How to Search a Vehicle

To search a vehicle, you have to have its license plate number. You will then provide this number to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), who will provide you the required information. Some other ways of searching a vehicle include reverse license plate lookups that can be performed on a number of websites. Based on these searches, you can find information about the car, including registrant's full name, last known address, vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), registration date, make and model, and license expiration date.

• 1

  Contact the local DMV and tell them that you want to search a particular vehicle. They will be able to help you if the vehicle is your own or your child's/spouse's. You may not be able to get information about just any vehicle you want to trace.

• 2

  Refer to a website that lets you look up license plate numbers. Some of these websites include Lookup License Plate, License Plate Search and Abika.

• 3

  Select your state on the website (whichever one you choose) and enter the license plate number to be looked up.

• 4

  Click "Search"/"Submit." Make an account on the website when it prompts you to. You will have to enter the payment details as well. As of 2010, the service should cost you somewhere between $25 and $100. Mostly, you have to pay this fee and you are allowed to look up countless vehicle plate numbers for a specified time period like six months or perhaps a year. Once you make the payment, the search results will be displayed on the website.