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Plate Decoder

License plate lookup

Find the VIN from any US license plate

Enter a plate and the state that issued it to get the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model and trim. Not a history report you have to buy to see one line of, and never a promise of the owner’s name.

Look up a license plate

$2 per lookup. Get the VIN, year, make and model. No account needed.

Your card is only charged if we find the VIN. Vehicle information only. We do not provide owner information. Not affiliated with any DMV or government agency.

What a plate lookup shows

The VIN is the main thing. It is the 17-character code the vehicle was built with, and unlike the plate, it never changes. With it come the year, make, model, trim, body style and engine.

A plate can move from one car to another, especially in states where plates stay with the owner. A lookup shows the vehicle the plate is registered to now.

What we don’t show, and why

No owner names, addresses, phone numbers or photos. Owner details in DMV records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and looking someone up out of curiosity is not a purpose it allows. Any site that promises the owner of a plate for a few dollars is either breaking that law or not going to deliver.

Who can get owner records, and what to do instead

Example result

2019 Toyota Camry SE

VIN

4T1B11HK•••••••••

Year
2019
Make
Toyota
Model
Camry
Trim
SE
Body
Sedan
Engine
2.5L 4-cylinder

Vehicle information only. We do not provide owner information.

How it works

Plate in, VIN out

  1. 1

    Enter the plate and state

    Type the plate number as it appears, with or without spaces and dashes, and pick the state that issued it.

  2. 2

    Pay $2 by card

    No account. Your card is held, not charged, while we match the plate to its registration, and the hold is released if we cannot find the VIN.

  3. 3

    Get the VIN and vehicle details

    The 17-character VIN, ready to copy, with the year, make and model, and the trim, body and engine where recorded. On screen and emailed to you.

By state

License plate lookup by state

Every state issues its own plates, in its own formats, from its own agency. Pick a state for its plate formats, temporary tag rules and where to go in person.

Why people need it

When the plate is not enough

A plate can be moved from one car to another. The VIN cannot, which is why it is the number that gets asked for.

Buying a used car

Get the VIN from the listing photo’s plate before you drive out to see the car, then check it matches the VIN on the dashboard and the title.

Ordering parts

Two cars of the same model and year can take different parts. Parts counters match on the VIN, because it is the only thing that says exactly which one you have.

Insurance and paperwork

Insurers, lenders and warranty companies ask for the VIN. It is quicker to look it up than to go out to the car and read it through the windshield.

Shops and dealers

A customer on the phone knows their plate, not their VIN. One lookup gets you the number you need to quote the job before the car arrives.

FAQ

License plate lookup questions

Can I find a VIN from a license plate?
Yes. A plate number plus the state that issued it points to one vehicle registration, and the registration records the VIN. Plate Decoder returns that VIN with the vehicle’s year, make and model, and its trim, body and engine where they are recorded.
Why do I need to choose a state?
Each state issues its own plates, so the same plate number can be on a car in Texas and a different car in Ohio. The state tells us which one you mean.
Can you tell me who owns a car from its plate?
No. Owner names and addresses in DMV records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and curiosity is not one of the purposes it allows. We show vehicle information only, and so should anyone else selling to the public.
How much does a lookup cost?
$2 per plate, paid by card, with no account and no subscription. Your card is only charged if we find the VIN; if we cannot, the hold on your card is released.
What is a VIN?
A Vehicle Identification Number is the 17-character code a vehicle gets when it is built. It stays with the vehicle for life. A license plate can be moved to another car; the VIN cannot.
Are you part of the DMV?
No. Plate Decoder is an independent service and is not affiliated with any DMV, BMV, tag office or other government agency.

Guides

More about plates and VINs

What a plate can tell you, what it cannot, and what to check before you buy.