When buying a pre-owned vehicle, a key step is to check its overall condition. Otherwise, one may end up with a vehicle that requires more upkeep than expected. If one buys a used vehicle without proper inspection, they could also overspend, agreeing to a price much higher than the vehicle’s worth. So, going through the vehicle’s history is crucial. One way to do that is by performing a vehicle title search using its VIN or license plate.

Vehicle title
Before understanding how a vehicle title search is performed, it is important to know what a vehicle title means. Basically, a vehicle title is a state-issued document that confirms one’s legal ownership of the vehicle. A vehicle title contains the following information about that vehicle:

– Vehicle history
– The name and address of the owner
– Odometer reading on the title issue date
– Year, make, model, and body type of the vehicle
– License plate number
– Previous title state

The vehicle title document may contain more details about the vehicle.

Purpose of a title search
Performing a vehicle title search allows the buyer to check all the necessary information about the vehicle so that they can make an informed decision. For starters, the title search can reveal if the vehicle has been in any minor or major collisions. Based on that information, one can determine if the price being quoted to them by the seller is fair. This prevents one from getting deceived by the sellers regarding the overall condition of the car. One can also get the following information from the vehicle title search:

– History of flood damage (if any)
– History of being used in a crime (if any)
– Recalls related to the vehicle
– Any outstanding debts or financial claims against the vehicle (lien)
– Repairs the vehicle has had in the past
– Records of vandalism or theft
– Odometer issues

Knowing this information allows one to make an informed buying decision.

Title search process
Today, one can conduct a title search using government and third-party websites. Here is how one can get started:

1. Find the VIN
One of the most common ways to perform a vehicle title search is by using the VIN or the vehicle identification number of the vehicle. The VIN is actually a string of 17 characters—a combination of alphabets and numbers, which is unique to the vehicle so that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can distinguish it from other vehicles. This 17-digit VIN can be found on the vehicle itself. In cars, it is usually located on the lower left side of the dashboard. One can also find the VIN in the vehicle’s documentation.

2. Visit a title search website
Various websites allow one to look for the vehicle title using the VIN. If one is worried about stumbling upon a fake or malicious website in the process, one can rely on the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System website, which offers an easy-to-access online database for looking up car titles. One can also visit other official sites that have “.gov” in their address. As one needs to enter sensitive information to conduct an online vehicle title search, it is crucial to ensure that the website is legitimate.

3. Enter the VIN and begin the search
Once one chooses a website, one will see a small search bar on the title search tab, asking one to enter the VIN. One can then enter the VIN here and click on search. In just a few seconds, the website will provide one with the vehicle title and the history report. Now, it is important to note that third-party websites will not generate this report for free. One will need to pay a fee to be able to access this report. Also, the fees can vary depending on the state one is in. These fees are usually not exorbitant, typically under $5.

It is also important to note that after entering the VIN, if the vehicle has been moved around a lot, that is, it has had multiple license changes, the website may request a license number. Based on the license number entered, the website will then be able to generate the history report of the vehicle.

Vehicle title search using license plate number
If one does not have access to the VIN, they can perform a vehicle title search with the help of the license plate number. For this, one would need to rely on the same websites. There, one should look for an option to conduct a vehicle title search using license numbers. Upon entering the license number, the website will generate the vehicle title in a few seconds.

However, it is important to note here that searching for a vehicle title with only the license number is not the most reliable way. This is because if a vehicle has had multiple previous owners, who registered in different states, the vehicle would then have multiple license numbers. So, if one has access to only a few of these license plate numbers, they may not get access to its complete history report. That’s why when buying a vehicle, it is best to ask the seller for complete details, including the VIN number, so that one can perform their own checks before making a decision.