What you can and cannot find out about a license plate owner
You cannot look up a license plate owner yourself through any public database. Most states keep vehicle registration information private to protect owners' safety and privacy. If you have a legitimate reason to know who owns a vehicle — a hit-and-run accident, property damage, or a safety concern — you need to contact law enforcement or go through a formal legal process, not a public records search.
The only people who can access registration information directly are police officers, insurance companies investigating claims, and attorneys handling civil cases. Even then, they must have a documented reason. A private citizen asking "whose car is this?" will not get an answer from the DMV or any state agency.
This article explains the actual routes available to you depending on what happened and why you need the information.
Key Takeaways
- Police can look up a license plate owner when ready if you report an accident, hit-and-run, or safety threat, and they will contact the owner on your behalf.
- If you were in a minor accident with no police report, you can ask the other driver for their information at the scene, or exchange insurance details.
- For property damage (a car hit your fence, for example), file a police report first, then provide that report number to your insurance company.
- You cannot obtain registration information through a public records request, a background check service, or a private investigator without a court order.
- If you need the owner's identity for a lawsuit, your attorney can subpoena the registration information through the court system.
When to call the police instead of searching yourself
If the situation involves a crime or safety risk, contact your local police non-emergency line (or 911 if there is when ready danger). This includes hit-and-run accidents, vandalism, threats, stalking, or a vehicle blocking your driveway. The police officer will run the plate, contact the owner, and document everything in a report. You will receive a report number, which you can use with your insurance company or in small claims court.
You do not need to know the owner's name to file a police report. Describe what happened, provide the license plate number, and let the officer do the lookup. This is the fastest and most official way to get the information into a record that holds weight later.
Even in minor accidents where both drivers are present and unhurt, calling the police creates an official report. Many people skip this step to avoid hassle, but a police report protects you if the other driver later claims you caused the damage or if their insurance company disputes the claim.
What to do if you were in an accident and both drivers are present
At the scene, ask the other driver for their name, phone number, address, driver's license number, vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number, and insurance information. Write it down or take a photo of their driver's license and insurance card. You do not need to look up their registration — they will give you this information directly.
If the other driver refuses to provide information or becomes hostile, do not argue. Leave the scene if it is safe to do so, and call the police from a distance. Give the dispatcher the license plate number and location. The officer will respond and obtain the information for you.
Exchange information even if the damage seems minor. Small dents or scratches can cost hundreds to repair, and you may not notice all damage until later. Once you leave the scene without exchanging information, you have no way to recover costs unless you can identify the vehicle through a police report.
How to report property damage when the driver is gone
If a vehicle hit your parked car, your fence, your mailbox, or another property and the driver left the scene, file a police report. Call the non-emergency line and provide the license plate number if you have it, the time and location of the damage, and any description of the vehicle (color, size, model if you know it). The police will look up the owner and contact them.
After you file the report, get the report number. Then contact your insurance company and provide the report number along with photos of the damage. Your insurance will use the police report to pursue a claim against the other driver's insurance. If the damage is under your deductible, you may decide not to file an insurance claim, but the police report still creates an official record of what happened.
If you have a security camera or a neighbor has one, ask to review the footage. Video of the vehicle and its license plate gives police and insurance companies solid evidence. Even a partial plate number helps — police can narrow down the search to vehicles matching the make, model, and color you describe.
Using your insurance company to identify a driver
If you have a police report with a case number, your insurance company can often obtain the other driver's information from their insurance company through a process called subrogation. You do not need to know the owner's name — the police report is enough.
File a claim with your insurance and provide the police report number. Your insurance adjuster will contact the police department to confirm the details, then reach out to the other driver's insurance to recover costs. This process takes weeks or months, but it is how most property damage claims get resolved.
If you do not have a police report and the damage is significant, it may be worth filing one now, even after the fact. Some police departments will take a report days or weeks later if you have the license plate number and can describe what happened. Call your local non-emergency line and ask whether they will file a delayed report.
What private investigators and background check services cannot do
You may see advertisements for services that claim to look up license plate owners, reverse phone lookups, or vehicle history reports. These services cannot access current registration information — that data is protected by state law. What they can do is sell you information that is already public (like a name and address from a phone book or property records), but they cannot tell you who owns a specific license plate.
Some services will take your money and return nothing useful, or return outdated information. Others operate in a legal gray area and may obtain information through methods that would not hold up in court. If you need the owner's identity for a legal reason, do not rely on a private service — use the police or the court system instead.
Using the court system when you need to sue
If you plan to file a lawsuit against the vehicle owner (for example, in small claims court for property damage), your attorney or the court can subpoena the registration information from the state DMV. You will need the license plate number and a case number. The court will issue a subpoena, the DMV will respond with the owner's name and address, and you can then serve them with legal papers.
Small claims court handles cases under a certain dollar amount (usually $5,000 to $10,000, depending on your state). You can file without an attorney. When you file, provide the license plate number and any police report number you have. The court clerk will advise you on whether you need to subpoena the registration information or whether the police report is enough to move forward.
If the damage is over the small claims limit, you will need a civil attorney. They will handle the subpoena and all other steps to identify and sue the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up a license plate on the DMV website?
No. The DMV website does not have a public lookup tool for license plates. Registration information is private in all states. You can only access it through law enforcement, the court system, or an attorney with a legal reason to request it.
What if I have a photo of the license plate but no police report?
Call your local police non-emergency line and report what happened (property damage, hit-and-run, etc.). Provide the photo and the license plate number. The officer will look up the owner and document it in a report. You do not need to wait for something to happen — if there is property damage, that is enough to file a report now.
Will the police tell me the owner's name over the phone?
Usually not directly. Police will contact the owner themselves and ask them to reach out to you, or they will document the owner's information in a written report that you can request. Ask the officer for a report number so you can obtain a copy of the full report later, which will include the owner's name and address.
Can I use a background check service to find a license plate owner?
No. Background check and people-search services cannot access vehicle registration data. They may sell you information from other sources (like property records or phone directories), but that will not tell you who owns a specific vehicle. Save your money and file a police report instead.
What happens if I file a police report but the officer says they cannot help?
Some police departments are understaffed and may not investigate minor property damage. If that happens, ask for a report number anyway — you can still file an insurance claim with a police report number even if the investigation is limited. If the damage is significant, ask to speak with a supervisor or file a complaint about the response.