Free Georgia License Plate Lookup and Owner Search

Updated: 16 Jan 2026 5 min read

A Georgia license plate lookup resolves a license plate number to a VIN and returns a DPPA-compliant vehicle history report (title, accidents, mileage, recalls) without revealing license plate owner PII.

Why Trust EpicVIN's Georgia License Plate Lookup

Georgia-scale coverage (1981–2025) - Georgia currently has ≈9,195,822 registered vehicles (FHWA Highway Statistics Table MV-1, November 2024; page updated Apr 10, 2025); virtually all fall within EpicVIN’s 1981–2025 coverage window.
99%+ plate-to-VIN match rate in Georgia - Our Georgia license plate lookup reliably resolves license plates to the correct 17-character VIN for the vast majority of active registrations (EpicVIN Analytics, 2024–2025).
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 Georgia plate to the vehicle’s 17-character vehicle identification number - no manual VIN decoding required.

Instant Check

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

Vehicle History Report

Get a quick snapshot for Georgia vehicles: accidents/damage, title status, mileage readings (incl. emissions results where available), and open recalls - without exposing personal license plate owner 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 Georgia (GA) License Plate

Enter the Plate

Type the license plate number and make sure there are no spaces or special characters (letters/numbers only).

Select Georgia

Confirm the correct state is chosen so the search queries the right records; this helps when using Georgia license plate online tools.

Hit "Check Plate"

EpicVIN resolves the VIN and basic vehicle info immediately for a fast vehicle history screen. If you’re interested, continue to the full report.

Read & Save

Review the free preview (VIN, make/model/year, and public records count), then choose a full report for accidents, title history, odometer readings, and recalls; learn more and watch for red flags.

Why run a Georgia license plate search?

✅ What you can get from the report

Title Classification & Problems: Flags Georgia title brands, salvage or flood history, and related vehicle history indicators affecting registration and resale. Helpful when conducting a fast pre-purchase check.
Vehicle VIN & Manufacturing Details: Confirms the 17-digit VIN, factory specs, and equipment for Georgia listings, providing information you can use to learn key vehicle details during used car comparisons.
Unreported Collision History: Surfaces auction/insurer incidents that may not appear in ads. Georgia shoppers can watch for hidden damage and continue evaluating the condition before they buy.
Mileage Tampering & History: Shows odometer readings over time, highlights rollbacks or inconsistencies, and correlates Georgia inspection entries to protect against fraud when buying a used car.
Safety & Manufacturer Issues: Lists open recalls and relevant TSBs. Georgia shoppers can schedule fixes, receive confirmations, and improve security and safety before ownership transfer.
Previous Owner Timeline: Shows the number of owners and the length of each ownership period, not direct connections, names, or addresses.

❌ You CANNOT get

Reports won’t reveal the owner’s name or address, live ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) location, driver’s license, or insurance numbers. The DPPA and applicable state privacy law in Georgia restrict personal data disclosure; reports are for vehicle information only and not for FCRA-regulated (Fair Credit Reporting Act) decisions.

Name: Protected personal information under DPPA/state privacy law.
Address: Not available in public lookups; privacy-protected.
Phone number: Restricted; not provided in vehicle plate searches.
Email: Not disclosed; safeguarded from public release.
Live location: ALPR locations are restricted and unavailable.
Driver’s license number: Protected; unavailable for public requests.

Report Example

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

Works with standard, personalized, and legacy Georgia plates; temporary tags may not return a VIN until registered.

2000 DAEWOO LANOS

Odometer

No problems
Safety Recalls

6 record
Accidents

2 problems
Last mileage

6,533mi
Auction Sales

1 sale found
Owners

2 owners

Year 2000
Make DAEWOO
Model LANOS
Engine 1.6L FAM I
Made in SOUTH KOREA

Georgia Vehicle Risks

Indicator	Georgia	Potential Risk
Accidents/Damage	≈373,135 accidents (2023)	Hidden damage, reduced safety, and resale value.
Theft	High theft incidence (25,763 cases in 2023)	Elevated theft risk; possible loss/confiscation and insurance complications.
Salvage/Rebuilt Titles	≈104,153 junk/salvage/insurance records (2023)	Serious prior damage; residual defects and safety concerns.
Odometer (mileage)	No official statewide statistics	Mileage fraud risk; overpayment and unexpected repairs.
Open Recalls	No official statewide statistics	Unresolved safety defects; increased accident risk until fixed.
Emissions/Inspection Patterns	92.2% (2021) and 91.9% (2022) initial pass - the latest official statistics	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 each section before committing.
Check recalls directly: Use NHTSA’s VIN recall lookup to confirm any open safety recalls and required manufacturer fixes.
Verify theft/salvage status: Run a VIN check in Georgia to spot reported thefts 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 do not replace them.
Match identifiers: Ensure the dashboard and door-jamb VINs match the report, and the license plate matches current vehicle registration documents.
Leverage Georgia Vehicle Emissions Inspection & Maintenance history: Regular emissions test records create time-stamped mileage entries to spot rollbacks or persistent faults under Georgia EPD oversight.

Georgia DMV or EpicVIN? Picking the Right Path in Georgia

The Georgia DMV (Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division) can release a vehicle record by form request or online for permitted purposes. However, it’s often slower and registration-focused. EpicVIN provides an instant, multi-source vehicle history (NMVTIS title/brand/lien, plus, where available, emissions entries), making it a practical vin checker for buyers who want faster access to reliable vehicle data before making a decision.

Q: Why not just file a DMV request?
A: DMV records are formal and registration-centric and may take days or weeks; they typically omit accident or salvage-auction history.
Q: Will DMV give me the owner’s name or address?
A: Not for casual inquiries. Owner PII is protected by the DPPA and Georgia law and is released only for permitted purposes (e.g., government/law enforcement, court orders, recalls/emissions, insurance, legal proceedings).
Q: Is EpicVIN “official”?
A: Yes. EpicVIN is NMVTIS-approved; title/brand/lien indicators come from official sources. Reports exclude owner PII, and EpicVIN isn’t a consumer reporting agency under the FCRA - use reports for vehicle info only.
Q: What about emissions and odometer context?
A: Where available in Georgia, EpicVIN surfaces emissions-related entries that help confirm mileage progression and persistent faults in the inspection program.

For extra assurance, run NHTSA’s recall lookup to validate key alerts before you decide. Alex Black, CMO & auto expert

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

In Georgia, license plate costs are part of the total vehicle registration fee. They are handled with your county tag office or via online services. Key resources are available on the Motor Vehicle Services portal (https://dor.georgia.gov/motor-vehicles) and the license plate fee schedule (https://dor.georgia.gov/schedule-motor-vehicle-license-plates-and-fees).

Are two plates required in GA? No - Georgia law requires most motor vehicles to display one rear license plate. Motorcycles and trailers also use a single rear plate.

Fines: Driving without a valid rear license plate can lead to citations and fines under Georgia law (amounts vary by case and county).

Standard License Plates

Design: The standard Georgia license plate features the peach state theme with a county decal at the bottom.
Cost: $20 one-time plate/tag issuance for standard passenger vehicles. Renewing typically costs $20 annually, separate from any ad valorem taxes.
How to Get: Apply through your local office or DRIVES e-Services; plates are issued upon successful vehicle registration and insurance verification. The Georgia Department of Revenue oversees issuance and online services that help residents apply, receive, and manage registration.

Personalized (Vanity) Plates

Design: Personalized messages available on several Georgia license plate options, including standard and specialty backgrounds.
Cost: $35 one-time manufacturing fee at first issue (+ $35 annual special-tag + $20 annual registration); recurring special-tag fees may apply.
Rules & Characters: Passenger vanity plates generally up to 7 characters (no punctuation); motorcycles - up to 6 characters.
How to Get: Check availability and submit Form MV-9B with fees at your local office or via online services.

Specialty License Plates

Design: Georgia offers specialty tags supporting special interest causes, colleges, military (including Army Military Veteran, Air Force Military Veteran, Coast Guard Military Veteran), wildlife, and more.
Cost: One-time issuance/manufacturing fees typically $25–$35 (plus $20 tag at issuance); initial totals commonly $45–$90 depending on plate family (annual - usually $55).
How to Get: Submit the appropriate application online or at the office after meeting any eligibility requirements; the department provides information on documentation and eligibility.

Historic & Collector Plates

Design: Georgia issues Hobby/Antique and Authentic Historical plates for older vehicles.
Rules & Requirements: Hobby/Antique initial issuance commonly totals $80 (includes plate and required fees). Authentic Historical plates may register a period-correct plate (model year up to 1989) through your local office.

Other Plate Rules and Processes

Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs): Georgia dealers issue one free 30-day TOP at sale; some counties issue a 30-day TOP when a plate is not in stock and will be mailed by DOR.
Replacement plates/decals: Replacement plate or decal fee $8 (plus any applicable manufacturing fees for specialty/vanity).
Transfers & Surrenders: Transfer plates at your county tag office; surrender plates to cancel a registration as needed. If a plate is stolen or transferred, report it and check for any fines or holds before renewing.

Georgia - Fees at a glance

Plate type/Action	One-time plate fee	Where to obtain	Form/official link
Standard passenger plates	$20	County Tag Office/Online	DOR - Motor Vehicles Fees
Vanity (personalized) plates	$35 manufacturing fee (+ $35 annual special-tag + $20 annual registration)	County Tag Office/Online	DOR - Order Prestige & Specialty Plates
Classic/Antique background (non-vanity)	$80 initial issuance	County Tag Office	DOR - Plate Details: Hobby/Antique (HA)
Specialty background plates	$45–$90 initial issuance (annual - usually $55)	County Tag Office/Online	DOR - Schedule of Plates & Fees (PDF)
Replacement plates/decals	$8	County Tag Office	DOR - Fees, Fines & Penalties
Temporary Operating Permit (dealer-issued, 30 days)	$0	Georgia licensed dealer at the sale	DOR - Dealer Issued TOP

- Municipal/county components and taxes may apply; amounts above exclude annual registration and ad valorem taxes.
- If a program uses annual contributions (e.g., wildlife/state parks), those are recurring and not listed here.
- Fees verified: Oct 2025.

How Your Personal Information is Protected in Georgia

Federal Law:
The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act restricts disclosure of personal data from motor vehicle records to specific permissible uses.
Local Law:
Georgia law and regulations limit access to motor vehicle registration and title records to statutorily authorized users. Disclosures track DPPA limits (see O.C.G.A. § 40-2-130; Attorney General Op. 2008-2).

EpicVIN complies with the DPPA and Georgia law; 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 Georgia Resources

Georgia DOR - Motor Vehicle Services - Central hub for tag renewal, license plates, titles, and online services.
Find Your County Tag Office - Directory to locate your local county tag office for plate issuance and registration.
Schedule of Motor Vehicle License Plates & Fees (PDF) - Official fee schedule covering standard, prestige, specialty, and antique categories.
Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs) - State guidance on 30-day permits and timelines after purchase.
Order Prestige & Specialty License Plates - Requirements, MV-9B form, and fees for vanity/specialty tags.

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States Base

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Louisiana

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Utah

Georgia Plate Lookup – FAQ

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

Temporary tags 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 vehicle data, not a person's identity.

No. Driver’s Privacy Protection Act restrictions and Georgia law protect personal identifiers; lookups provide vehicle information only.

Yes - where available, reports compile title brands, accidents, mileage entries, and recalls to help you check a used car before buying.

Yes - simply enter the plate and state, and we’ll try to run a search to resolve the VIN and show a preview.

Reports may summarize major vehicle registration events and records associated with that license plate number, but not vehicle owner information.

We support license plate search for standard and custom license plate formats; for vanity plate availability, use the state’s prestige plate process.

The Georgia Department of Revenue (MVD) and county tag offices manage plates and online services; the Environmental Protection Division oversees the emissions program.

Data can lag after ownership changes; if a plate was stolen or transferred, use the VIN for faster verification, maintain security, and contact your county tag office.

Save Thousands of Dollars

Learn everything there is to know about your next car.

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