If you’re out driving your car and spot an individual who is operating their motor vehicle in a reckless manner or you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, you may want to find their name and address by using a license plate number. However, if you are involved in an accident, be sure to contact the police first so that they can investigate the area.
When you do your license plate search, you’ll need to know the license plate number from the vehicle and the state where the license plate was issued.
It should be noted that each state will have different laws regarding the type of information that you can obtain about a driver when conducting a search.
Contacting The Department Of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
You can begin your search for a person’s name and address by contacting the local DMV in your state. They will inform you if this information is given out to the public. Also, you can go to the DMV website for your jurisdiction and enter the license plate number if that option is available. In some cases, you will be able to make a records request by calling the DMV.
Preparing A Formal Request
If you want to obtain this type of information, you may need to file a formal request. Each state is different. Some states make these forms available through city government websites. In other states, you can find them on the DMV website. There may be a fee that is associated with the request.
Paid Or Free Services
On the internet, you’re likely to find database information on just about any type of subject. One of those areas is related to driving records. You will find websites where you can search driving records based on the license plate or VIN information. If you use these sites with the license plate option, you can enter the license plate number along with the state to receive a modified report.
Besides the name of the vehicle owner, the site will also give you information regarding traffic citations, registration details, a vehicle history report and accident report if you pay a small fee. Be sure to read the fine print if you decide to use one of these websites. They may require you to sign up for a subscription. Make sure that you understand the terms and conditions that you are agreeing to.
Promises Of Free Information
If you just enter the license plate number into a popular search engines search bar, you may come up with a number of listings that promise free information. Be wary of these services if they do not list their fees. They may only have information that is out of date.
Jim Treebold is a North Carolina based writer. He lives by the mantra of “Learn 1 new thing each day”! Jim loves to write, read, pedal around on his electric bike and dream of big things. Drop him a line if you like his writing, he loves hearing from his readers!