How to Trace a Tag

There are several ways to obtain vehicle tag information.

Tracing vehicle's a tag number can help someone track down long-lost friends, family or someone responsible for an accident --- especially if that person flees the scene. By tracing a tag number, you can obtain the vehicle owner's name, phone number and address. There are several ways to obtain a vehicle's tag information.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Internet access
• Computer
• Phone book

Instructions

Tracing a Vehicle Tag Online

1. Write down the vehicle's tag number using a pencil and piece of paper.

2. Type "tracing vehicle tag" into an Internet search engine.

3. Click on a link for a reputable company that specializes in gathering contact and background information on people. Some good sites to try include Abika.com or Tracing-America.com.

4. Pay for the service. No license plate look-up service is free, and be wary of those that claim to be. Legitimate sites can charge anywhere from $25 to nearly $100 for the information.

Using a Private Investigator to Trace a Vehicle's Tag

1. Look in a phone book or conduct an Internet search to locate a reputable private investigator in your city or town

2. Contact the private investigator, preferably by phone. Many investigators have ties to local law enforcement and are able to trace vehicle registrations quickly and accurately through their network.

3. Negotiate a price for the information you want the investigator to track down. Paying a private investigator is likely to cost more than paying an online service.

4. Provide the investigator with the vehicle's tag to begin the information search.

Using the DMV to Trace Tag Information

1. Visit your local Division of Motor Vehicles office.

2. Give a DMV employee the tag information in hand and request the name of the registered owner. Under the Driver's Protection Act, DMVs are prohibited from releasing the contact information of the person who owns the vehicle.

3. Conduct a people search on the Internet or with a phone book to find the vehicle owner's contact information once you have the person's name from the DMV.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have any connections to a law enforcement officer, they may be able to trace a tag for you quickly and for free.

References

• Abika: Reports License Plates
• Tracing America: Vehicle Tag Information

Resources

• Check Records: Vehicle Tag Search
• License Plate Search: Plate Lookup
• New York Department of Motor Vehicles: Driver's Privacy Protection Act Frequently Asked Questions