There may be a variety of reasons that you need to track down the registered owner of a car. But the only information you have is the car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or the license plate number. Is it possible to find out the details of the car owner? The answer would be a YES.

However, the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) restricts the release of personal information (name, address, date of birth, etc.) from motor vehicle and driver licensing records. Therefore, you’ll not be able to have access to any personal information about the vehicle owner unless you have legitimate reasons.

Below we’ll give you some ideas on how to find out who a car is registered to legally.

How to find the owner of a vehicle

So finding out who owns a vehicle is possible. If you have a legitimate reason, let’s say, you happened to be the victim of a hit-and-run and just managed to take a picture of a car that was screeching away from the scene, you can go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the state where the plate was issued.

When you get there, you’ll need to provide them with your reasons for looking up the registered owner. If they accept your inquiry, wait for them to give you access to the vehicle owner’s information.

Bonus tips: VIN / license plate lookup for vehicle history report

In addition to ownership information, you may want to know the vehicle-specific information if you’re purchasing a used vehicle, including:

• Accident history
• Salvage and other branded titles
• Manufacturer recalls
• Market value and estimated ownership costs
• Equipment and trim specifications
• Sale history

To make an informed decision, you should get a comprehensive vehicle history report. And BeenVerified and Bumper are those online services that allow users to perform VIN or license plate searches and dig deep into a vehicle’s history. They compile regularly updated information from a rich variety of sources, including federal and state-level government agencies, and third-party automotive industry sources like J.D. Power.

Now follow the simple step-by-step guides to do VIN / license plate lookups.

Option 1: BeenVerified Vehicle Search

Step 1:

Navigate to BeenVerified’s Vehicle Search page.

Step 2:

Select a search type – VIN Number or License Plate. Enter the information into the box and click SEARCH.

Wait for the utility to complete its work. When your results have loaded, click the view the report.

Additionally, you can get access to BeenVerified‘s other popular tools, including people search, address search, and much more.

Option 2: Bumper Vehicle Search

Step 1:

Go to Bumper’s search page.

Step 2:

Select a search type based on the information you have and enter either the VIN or license plate into the box and click SEARCH.

Wait for the tech to work its magic. When your report shows up, click to unlock it to view more details.

FAQs

Q: Can you run a VIN number to find owner?

A: No, running a VIN number lookup does not provide access to the car owner’s personal name due to privacy regulations. Instead, it offers a vehicle history report, which includes ownership history without disclosing specific personal details. Access to the car owner’s name is restricted by privacy laws and requires legitimate reasons for obtaining such information.

Q: Can you find out who a car is registered to with a number plate?

A: Yes, it is possible to find out who a car is registered to with a number plate. To do so legally, you can visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the state where the plate was issued. Provide legitimate reasons for your inquiry, and if accepted, the DMV may grant you access to the registered owner’s information.