Can you find a VIN from a license plate number?

Yes, with the state that issued the plate. The plate and state lead to the current registration, and the registration records the VIN.

Is a plate to VIN lookup legal?

Yes. A VIN and a vehicle’s specifications describe a vehicle, not a person, and are not protected personal information. Owner details are a different matter and are not part of this lookup.

Why does the lookup need the state?

Every state issues its own plates, so the same plate number can exist in several states at once on different vehicles.

What if the plate has been moved to a different car?

The lookup returns the vehicle the plate is registered to now. In states where plates stay with the owner, a plate may have been on other cars before.

Does it work for temporary tags?

Temporary tags that are issued through a state’s electronic system have their own numbers and can be looked up once the state has recorded them.

License plate to VIN

Find a vehicle’s 17-character VIN from its plate number and state.

How plate to VIN works

A license plate is a registration number. When a state registers a vehicle it records the vehicle’s VIN against that number, so the plate and the state that issued it lead to one VIN. That is the whole lookup: plate and state in, VIN out, with the year, make, model, trim, body and engine decoded from it.

Why the VIN and not just the plate

The plate is temporary. It can be swapped for a personalized one, moved to the owner’s next car, or replaced when the state changes its design. The VIN is stamped into the vehicle when it is built and stays with it for life. That is why parts counters, insurers, lenders and history reports all work from the VIN.

What you need

The plate number. Spaces and dashes do not matter. Watch for O and 0, and I and 1, which are easy to mix up.
The state. It is printed on the plate. If you are not sure, the plate design usually gives it away; see the state pagesfor each state’s formats.

What to do with the VIN

Check it matches the car.The VIN is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver’s door jamb and on the title. They should all agree.
Check for open recallsfor free on NHTSA’s recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check whether it has been reported stolen or salvagedfor free with NICB’s VINCheck.

More on this in checking a used car before you buy.

What it does not show

The owner. Names, addresses and other personal details in state vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. See can you find a car’s owner by plate.

FAQ

Plate to VIN questions

Can you find a VIN from a license plate number?: Yes, with the state that issued the plate. The plate and state lead to the current registration, and the registration records the VIN.
Is a plate to VIN lookup legal?: Yes. A VIN and a vehicle’s specifications describe a vehicle, not a person, and are not protected personal information. Owner details are a different matter and are not part of this lookup.
Why does the lookup need the state?: Every state issues its own plates, so the same plate number can exist in several states at once on different vehicles.
What if the plate has been moved to a different car?: The lookup returns the vehicle the plate is registered to now. In states where plates stay with the owner, a plate may have been on other cars before.
Does it work for temporary tags?: Temporary tags that are issued through a state’s electronic system have their own numbers and can be looked up once the state has recorded them.

Have a plate? Get the VIN

Plate and state in, VIN and vehicle details out. No owner data, no email gate.

Look up a license plate