Free Colorado License Plate Lookup

Enter any Colorado license plate number and get the VIN, title status, accident history, and market value in under 30 seconds

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
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• No VIN?
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  1. Home
  2. License Plate Lookup
  3. Colorado
Author avatar by Robert P Allred
5 min read

Colorado license plate lookup is a vehicle history check using a Colorado license plate. The procedure can help find the vehicle's VIN and show a brief report: whether there were accidents, restrictions on rights, mileage, or recalls.

Why Trust EpicVIN's Colorado License Plate Lookup

  1. Colorado-scale coverage (1981-2025) - Colorado currently has ≈5,211,580 registered vehicles (FHWA Table MV-1, Nov 2024); virtually all fall within EpicVIN’s 1981–2025 coverage window.
  2. 99%+ plate-to-VIN match rate in Colorado - Our Colorado license plate lookup reliably resolves plates to the correct 17-character VIN for the vast majority of active registrations (EpicVIN Analytics, 2024-2025).
  3. Official NMVTIS-approved provider - EpicVIN is an authorized NMVTIS data provider and operates in compliance 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 resolves a Colorado plate to the vehicle’s 17-character VIN - no manual VIN decoding required.

Instant Check

We cross-check NMVTIS and trusted partner records for Colorado vehicles, surfacing title brands, registration events, theft/salvage activity, and emissions history.

Vehicle History Report

Get a quick snapshot for Colorado vehicles: accidents/damage, title status, mileage readings (incl. emissions results where available), and open recalls - without exposing personal details.

Expect to see the VIN, basic vehicle specs, and any reported incidents (e.g., accidents, salvage titles, or recalls). Private owner details are not included, keeping the process legal and privacy-safe.

How to Look Up a Colorado (CO) License Plate

Enter the Plate
Select Colorado
Hit "Check Plate"
Read & Save

Enter the Plate

Type the plate number exactly (no spaces or special characters).

Select Colorado

Ensure “Colorado” is selected; this improves free license plate lookup accuracy for Colorado license plate numbers and supports Colorado license plate online requests.

Hit "Check Plate"

EpicVIN resolves the VIN and basic vehicle info instantly; check the displayed make/model match expectations.

Read & Save

Review the free preview; decide if a comprehensive report with odometer readings, accidents, and brands is worth it before you pay any fees.

Why run a Colorado license plate search?

✅ What you can get from the report

  • Vehicle VIN & Manufacturing Details: Confirm the 17-digit VIN, factory vehicle specifications, equipment, and recalls, helping Colorado buyers check trim lines when a Colorado license plate search returns multiple matches.
  • Current Market Analysis: Compare recent Colorado sales to estimate the value for a used vehicle, balancing fees, taxes, and service costs before you pay real money.
  • Mileage Tampering & History: Review chronological odometer readings, including Colorado emissions entries where available, to flag rollbacks, inconsistencies, or gaps that could hide hard use.
  • Liens & Recovery Records: Check for active liens, stolen/recovered notes, commercial/fleet flags, and title brands that may complicate a purchase or future sale in Colorado.
  • Unreported Collision History: Surface incidents from insurers, police, and auctions - useful when past owners kept poor service history or when photos show rear-end damage not listed.
  • Previous Owner Timeline: Privacy-safe: shows how many previous owners and the length of each ownership period, not names or addresses, clarifying the vehicle’s history for Colorado shoppers.

❌ You CANNOT get

Reports never include the owner’s name or address, live ALPR location, driver’s license, or insurance numbers. DPPA and the Colorado Privacy Act restrict PII; reports are for informational purposes only - not for FCRA-regulated (Fair Credit Reporting Act) decisions.

  • Name: Protected personal information under DPPA/Colorado privacy law.
  • Address: Not available in public lookups; privacy-restricted.
  • Phone Number: Not provided; unrelated to vehicle safety/history.
  • Email: Not disclosed; not part of DMV-released data.
  • Live Location: Real-time tracking is prohibited and privacy-invasive.
  • Driver's License Number: Restricted; only for permitted use cases.

Report Example

A Colorado license plate lookup uses the tag plate number to query public database records and check details tied to the vehicle identification number. Enter the plate and select Colorado; EpicVIN resolves the VIN and compiles the record from NMVTIS and partner sources (including emissions history where available).

Works with standard plates, personalized license plates, and most group designs; temporary permits may not return a VIN until registered. This plate finder supports license plate-to-VIN and find VIN by license plate workflows for compliance-safe vehicle owner lookup.

Results for VIN Decoding for
VIN# 3G5DA03L26S583376

2006 BUICK Rendezvous

BLOCKCHAIN Confirmed Data Approved NMVTIS Data Provider
2006 BUICK Rendezvous

  • Odometer

    No problems

  • Safety Recalls

    1 records

  • Accidents

    1 problem

  • Last mileage

    197,458mi

  • Auction Sales

    1 sale found

  • Owners

    2 owners
  • Year

    Year 2006

  • Make

    Make BUICK

  • Model

    Model Rendezvous

  • Fuel Type

    Fuel Type Gasoline

  • Engine

    Engine 3.5L V-Shaped LX9

  • Made in

    Made in MEXICO

Colorado Vehicle Risks

Indicator Colorado (2025) Potential Risk
Accidents/Damage ≈115,000 accidents in 2025 Hidden damage, reduced safety, and resale value.
Theft High theft incidence (≈20,000 cases in 2025) Elevated theft risk; possible loss/confiscation and insurance complications.
Salvage/Rebuilt Titles ≈1 in 8 - salvage/rebuilt - ~12% Serious prior damage; residual defects and safety concerns.
Odometer (mileage) Odometer anomalies - ~1.3% (≈67,751 vehicles) Mileage fraud risk; overpayment and unexpected repairs.
Open Recalls Many open recalls - ~17% (≈885,969 vehicles) Unresolved safety defects; increased accident risk until fixed.
Inspection/Emissions Patterns Emissions/Inspection Patterns failures - 8.6% (2025) Engine/emissions issues; costly repairs and registration delays.

How to reduce these risks (quick plan)

  • Run a plate/VIN check first: Start with a quick screen; if red flags appear, buy the full EpicVIN report and review section-by-section to determine next steps.
  • Check recalls directly: Use NHTSA’s VIN recall lookup to confirm open safety recalls and the required fixes before you register.
  • Verify theft/salvage status: Run a VIN check in Colorado to spot reported stolen vehicles and insurer-declared salvage where available.
  • Inspect the car, not just the paper: Do a thorough test drive and pre-purchase inspection; reports complement mechanical checks and documented service history.
  • Match identifiers: Confirm the VIN on the dash/door matches the report; make sure the plate number matches the registration to avoid a swap.
  • Leverage Colorado Air Care Colorado history: Regular emissions test entries create time-stamped mileage data to reveal rollbacks or recurring faults via the Colorado Department program.

Colorado DMV or EpicVIN? Picking the Right Path in Colorado

The Colorado DMV can release a vehicle record via DR 2489A (Motor Vehicle Requestor Release Affidavit of Intended Use) or online for permitted purposes, but it’s slow and registration-focused; EpicVIN provides an instant, multi-source vehicle history (NMVTIS title/brand/lien, plus, where available, Air Care Colorado inspection entries). For routine due diligence, most shoppers start with a Colorado license plate search or VIN finder rather than a formal mail request.

  • Q: Is the DMV record faster or broader than a third-party report?
    A: DMV records are formal. They can take days or longer and typically omit auction accident images or salvage-auction details. EpicVIN aggregates multiple sources instantly for pre-purchase screening.
  • Q: Will the DMV give me the owner’s identity?
    A: Not for casual inquiries. DPPA and Colorado privacy rules restrict owner PII; releases require a permitted purpose, and responses often arrive by mail after payment of appropriate fees.
  • Q: Is EpicVIN "official"?
    A: Yes - EpicVIN is NMVTIS-approved. We surface title/brand/lien indicators from official sources and exclude owner PII; we’re not a CRA under the FCRA.
  • Q: What about emissions and mileage context?
    A: Where available, we surface Air Care Colorado entries to help verify odometer progression and recurring faults (including rear-end damage indicators noted in repair narratives).
Prefer to double-check? Use NHTSA’s recall lookup to corroborate important findings. Alex Black, CMO & auto expert, EpicVIN

Guide to Colorado License Plates: Styles, Costs, and Rules

In Colorado, license plate lookup questions often overlap with vehicle registration costs, county processing, and plate choices. Specific details live on the Colorado Department of Revenue DMV License Plates (https://dmv.colorado.gov/license-plates) and Taxes page (https://dmv.colorado.gov/taxes-and-fees).

Are two license plates required in CO? Yes. Most passenger vehicles display front and rear plates; motorcycles and trailers display a single rear plate.

Fines/penalties vary by locale. Colorado sets a $100 fine for obscured/covered or unreadable plates. The state charges $25 per month (max $100) for expired registration/temporary tags. Denver’s “license plate” parking citation is $100.

Standard License Plates

  • Design: The standard Colorado license plates feature white peaks on green.
  • Cost: Colorado charges material/issuance costs for plates. Standard plates cost $7.38 per set ($3.69 single) for embossed or $11.27 per set ($5.64 single) for print-on-demand.
  • Renewal: Annual registration continues with your county.
  • How to Get: Complete/renew registration with your county; many services are online at myDMV (change address, estimate taxes, create replacement requests, track mail fulfillment).

Personalized (Vanity) Plates

  • Design: Order a custom license plate message on several Colorado license plate backgrounds.
  • Cost: Personalized plates require a one-time $60 personalization fee plus $25 each renewal, in addition to standard taxes.
  • Rules & Characters: Max characters vary by plate type; certain messages are rejected.
  • How to Get: Check vanity plate availability and order via myDMV or at your county office; mail delivery follows printing.

Specialty License Plates

  • Design: Colorado offers many specialty plates (awareness, parks, universities, military, etc.).
  • Cost: Most specialty plates add a one-time $50 issuance fee (plus required fees and taxes).
  • How to Get: Apply online where allowed or at your county office; many plates are print-on-demand and shipped by mail.

Historic & Collector Plates

  • Design/Rules: Collector and historic options exist (e.g., street rod, horseless carriage); usage rules and eligibility apply.
  • How to Get: Submit the proper form(s) and pay any program taxes at your county office; some certified records steps may require mail.

Other Plate Rules and Processes

  • Temporary Permits: Dealers and county offices issue temporary permits for a new vehicle; print-on-demand plates and tabs typically arrive by mail.
  • Lost/Stolen/Damaged: File DR 2283 and request replacement plates; consider a new configuration to steer clear of previous stolen flags.
  • Transfers & Surrenders: Handle through your county motor vehicle office; confirm title number and address details match your registration.

Colorado - Fees at a glance

Plate type/Action One-time plate fee Where to obtain Form/official link
Standard passenger plates (new issue) $7.38 (set)/$3.69 (single) County Motor Vehicle Office Regular License Plates - DMV
Vanity (personalized) plates (initial) $60 personalization (one-time) myDMV or County Motor Vehicle Office Group Special/Personalized Fees - DMV
Specialty background plates (issuance) $50 one-time issuance County Motor Vehicle Office Group Special Plates - DMV
Replacement plates - regular $7.38 (set)/$3.69 (single) County Motor Vehicle Office DMV - Lost/Stolen Plates
Temporary registration/permit (non-commercial) $7.03-$7.66* County Motor Vehicle Office Dealer/County Temporary Permits

- *The fee amount is county-specific. Check with your county.
- Amounts above exclude registration taxes/fees (vary by weight/municipality; see the DMV fee pages).
- Some programs add annual contributions; those aren’t shown here (one-time plate costs only).
- Fees verified: Sep 2025.

How Your Personal Information is Protected in Colorado

  • Federal Law:
    The federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act protects personal information in motor vehicle records; Colorado DMV states disclosure is limited to DPPA-allowed uses, and state law incorporates the DPPA.
  • Local Law:
    Colorado law (C.R.S. § 24-72-204(7) and § 42-1-206) makes driver/vehicle records private except for specific, authorized purposes; requesters must declare a permissible use on DMV Form DR 2489A, and owner-name searches aren’t allowed. The DMV keeps imaged records for seven (7) years plus the current year.

EpicVIN complies with the DPPA and C.R.S. § 24-72-204(7) & § 42-1-206; we do not sell vehicle owners' personal data (only de-identified vehicle data). We do not provide the owner's name, address, or contact information — this is prohibited.

Official Colorado Resources

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Colorado Plate Lookup – FAQ

Double-check the entry (0 vs O, I vs 1) and make sure Colorado is selected. Very new or temporary tag(s) may not be linked yet - try later or use the VIN. You can contact our support via chat or email.

Temporary tag(s) and freshly issued plates often aren’t in statewide databases yet. Ask the seller for the VIN or retry in a few days.

Yes. We don’t notify anyone about your lookup, and we don’t display owner PII. Results focus on valuable information about the vehicle, not personal identity.

Yes. EpicVIN supports other states; just pick the right state before you run your plate lookup.

No. Under DPPA and Colorado law, names and address info are private; reports focus on the vehicle rather than past or new owners.

Use the windshield/dashboard VIN, door-jamb label, or insurance card; then run a VIN check.

Consider walking away; missing VIN blocks you from due diligence on the vehicle’s history and service flags.

No. Real-time tracking isn’t provided; our finder surfaces lawful records only.

Many do; enter the plate number, select Colorado, and see if a VIN returns.

Many POD plates are printed and sent by mail to the address on file after payment is approved.

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