Virginia License Plate Lookup

License Plate Lookup in Virginia

Searching a vehicle's details and information about the person registered to a license plate using the plate number is known as license plate lookup. Besides finding information about a vehicle or its owner, people do license phone lookups in the Commonwealth of Virginia to verify certain information about the motor vehicle and its owner. Sometimes, people look up license plate numbers to find information about motor vehicles illegally parked in restricted areas or driving through residential neighborhoods. A license plate lookup also helps dig out information on drivers who fled accident scenes in a bid to track them down.

Essentially, it is recommended that anyone purchasing a used vehicle lookup information on such a motor vehicle to enable them to make an informed buying decision. license lookup discloses a vehicle mileage, maintenance history, accident history, engine capacity, and repossession history. It also reveals selected Virginia traffic records as well as the vehicle's current market value, recall history, model, available warranty, inspection history, and whether the vehicle was ever reported stolen.

To find the information on persons or vehicles linked to license plates, a person can hire the service of a private investigator, information broker, or ask law enforcement to assist. The Department of Motor Vehicles can also release certain information on persons or motor vehicles registered to license plates on request by anyone. However, this may come at some fees. Typically, paid license lookup services provide more convenient and accurate information on license plates than free license plate lookup services. Several third-party companies run online sites that offer free license plate lookup in Virginia, while some offer their services at a fee.

What is a Virginia License Plate?

A license plate is a plastic or metal plate assigned by a relevant government agency containing a unique number issued after a vehicle registration. Generally, it is used to identify an automobile and its owner. All vehicle owners in Virginia must register their motor vehicles with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and attach the license plates issued after registration to their motor vehicles. The DMV in Virginia issues two license plates (affixed to the front and rear of an automobile) to most vehicles, except for trailers and motorcycles with only rear license plates. All Virginia license plates are required to have decal stickers.

Common categories of license plates issued by the Virginia DMV include:

1. Standard License Plates: These license plates are the regular types issued to vehicle owners after registration. They usually contain blue lettering with a white background.
2. Temporary License Plates: These are only valid for 30 days, within which vehicle owners must have processed their motor vehicle registration. Temporary license plates permit vehicle owners to operate their vehicles legally during this period.
3. Personalized License Plates: These license plates allow anyone in Virginia to customize their plate numbers, Most license plate types in the Commonwealth can be personalized. The maximum number of characters a person can choose is seven, which must be numbers or letters.
4. Disability License plates: These are issued to disabled persons with medical proof. Vehicle owners using these license plates can park their motor vehicles in designated areas across Virginia.
5. Specialty License Plates: This category of license plates in Virginia offers distinctive designs for members of colleges, universities, charities, interest groups, and several other organizations. Military license plates, college license plates, and special interest license plates are some of the license plates under this category.

How Do I Get a License Plate in Virginia?

All vehicle owners in Virginia and new-to-state residents must register their motor vehicles with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and obtain license plates to operate them legally. The DMV requires new residents in Virginia to first title their vehicles within their first 30 days of moving to the Commonwealth in compliance with Section 46.2-600 of the Code of Virginia.

Virginia license plates applicants are required to provide the following documents during their vehicles registration:

• Titling documents
• Valid ID
• Vehicle emissions certification
• Completed Vehicle Registration Application Form (Form VSA 14)
• Proof of insurance - Effective January 1, 2022, Virginia's minimum vehicle insurance coverage are:
  • $20,000 for property damage
  • $30,000 for injury or death of one person
  • $60,000 for injury or death of two or more persons

A Virginia license plate cost depends on the gross weight of the applicant's vehicle, license plate type, and the number of years they desire to wait before renewal (maximum of three years). The DMV accepts money orders or checks as means of payment. The Virginia DMV does not issue a two-year registration for vehicles with a gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more, uninsured vehicles, or vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan. Typically, applicants who opt for a two-year registration pay twice the annual fee. However, they enjoy some added benefits and convenience.

Once a vehicle is titled and insured, its owner can present a completed registration form and all required documents and payment and apply for a license plate at any DMV Select Offices, Mobile Offices, or Customer Service Centers. Alternatively, they can submit all documentation in person at their county's DMV office or by mail to:

Virginia Department of Motor vehicles
Special Registration Work Center
P.O. Box 27412
Richmond, VA 23269-0001

For further inquiries on getting a Virginia license plate, contact the DMV at (804) 497-7100 or via email.

Passenger License Plates vs Commercial License Plates

Commercial license plates are used for vehicles that operate primarily for business purposes. On the other hand, passenger license plates are issued to motor vehicles designed to carry people on the streets. In Virginia, the DMV gives commercial license plates to motor vehicles that meet the following requirements:

• A motor vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more passengers, including the driver
• One vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds
• Any large motor vehicle that transports hazardous substances and needs federal placarding
• A combination of motor vehicles weighing at least 26,001 pounds (gross weight combination weight rating) if the automobile(s) being towed has a minimum of 10,000 pounds gross weight combination weight rating

How Can I Find the Owner of a License Plate in Virginia

Most third-party license plate lookup resources do not return the identity of a person or vehicle registered to a license plate. However, a person can use some of the information provided by such resources to find a license plate owner in Virginia. For instance, if a license lookup reveals the phone number of a person assigned to a license plate, an individual may perform a phone number lookup to identify the owner of the vehicle registered to that license plate. Running a license plate through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles can also disclose the identity of a license plate owner and the vehicle registered to the license plate.

Third-party aggregate sites are a convenient alternative for obtaining license plate information. These sites are maintained by independent establishments which collate the information from government-run repositories. Obtaining records from these sites often proves substantially easier than government alternatives. However, requestors may be required to provide any information required to facilitate the record search and pay any required fees to access the record of interest.

Virginia License Plate Renewal

Typically, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds vehicle owners via text messages or emails of the imminent expiration of their vehicle registration and advises them to renew their registration, hence, license plates. The DMV recommends signing up for these reminders to enable vehicle owners to keep abreast of their license plate renewal dates. In Virginia, license plates can be valid for one, two, or three years, depending on the option chosen by a vehicle owner during registration. To avoid rejection of a license plate renewal request in Virginia, an applicant must not have parking citations or toll violations. Also, they must not have unpaid local personal taxes. Virginia license plates renewal fees are determined by a vehicle's gross weight and vehicle type.

The DMV offers three ways of renewing Virginia license plates. These are:

1. Renewal By Mail - This option allows a person whose license plate is due for renewal to mail in the renewal notice to:
   Virginia Department of Motor vehicles
   Special Registration Work Center
   P.O. Box 27412
   Richmond, VA 23269-0001
2. Online Renewal - The DMV provides an Online Vehicle Registration Renewal Service for individuals who wish to process their license plates renewal on the internet. This option comes in handy for people renewing their registration at the last minute and those whose current registration has expired but less than 90 days since expiration.
3. In-Person Renewal - To renew a Virginia license plate in person, visit any DMV select location across the Commonwealth and submit the renewal notice.

Can You Look Up License Plates with VIN?

Yes, looking up a license plate using VIN is possible. Generally, when a vehicle is registered in Virginia and a license plate is issued, the DMV links the VIN to the license plate in the Commonwealth's vehicle public vehicle records. This makes it possible to look up a license plate using a VIN. Also, VIN usually appears on vehicle registration documents.

VIN Number Lookup

VIN lookup involves searching the details of a vehicle using its VIN instead of license plates. VIN is short for Vehicle Identification Number, a set of 17 characters stamped on specific parts of a motor vehicle by manufacturers. It is unique for each vehicle and comes as a combination of numbers and letters (upper case). A VIN lookup discloses a vehicle's history, history of safety recall by the manufacturer, and mileage. It can also reveal if a motor vehicle has been reported as stolen. Most vehicle manufacturers stamp VINs on the driver's side dashboard near the lower corner of the windshield. A person can also find it on the engine block or the driver's side door pole.

Can Civilians Lookup License Plates in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia residents can look up license plates by using online search tools. However, civilians cannot access the information from the same databases as law enforcement. As such, persons interested in an Virginia license plate lookup may use third-party information service providers to get the information they want. However, because these third-party sources are not affiliated with the government, the information obtained from such sources may not be used to assess credit worthiness or perform background checks. Searchers may only use the information obtained to satisfy their personal curiosity.

What Do Police See When They Run Your Plates in Virginia?

Virginia police run license plates at traffic stops when they have probable cause, usually because the driver violated a traffic law. Virginia law enforcement use automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to pull information including:

• Vehicle information
• Driver’s information
• Criminal history
• Outstanding warrants

The vehicle information includes the physical description of the vehicle and its overall condition, year of manufacture, VIN, license expiration date, and the registered owner’s name. The police will also see information about the driver, including their biodata, social security number, and contact address. The officer will also have access to information like the driver’s criminal history as well as tickets and outstanding warrants on the vehicle, its registered owner, or the driver.

While the public cannot access the databases law enforcement officers use, they may obtain publicly available information through other sources. Furthermore, sensitive information like the social security number and house address are typically restricted from public view for privacy reasons.

Free License Plate Lookup in Virginia

Aggregate websites that provide license plate lookup services typically charge a fee for the service. However, it may be possible to look up a Virginia plate for free. For one, a search may enter the license plate number directly into a search engine that may provide information already available on the web on that plate. However, there is no guarantee that the search results will be useful.

Alternatively, the individual may search for “free license plate search” on the search engine instead. The engine will provide a list of websites that provide license plate lookup for free. Many sites, however, limit the information available for free searches. Usually, the searcher will be able to access basic details like the vehicle description and owner’s name. A searcher would need to pay for the service to obtain additional information.

How to Search for Ticket by License Plate in Virginia

There is no official way to find tickets by license plate through official databases in Virginia. Persons looking for lost or unpaid traffic tickets may contact the court in the municipality where the ticket was issued. Nevertheless, it may be possible to find unpaid tickets by license plate on independent third-party websites.