Free Connecticut License Plate Lookup

Enter any Connecticut 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. Connecticut
Author avatar by Robert P Allred
5 min read

Why run a Connecticut license plate search?

  1.  

    Accident & Damage History

    Uncover hidden collisions, frame problems, and accident data that sellers don't mention. These findings directly affect how safe the car is and what it's actually worth.

  2.  

    Title Records & Ownership Chain

    Check who really owns the vehicle, what the current title situation looks like, and how many people have owned it before.

  3.  

    Complete Vehicle Profile & Market Value

    Transform your license plate into a full vehicle breakdown, including every factory spec, build details, and how the car was previously used.

Full Report Breakdown

Here’s what else you can expect to find with a comprehensive free vin check, giving you deeper visibility into a vehicle’s real background before you buy:

  • Vehicle VIN & Manufacturing Details: You can look up car by license plate to extract the complete VIN and see exactly how this specific car was built, including key manufacturing details that affect value, safety, and performance.
  • Title Classification & Problems: Know immediately if you're looking at a clean title, salvage, lemon buyback, or other title complications.
  • Mileage Tampering & History: Spot odometer fraud with alerts about suspicious rollbacks and see the complete mileage progression over time.
  • Unreported Collision History: Find accident and structural damage records that insurance companies know about but aren't publicly disclosed.
  • Safety & Manufacturer Issues: Current recall notices, technical defects, and safety warnings that require attention.
  • Liens & Recovery Records: Financial holds, stolen vehicle recovery history, and commercial use (a taxi, rental, or fleet vehicle).
  • Previous Owner Timeline: How many people owned this car and for how long (following privacy protection regulations).
  • Current Market Analysis: What the car is actually worth today based on recent sales of identical vehicles.

How to Look Up a Connecticut (CT) License Plate

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

Enter the Plate

Carefully type the exact seven-character license plate number.

Select Connecticut

Choose Connecticut (CT) to search the state’s full DMV database.

Hit "Check Plate"

The system converts the plate to a VIN and queries 70 + trusted data sources instantly.

Read & Save

Review the detailed vehicle-history report and save it to share with others.

Fees & Turnaround Times

Please refer to the official DMV payment chart . It shows the most current pricing data and any applicable surcharges.

Plate TypeFirst-Issue CostRenewal Cost - every 3 yearsTypical Turnaround
Standard "Blue Fade"$5 plate + base registration*$0 plate + renewal fees**Same-day processing at DMV
Specialty Plate$50-$75 plate + donation $0-$15 + base registration$0 plate + $0-$55 donation + renewal fees4-8 weeks
Vanity Plate$94 application + base registration$94 vanity + renewal fees6-8 weeks
Classic/Early American$47 plate + base registration$0 plate + renewal feesSame-day pickup at DMV
Replacement Set$25 per set - no other fees-Same-day at DMV
Temporary transit plate (single trip)$21 flat (includes plate) - no other feesexpires in 30 daysSame day at DMV hub

*initial DMV fees - $194 (registration $120 + admin $10 + Clean Air $15 + Passport $24 + title $25)

**DMV renewal fees - $159 (registration $120 + Clean Air $15 + Passport $24)

Connecticut License Plate Styles

Connecticut's standard plates include a white-to-blue gradient with 'Connecticut' at the top and 'Constitution State' at the bottom. A small Connecticut outline is also part of the plate. Numbers appear in dark blue using seven characters. They are formatted as two letters plus five digits (e.g., CD-67890). The state offers one of the most extensive plate collections, categorized into:

  • Standard Plates: Default blue-fade design.
  • Specialty plates offer 100+ design options across various categories. They include cities, colleges, veterans, charities, sports teams, and non-profits. Numbers are assigned automatically with diverse background graphics.
  • Vanity plates allow up to seven custom characters on standard or specialty backgrounds. Applications undergo review for duplicates and inappropriate content, processed first-come, first-served.
Connecticut License Plate Styles

Connecticut License Plate Laws

Connecticut law governs the use and requirements for license plates. It ensures vehicle identification and safety. Here are the primary regulations:

1. Active Registration Mandatory

All vehicles on Connecticut public roads must have valid license plates per the motor vehicle law.

2. New Vehicle Registration

  • In-state purchase: You have 30 days to register (per § 14-12(c)). During this term, you need to provide insurance, pay tax, and pass an emissions test (vehicles more than four model years old must test).
  • New CT residents/Out-of-state purchases: You have 90 days to transfer title and registration.
  • Required Form: Application for Registration & Title - Form H-13B PDF.

3. Display Rules

  • Passenger cars need front and rear plates. They should be securely mounted horizontally, at least 12 inches above the road.
  • Most trucks require both front & rear plates; certain tractors may carry rear only.

4. Legibility

Plates must be readable. Bending, covering, or fading characters, as well as clear covers or grime that obscures them, are violations.

1. Replacing Damaged/Lost Plates

If plates become unreadable, lost, or stolen, you must apply immediately for replacement. A police report or a lost-plate affidavit (Form E-159) is required for stolen plates.

2. Required Form

Replacement Plate Request - Form E-45 PDF.

  • Cost: $25 per set.
  • Turnaround: DMV cancels the original registration status and ships replacements within 5-7 business days. Those driving without new plates may face penalties.

3. Cancelling Registration

When selling, junking, or moving a vehicle out of state, you must surrender or cancel license plates immediately. Connecticut DMV requires both plates returned (unless lost-plate affidavit filed).

  • This can be done online or by physical return.
  • Property tax billing ceases once the cancellation is recorded by the DMV.

1. Privacy Protection

The Driver`s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) safeguards personal information associated with license plates.

  • DMV can only disclose information for "authorized uses." This concerns insurance claims, legal proceedings, or law enforcement.

2. Official Records

Obtaining a copy of a title, registration, or driver record requires stating a permissible purpose (per CGS § 14-10 and DPPA) and paying a copy fee.

  • Required Form: Request for Copy of Records - Form J-23 PDF.
  • Turnaround: Typically 5 business days .

1. DMV Authority

The CT Department of Motor Vehicles issues custom-designed or personalized plates.

  • Required Form: Vanity / Specialty Plate Application - Form M-22 PDF.
  • The DMV may deny this text if it’s obscene, misleading, or a duplicate. Additional fees often fund charities or production costs.

2. "Classic / Early American" Plates

Vehicles 20 years or older, kept essentially stock, can use “Early American” plates or a year-of-manufacture plate pair.

  • Required Form: YOM Plate Affidavit - Form B-320 PDF.
  • DMV typically replies within 7-10 days.

All PDF links open in a new tab from CT.gov. To obtain a full legal text, refer to Chapter 246 on the General Assembly site.

Official Connecticut DMV Resources

Online Services

DMV Headquarters & Walk-in Centers

All offices require appointments. Please book online before visiting. The central Connecticut DMV hub at 60 State Street, Wethersfield, serves as the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters. This location handles titles, VIN inspections, and road tests.

Public hours require appointments: Tuesday and Wednesday 7:45 AM–4:00 PM, Thursday 9:15 AM–5:30 PM, Friday 7:45 AM–4:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM–12:30 PM. Phone: 860-263-5700.

Need another branch? View the complete list of offices and hours here https://portal.ct.gov/DMV/Resources/locations-office-hours.

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Connecticut Plate Lookup – FAQ

Yes, basic car details are publicly available through legitimate vehicle plate search services.

Yes. A license plate lookup ensures access to the VIN and a vehicle history report.

Initial registration costs $199, then $159 every three years for renewals. Additional fees apply for specialty or vanity plates.

Yes. Front and rear license plates are required for all passenger cars.

1. Gather documents - Title, insurance proof, ID, Form H-13B
2. Complete emissions testing (vehicles newer than 2017)
3. Schedule a DMV appointment online
4. Visit the office with documents and the payment
5. Receive plates the same day
6. Install front and rear plates properly on the vehicle

Deadlines:

– 30 days for in-state purchases
– 90 days for new residents/out-of-state purchases

No, personal information is protected under the DPPA, limiting disclosure of owner names and addresses.

Check your specific sticker or verify online through the government portal.

This denial may be due to several reasons: unpaid taxes, insurance lapses, emissions failures, or critical violations.

Emissions testing is required every two years for most cars except new cars for the first 4 model years.

Legal ownership information requires a permissible purpose under privacy laws.

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