Vehicle Registrations search description and best practices.
The Vehicle Registration Search provides information on current vehicle registrations as recorded by state department of motor vehicle agencies. Reports can include: Owner Name and Address, Registrant Name and Address, License Plate, Plate Type, Lien Holder, Title Type, Registration Date, Expiration Date, Vehicle Make/Model/Year and Vin.
Note: License Plate Number and Title Type may or may not be present, depending on the DPPA request type used to make the request.
States where data is unavailable: California, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. If you need a state that is not available, please try searching the self-reported data in the Vehicle Ownership search.
Search options and results in this search depend on:
- The DPPA Use Codes you selected for your account when you filled out your application,
- The state’s restrictions, and
- Your industry regulations.
If you don’t see the state you need in your dropdown, or if you aren’t getting the search option you want (only getting search by name and address, instead of search by plate), you may need to review your DPPA purposes of use. We can not legally advise you on what purposes to select. We do recommend that you review the purposes carefully, and select any and all that apply for your business.
To review and/or update your account's DPPA Use Codes, you can click on the link provided on the vehicle registration search.
Once you submit DPPA updates, the compliance department will review your selections. They will notify you by email when the updates are complete.
If you are unable to update online, you can also call 877-723-2689 or email credentialing@tracers.com to request an Affidavit of Intended Use form.
How to Search
This search operates as a waterfall. As you enter information step by step, the page will refresh to give you options specific to the criteria entered.
Step 1 - If you are searching by VIN, enter the VIN # and proceed to step 2. If you need to search by license plate or name/address, leave the VIN box empty and select the state you need.
Step 2 - DPPA Purposes will refresh based on the VIN or state you selected. Clicking on the purposes will give you a definition of the purpose. Select a DPPA purpose that fits your need.
Step 3 - If you are searching by VIN, click Search. If you are running by plate or name/address and selected a state, the page will refresh and option 3 will appear on the right-hand side of the page. Search options depend on the State and DPPA you selected, and may include license plate, name & address, or business name & address.
If you are entering a license plate number, the boxes for the name and address will gray themselves out. You do not need to enter a space in the license plate number. Click Search.
If you are entering a name and address, Less is More. Leave off the directional information (W, east), street designation (street, rd, cir.), and zipcode in the address for best results. Typing out "street" or "road" will likely result in a nohit result. Click Search.
Some things to check if you receive a nohit result on a vehicle,
- The plate numbers/letters could possibly be incorrect. If it was from a blurry picture, is there a possibility one of the digits is a different number/letter, or was it transposed when entering?
- The registration search will only pull up a hit if the vehicle is currently registered. If the registration expired, it will produce a nohit. Some states use color-coded registration stickers so you can tell what year it expires. Other states do not require expiration decals.
- Something to consider, the decal sticker may have been switched/stolen from another plate. In some states, the month, year, and plate number is printed on the sticker.
- It could be a protected plate, such as a judge etc.
- It could have just been purchased and has not been processed by the dealer to the DMV yet. There has been instances where there was a few day lag between purchase and dealer registration.
- You may want to verify directly with that state's DMV.