Does West Virginia require a front license plate?

No. West Virginia law requires the plate on the rear of passenger vehicles. Only truck and road tractors carry it on the front.

What does a West Virginia plate number look like?

Standard plates have up to seven characters, like 312 345A. The first character is a month code tied to the registration’s expiration.

How long is a West Virginia temporary plate good for?

Ninety days from the date the dealer issues it, or until the permanent plate arrives, whichever comes first.

What do I do with my West Virginia plate when I sell my car?

Either turn it in to the DMV with a Sold Vehicle Notice, or transfer it to your next vehicle and send the DMV proof of the transfer and insurance.

Can I get a VIN from a West Virginia license plate?

Yes. Enter the license plate number with West Virginia selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.

Can I find the owner of a West Virginia license plate?

Not through a public lookup. Owner details in West Virginia vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.

West Virginia License Plate Lookup

Enter a West Virginia plate number to get the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model and trim.

West Virginia plates come from the Division of Motor Vehicles, part of the state Department of Transportation, and only one plate goes on the back of the car. The first character of a standard plate number is a month code tied to when the registration expires. Since July 2023, standard plates have room for a seventh character.

West Virginia plate to VIN

A West Virginia platenumber points to one current registration, and the registration records the vehicle’s 17-character VIN. Enter the plate above to get the VIN with the year, make, model, trim, body and engine. It is the quickest way to get the VIN of a car you are not standing next to: one in a listing, one you are quoting a repair for, or your own when the title is in a drawer somewhere.

West Virginia license plate formats

Standard passenger plates use these formats. Personalized, specialty, commercial and motorcycle plates follow their own rules, and every format works in the lookup.

Format	What it is
312 345A	Seven characters. The first is a month code tied to the registration’s expiration, here 3 for March, and standard plates gained a seventh character in July 2023.

West Virginia issues one plate, for the rear of the vehicle.

Who issues plates in West Virginia

Plates and registrations in West Virginia come from the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, and people go in person to DMV regional offices. Plate Decoder is an independent service and is not affiliated with the DMV or any other government agency.

Temporary tags in West Virginia

West Virginia dealers issue temporary plates that expire after 90 days, or sooner if the permanent plate arrives or the sale is canceled.

Personalized and specialty plates

Personalized plates can have two to eight characters on the standard and scenic designs, and fewer on some others, such as wildlife plates. The DMV links to an online tool to check if a combination is available.

No insurance, no plate

If you cancel the insurance on a West Virginia vehicle, the DMV says you must return the license plate. The same goes for a car you stop driving, unless you keep it insured.

What a West Virginiaplate lookup can and can’t show

You get the vehicle: VIN, year, make, model, trim, body and engine. You do not get the person. See what a plate lookup shows for the full list.

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

FAQ

West Virginia plate lookup questions

Does West Virginia require a front license plate?: No. West Virginia law requires the plate on the rear of passenger vehicles. Only truck and road tractors carry it on the front.
What does a West Virginia plate number look like?: Standard plates have up to seven characters, like 312 345A. The first character is a month code tied to the registration’s expiration.
How long is a West Virginia temporary plate good for?: Ninety days from the date the dealer issues it, or until the permanent plate arrives, whichever comes first.
What do I do with my West Virginia plate when I sell my car?: Either turn it in to the DMV with a Sold Vehicle Notice, or transfer it to your next vehicle and send the DMV proof of the transfer and insurance.
Can I get a VIN from a West Virginia license plate?: Yes. Enter the license plate number with West Virginia selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.
Can I find the owner of a West Virginia license plate?: Not through a public lookup. Owner details in West Virginia vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.