License Plate Lookup

Find the registered owner of any vehicle by license
plate number or VIN — fulfilled by a licensed PI in
compliance with federal DPPA law. CA PI #27617.

🔒 DPPA Compliant
🔍 Licensed Private Investigator
⚡ Fast Turnaround
✓ CA PI License #27617
🛡️ 25+ Years Experience

What You Can Find With a License Plate Lookup

👤

Registered Owner

Full name of the registered vehicle owner as recorded with the state DMV

🏠

Current Address

The registered owner’s current mailing address on file with the DMV

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Vehicle Details

Year, make, model, and VIN number associated with the plate

🔒 All information is obtained in strict compliance with the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). A valid permissible purpose is required to order a report. Learn about DPPA permissible purposes →

How Our License Plate Owner Lookup Works

1

Enter Plate or VIN

Enter the license plate number or VIN and select the state. Our search covers 36 states with direct DMV database access.

2

Confirm Your Purpose

Select your DPPA permissible purpose and complete your order securely. We accept all major credit and debit cards.

3

Receive Your Report

Your registered owner report is delivered to your email within 1-2 business days, fulfilled by a licensed private investigator.

Order a Lookup Report →

Who Uses a License Plate Owner Lookup

A license plate owner lookup — also called a reverse license plate search,
plate number lookup, or vehicle owner search — is used by a wide range of
individuals and professionals who have a legitimate need to identify the
registered owner of a vehicle. Common uses include:

⚖️

Attorneys & Process Servers

Locating a party for service of process, pre-litigation investigation,
or enforcement of a judgment

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Hit and Run Victims

Identifying the driver of a vehicle that fled the scene of an accident
when law enforcement will not act

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Debt Recovery & Skip Tracing

Locating a debtor or confirming vehicle ownership for repossession
or judgment enforcement

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Towing Companies

Identifying and notifying registered owners of towed or
impounded vehicles as required by law

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Licensed Private Investigators

Running plate lookups on behalf of clients for investigative
purposes permitted under DPPA

📋

Judgment Creditors

Confirming vehicle ownership before directing the sheriff to
seize assets to satisfy a civil judgment

Real Cases — How a License Plate Lookup Made the Difference

CASE 1 HIT AND RUN — FLORIDA PERMISSIBLE PURPOSE: LITIGATION

The Situation

A woman was driving through a Florida intersection when another vehicle ran a red light and struck her car before fleeing the scene. She called the police but was told that because the damage was minor and there were no injuries the department would not pursue the case or attempt to identify the driver. She had a partial plate number and nowhere to turn.

The Outcome

Using the partial plate number we ran a DPPA-compliant license plate owner lookup under Permissible Purpose 1 — Litigation and Pre-Litigation. The registered owner’s full name and current address were identified within 24 hours. Her attorney sent a demand letter to the registered owner and their insurance carrier. The matter was resolved and the client recovered her repair costs and related damages without filing suit.

CASE 2 JUDGMENT RECOVERY — TEXAS PERMISSIBLE PURPOSE: LITIGATION

The Situation

A judgment creditor had obtained a civil judgment against a debtor in Texas court but had been unable to collect. They had identified a vehicle they believed was owned by the judgment debtor and wanted to confirm registered ownership before directing the county sheriff to seize the vehicle under a writ of execution — without confirmed ownership they risked a wrongful seizure claim.

The Outcome

A license plate owner lookup confirmed the vehicle was titled and registered in the judgment debtor’s name at an address consistent with the debtor’s known location. Armed with confirmed ownership documentation the judgment creditor’s attorney filed the necessary paperwork with the county sheriff. The vehicle was seized and sold at auction with proceeds applied to satisfy the outstanding judgment.

License Plate Lookup by State

We provide DPPA-compliant registered owner lookups for 36 states
with direct DMV database access. Select your state below to get started.

Arkansas Arizona Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Iowa Illinois Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Vermont Washington Wisconsin Wyoming
View All State Lookup Pages →

About Lance Casey & Associates

🔍

CA PI License

#27617

Order a Lookup →

25+ Years of Licensed Private Investigation Experience

license-plate-owner.com is operated by Lance Casey & Associates, a licensed private investigation firm based in Sacramento, California. Lance Casey brings over 25 years of PI experience and a 10+ year law enforcement background to every lookup request.

As a licensed private investigator with direct access to state DMV vehicle registration databases, Lance Casey & Associates provides DPPA-compliant license plate owner lookups that automated database sites simply cannot offer. Every request is personally reviewed and fulfilled by a licensed professional — not an algorithm.

We serve attorneys, process servers, judgment creditors, towing companies, debt recovery firms, and other qualified requesters across 36 states under DPPA permissible purposes 1, 2, 8, and 9.

Frequently Asked Questions About License Plate Lookups

What is a license plate lookup?

A license plate lookup — also called a reverse license plate search, plate number lookup, or vehicle owner search — is a search of state DMV motor vehicle records that identifies the registered owner of a vehicle using its license plate number or VIN. Access to personal information from these records is governed by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and requires a permissible purpose.

Is it legal to look up a license plate owner?

Yes — it is legal to run a license plate owner lookup provided you have a valid permissible purpose as defined under the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). The 10 permissible purposes include litigation, debt recovery, towing, and use by a licensed private investigator. license-plate-owner.com accepts requests under purposes 1, 2, 8, and 9 only. Read the full DPPA guide →

How do I find the owner of a license plate?

Enter the license plate number or VIN and select the state in the search form at the top of this page. You will be redirected to our secure order page where you can confirm your DPPA permissible purpose and complete payment. Your registered owner report will be delivered to your email within 1-2 business days, fulfilled by Lance Casey & Associates — a licensed private investigation firm.

What states do you cover for license plate owner lookups?

We currently provide registered owner lookups for 36 states with direct DMV database access including Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Washington, Tennessee, Missouri, Maryland, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, and more. View all available states →

How long does a license plate lookup take?

Most reports are delivered within 1-2 business days. Orders submitted after business hours or on weekends will be processed the next business day. Your report is delivered directly to the email address you provide on the order form.

What is the difference between a license plate lookup and a VIN lookup?

A license plate lookup uses the visible plate number on a vehicle to identify the registered owner. A VIN lookup uses the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number stamped on the vehicle. Both can be used to identify the registered owner — our service accepts either a plate number or VIN in the search form above.

Can I run a license plate lookup for a hit and run accident?

Yes — a hit and run accident qualifies under DPPA Permissible Purpose 1 — Litigation and Pre-Litigation. If you have a full or partial plate number of the vehicle that fled the scene we can run a DPPA-compliant owner lookup to identify the registered owner. This information can be provided to your attorney or insurance company to pursue damages.

How much does a license plate owner lookup cost?

A license plate owner lookup report is $79. This includes the registered owner’s full name, current address, and vehicle details — fulfilled by a licensed private investigator in compliance with DPPA. Payment is processed securely and all major credit and debit cards are accepted with no PayPal account required.