CARFAX by license plate
A plate and its state are enough to start. The plate lookup on our homepage turns them into the VIN and checks it for records.
Start with the free VIN check
See which reports have records for the car before you pay anything.
- Original CARFAX and AutoCheck reports
- One-time price, no subscription
- In your browser + PDF by e-mail
How to run a plate lookup
- Open the plate tab The plate lookup is in the search box on the homepage. Switch it from "Check by VIN" to "Check by Plate". Open the homepage search box (opens in a new tab)
- Enter plate and state Type the plate exactly as it appears, without spaces, and select the issuing state.
- Confirm the car The lookup returns the VIN with the year, make and model. Make sure it is the car you mean.
- Check and buy You see which reports have records for that VIN and can open the one you need.
When a plate is the better way in
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A car you saw on the street or in a photo
A plate is readable from a distance; a VIN is not.
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A listing without a VIN
Photos usually show the plate even when the seller left the VIN out.
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A quick first look
Check whether records exist at all before you ask the seller for more.
Limits you should know
A plate is tied to a registration, not to the car forever.
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Plates change when a car is sold or moves to another state, so an old photo may point to another car.
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Temporary and dealer plates often do not resolve to a VIN.
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A plate lookup never shows the owner's name or address.
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If the lookup finds nothing, use the VIN from the windshield or the door jamb.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CARFAX report by plate the same as by VIN?
Yes. The plate is only a way to find the VIN. The report is the same.
Which plates work?
Plates issued by US states. Select the state that issued the plate, not the state where you saw the car.
Why did the lookup find a different car?
The plate may have moved to another car, or one character was misread. Check the VIN on the car itself.
Is the plate lookup free?
Yes. You pay only when you open a report.
Can I find out who owns the car?
No. Neither the plate lookup nor any vehicle history report shows personal information.
What if the car has no plate?
Use the VIN. It is at the bottom of the windshield on the driver's side and on the driver's door jamb.
Check a VIN now
Enter the 17-character VIN: the free check shows which reports have records for the car and what each one costs.
Check a VIN for free