Fuel Type Gasoline

  • Engine

    Engine 2.3L In-Line

  • Made in

    Made in USA

A free license plate lookup reveals extensive vehicle history facts. Here's what drivers can typically expect to check:

  1. Vehicle Specifications: Make, model, engine type, color, and other basic details that help confirm you're looking at the correct vehicle.
  2. Vehicle Identification Number: It's linked to the license plate, enabling further research if needed.
  3. Title Records & Ownership History: Current title status (clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk), the number of previous owners, and title transfer dates.
  4. Accident History: Documented crashes, collision damage, total loss declarations, and insurance claims related to the car.
  5. Odometer Readings: Mileage records from inspections, maintenance visits, and sales to identify potential odometer fraud, found in roughly 2% of vehicles.
  6. Lien Records: Outstanding loans, liens, or repossession history that could affect ownership.
  7. Theft & Recovery Status: Checks against national stolen vehicle directories to ensure the car isn't reported stolen.
  8. Flood, Fire, and Hail Damage: Natural disaster history that might not be obvious from visual inspection but affects long-term reliability.
  9. Usage History: Whether the vehicle served as a taxi, police car, rental, or rideshare vehicle, all of which typically face harder use.
  10. Service History: Maintenance records, inspection dates, and repair visits when available through our partners.
  11. Recalls: Active manufacturer recalls that haven't been completed, which new owners can address at no cost to obtain safety compliance.
  12. Market Value: Current estimated market value based on comparable vehicle sales and auction data.

Each EpicVIN report includes 40+ data points collected from insurance companies, DMV records, police data sources, auctions, and service partners.

EpicVIN vs Other License Plate Lookup Options

How does EpicVIN compare to other ways to look up a license plate?

Feature ▼ / Provider ► EPICVIN Free Services Paid Vehicle-History Reports DMV Records Private Investigator (Docusearch)
Free basic lookup ✓ (license-plate search) ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗
Average cost per full report No-cost plate search; full VIN report (starts from $1) Free $30 - $45 per report $5 – $20 per request $41 – $75 per lookup
Requires sign-up / paperwork No Sometimes ads/e-mail opt-in Yes (payment & account) Yes (forms, ID) Yes (legal DPPA reason)
Quick online results ✓ ✓ ✓ (after payment) ✗ (mail/counter) 1 hour (average)
Official multi-source facts ✓ (NMVTIS, OEM, insurance) Partial ✓ ✓ ✓
Maintenance & service records ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗
Auction photos/damage images ✓ ✗ limited ✗ ✗
Blockchain-verified data ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
The owner's info is shown ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ (if legally justified)
“Paper trail” required None None None DMV forms PI engagement letter
Typical wait time Seconds Seconds Seconds Days – weeks ~ 1 hour
EpicVIN's mission is to empower buyers with the most accurate and actionable information Alex Black, CMO

External Resources & References

  • Official NMVTIS Information – vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov: The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System database that provides our core data sources.
  • NHTSA Odometer Fraud Resources – NHTSA.gov Assess mileage fraud prevention strategies and why checking odometer readings matters for vehicle safety.
  • NICB Free VINCheck – nicb.org: The National Insurance Crime Bureau's no-cost service for checking theft and salvage records.
  • Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) – 18 U.S. Code §2721: Full text of the federal law governing vehicle record privacy and permissible uses.

Further reading

License Plate Search FAQ

Over the years, we have observed that individuals who need free reverse license plate check have many questions. Here answers to the frequent ones:

No. License plate searches do not reveal personal driver information. For instance, due to DPPA privacy law, details like names and addresses remain private. You receive vehicle history facts only.

Yes. EpicVIN's license plate lookup requires no credit card or sign-up. You instantly see the VIN and basic vehicle report at no cost on our results page.

First, double-check the sequence and state for typos. If correct, the vehicle might be too old or not in the public directories. Try using the VIN directly if available to obtain results.

You can use both the license plate and VIN to get the report. Our system can convert license plates to VINs and provide the same report.

All 50 U.S. states plus Washington D.C. Our directories cover plates from every state with unified, nationwide coverage.

Reports are highly accurate since data comes from reliable sources like state DMVs, NMVTIS, and insurance directories.

No, searches are completely confidential. Vehicle owners receive no notification when performing license plate checks through our site.

Yes. The report clearly shows title status, including salvage, rebuilt, junk, or clean titles in the history section.

They're the same thing. "Tag number" is simply another term for license plate number used in some states.

Yes, we mention active recalls so buyers can select and address these safety recalls before purchase and get started with proper vehicle maintenance.

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