How to Check the History of a Car With a License Plate Number

In order to investigate the history of a car, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is needed. Most vehicles have the VIN number posted on the top of the dashboard on the inside of the car. However, with older models and with cars that don't have a visible VIN number, you can still get the VIN number using the license plate number. The best way to obtain a VIN number from a car license plate number is to do a reverse VIN look-up.

Instructions

1. Copy the exact current license plate number onto a piece of paper. Include the state that is listed on the license plate. Write down any distinguishing hyphens or spaces listed on the license plate.

2. Visit a reverse VIN look-up website. Choose a reputable site like License-Plate-Search.org or Tracing-America.com for the best results. Enter the complete license plate number in the request field.

3. Obtain the car's VIN number from the reverse look-up website. Use the VIN number to research the history of the car. Choose a reputable car history reporting agency like Carfax.com or AutoCheck.com to obtain a vehicle history report. Enter the complete VIN number in the required field to obtain the car's history report.

4. Pay for the reverse VIN look-up and the history report. A reverse VIN search costs between $29 and $70 (as of 2010) depending on what site you choose. Pay for the medical history report. These typically run in the same price range as the reverse VIN search. Pay online using a credit card or a bank card.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the license plate is registered with the car. Some car dealers and individuals put a temporary plate on the vehicle for selling purposes.

• Car history reports are reliable, but they are not infallible. Always have a vehicle checked by a certified mechanic and make sure the history report does not show any outstanding liens on the car.

References

• License Plate Search
• Get a VIN Number from a Car License Plate

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• License Plate and VIN Search